Some of Aotearoa’s best sailors are joining forces with one of the country’s most respected master navigators to reconnect rangatahi Māori and Pacific youth with their voyaging heritage, bringing traditional waka sailing and world-class sailing expertise together in an exciting new kaupapa.
Black Foils Co-CEO and Live Ocean co-founder Blair Tuke has teamed up with master navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, founder of Te Toki Voyaging Trust, to create new opportunities for young people to experience sailing and develop a stronger connection with the moana.
The initiative, known as Te Hau Wawara, held its first waka sailing experience at Ōkahu Bay in Tāmaki Makaurau on October 17, bringing together 60 rangatahi and their whānau.
The event was delivered through a partnership involving the Black Foils, Te Toki Voyaging Trust and marine conservation organisation Live Ocean.
From SailGP to Traditional Waka
The initiative brings together the expertise of New Zealand’s SailGP team with generations of traditional Māori and Pacific navigation knowledge.
Over recent months, Tuke and the Black Foils team have been restoring three Ulua, small sailing waka designed to be stable, accessible and suitable for two people.
The waka were launched at Ōkahu Bay alongside larger six-person sailing waka, giving rangatahi from different iwi groups the opportunity to learn directly from experienced sailors and voyagers.
The aim is to make sailing more accessible while introducing young people to the skills, traditions and cultural connections that have shaped ocean voyaging across the Pacific for centuries.
Reconnecting Rangatahi With Their Voyaging Ancestors
For Tuke and Barclay-Kerr, the kaupapa is about much more than introducing another sporting activity.
It is about helping young Māori and Pacific people reconnect with the extraordinary maritime knowledge of their tūpuna.
Traditional Polynesian navigators crossed vast distances using their understanding of stars, ocean currents, winds and the natural environment.
That knowledge enabled generations of voyagers to explore and settle islands throughout the Pacific.
Barclay-Kerr, who has played a significant role in revitalising traditional ocean voyaging through waka hourua, believes the new initiative can help create another generation of sailors.
While waka ama has become increasingly popular across Māori communities, participation in sailing remains comparatively limited.
The new Ulua waka are intended to provide an accessible entry point for rangatahi who may never previously have had an opportunity to sail.
A Vision for Waka Sailing Across Aotearoa
The ambition extends well beyond the initial event.
Tuke and Barclay-Kerr want to see fleets of small sailing waka operating in communities throughout Aotearoa, creating opportunities for regular sailing, coastal exploration and racing.
Their vision draws inspiration from the success of Waka Ama Aotearoa, which has developed a strong community of paddlers across the country.
The three restored Ulua will continue to be used to introduce rangatahi to sailing, with organisers hoping the initiative will eventually encourage more waka to be built.
If successful, the programme could help create new pathways into sailing while strengthening cultural knowledge and community participation.
Haunui Brings Voyaging History to Life
The Ōkahu Bay event also featured Haunui, a traditional ocean-going voyaging waka, which was anchored in the bay for whānau to visit.
Alongside sailing experiences, activities on shore introduced participants to traditional navigation, voyaging knowledge and the importance of protecting the marine environment.
Young people were also able to explore life beneath the ocean’s surface through virtual reality experiences.
The combination of practical sailing, mātauranga Māori and marine conservation reflects the shared objectives of the organisations involved.
Protecting the Moana for Future Generations
The initiative also connects with the environmental work of Live Ocean, the marine conservation foundation established by Tuke and fellow sailor Peter Burling.
Live Ocean supports marine science, innovation and public engagement aimed at improving understanding of ocean health.
For the organisations involved, encouraging rangatahi to spend time on the water is also an opportunity to build awareness of the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.
That connection between people, culture and the environment is central to the kaupapa.
For Māori, the moana is not simply a place for recreation or competition. It is a source of identity, whakapapa, knowledge and connection between communities throughout the Pacific.
Blair Tuke Joins Radio Waatea
Blair Tuke joins Radio Waatea to discuss how the initiative came together, his partnership with Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr and the ambition to establish a new generation of Māori and Pacific sailors.
The conversation will explore how traditional voyaging knowledge can be combined with modern sailing expertise, why accessibility matters and what it will take to expand the programme beyond its initial pilot.
It will also examine the role of ocean conservation and the importance of ensuring rangatahi have opportunities to experience the moana firsthand.
For Tuke and Barclay-Kerr, the long-term vision is to see more Māori and Pacific rangatahi on the water, learning to harness the wind while rediscovering the knowledge and achievements of their voyaging ancestors.
From the high-speed world of SailGP to the traditional sailing waka of the Pacific, the initiative demonstrates how sporting excellence and cultural heritage can come together to inspire a new generation.
And with the first three Ulua already on the water, the journey is only beginning.
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