February 04, 2016
Nukutaiao mauri intact
One roopu who won’t be making it to Waitangi this year is the crew of the Wellington-based voyaging waka Nukutaiao.
They’re stuck in Whakatane repairing the double-hulled vessel which capsized trying to enter the Whakatane River last month.
According to a Facebook update, everything above the deck was damaged or gone after a freak wave hit.
It says the hulls of the waka, and therefore its mauri or life force, is intact.
The rebuild is expected to take about two months.
Once it is complete, captain Takirirangi Smith intends to resume the journey north beyond Waitangi to Aurere on Doubtless Bay, where tohunga Hekenukumai Busby has established a centre for studying waka hourua and traditional navigation.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com