After two and a half months at sea, thousands of nautical miles and an extraordinary journey across Te Moananui-a-Kiwa, the waka hourua Te Matau a Māui is preparing for an emotional homecoming to Ahuriri, Napier, bringing with it a powerful story of whakapapa, cultural reconnection and the survival of ancestral Pacific navigation.
The double-hulled voyaging waka is expected to arrive in Ahuriri on Thursday, October 22, at approximately 10am, weather and sea conditions permitting.
Whānau, iwi and members of the wider community are being invited to gather near the Pandora Bridge and Napier Sailing Club to welcome the crew home and celebrate the completion of a remarkable international voyage.
The homecoming marks the conclusion of the latest stage of Te Hokinga Takitimu – The Return, a journey retracing the ancestral pathways of the great waka Takitimu and strengthening the enduring connections between Ngāti Kahungunu, Aotearoa and Pacific nations.
Thousands of Miles Across Te Moananui-a-Kiwa
Owned by Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and operated by the Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust, Te Matau a Māui has spent more than two months navigating the Pacific using traditional wayfinding knowledge.
The voyage followed a series of international sailing legs, beginning in Ahuriri and travelling to Poutasi on the island of Upolu in Samoa.
From there, the crew sailed between Upolu and Savai’i before continuing to Suva in Fiji.
The return journey brought the waka to Whangārei for New Zealand Customs and biosecurity clearance before its final passage home to Ahuriri.
Throughout the expedition, the crew followed ancestral voyaging traditions, drawing on knowledge of the stars, ocean swells, winds and the natural environment to guide their passage.
The journey celebrates the extraordinary navigational skills developed by Pacific ancestors long before modern electronic navigation systems existed.
A New Generation of Ngāti Kahungunu Navigators
One of the voyage’s most significant achievements has been the successful graduation of siblings Rapihana Hawaikirangi and Te Pō Hawaikirangi-Willison as traditional celestial navigators for Ngāti Kahungunu.
Under the guidance and mentorship of experienced traditional navigator Piripi Smith, the siblings completed their graduation requirements during the voyage.
Their achievement represents an important milestone in the preservation and revitalisation of ancestral Pacific navigation.
The transfer of this knowledge from one generation to the next is central to ensuring that traditional wayfinding remains a living practice rather than simply a chapter of history.
It also demonstrates the importance of practical learning, with new navigators developing their skills through direct experience on the open ocean.
Reconnecting the Pacific Whānau
Beyond navigation, Te Hokinga Takitimu has been a journey of cultural reconnection.
The voyage has strengthened relationships between Ngāti Kahungunu and communities in Samoa and Fiji, celebrating shared ancestry and the enduring connections established through centuries of Pacific voyaging.
The crew has also included navigators and sailors from other Pacific voyaging organisations.
A crew member from Fa’afaite i te Ao Mā’ohi, the Tahitian voyaging organisation, joined the first leg from Ahuriri to Samoa.
Three sailors from Fiji’s Uto ni Yalo voyaging waka and a crew member associated with Samoa’s Gaulofa waka have also participated in the voyage.
Their involvement reflects the wider Pacific commitment to protecting traditional navigation, strengthening cultural exchange and inspiring future generations.
The Journey Continues in 2028
Although the return to Ahuriri marks the completion of this stage of Te Hokinga Takitimu, the wider journey is far from over.
Plans are already in place for the voyage to continue in 2028, extending the ancestral pathway to the Cook Islands and Tahitian Islands.
The next stage will build on the relationships established during the current expedition while creating further opportunities for cultural exchange and traditional navigation training.
For Ngāti Kahungunu, the voyage represents more than a sailing expedition.
It is a continuation of whakapapa, mātauranga Māori and the shared Pacific history connecting communities across Te Moananui-a-Kiwa.
Updates will be shared through the Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust’s social media channels.
As Te Matau a Māui returns to the shores of Ahuriri, its homecoming will celebrate not only the safe return of its crew but also the strength of ancestral knowledge, the bonds connecting Pacific peoples and the next generation of navigators carrying those traditions into the future.
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