The three waka hourua in the Tuia 250 flotilla are struggling to clear East cape in heavy seas, but tomorrow’s welcome in Whitianga is set to go ahead.
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage says the Endeavour replica, R Tucker Thompson and Spirit of New Zealand are well on the way from Uawa-Tolaga bay to Te Whanganui a Hei-Mercury Bay, and representatives of the waka hourua and the Tahitian Fa’afaite will also be present for the pōwhiri.
Ngāti Hei spokesperson Joe Davis says the pōwhiri is on the same site where the iwi welcomed James Cook and his scientists and his Tahitian translator Tupaia in November 1769.
For Ngāti Hei, it marks the earliest written record of its history and names for its whenua.
"Like for instance Taputapuātea which we have here reminded Tupaia of his homeland. That was (named) by Kupe. That is an extremely tapu and important name in Tahiti and Raiatea as well as here in Aotearoa. Place names like that struck home for Tupaia," Mr Davis says.
Joe Davis says events like Tuia 250 and tomorrow’s welcome are a chance to regather and share old knowledge.
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