The return of Te Waka Wairua o Kurahaupō to the shores of Lake Horowhenua has been celebrated as a powerful moment of cultural reconnection, bringing together descendants of Kurahaupō and reaffirming the enduring importance of whakapapa, history and relationships between iwi.
After spending several months in Wairarapa as the centrepiece of a major exhibition at Aratoi Museum of Art and History, the waka has now returned to Kohuturoa Marae in Levin, where it has been placed once again under the guardianship of Muaūpoko.
Although Te Waka Wairua o Kurahaupō is not a replica of the original migration waka, it was commissioned and launched in 1990 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Since then it has become an important symbol of the shared heritage of the iwi who descend from the ancestral Kurahaupō waka, including Muaūpoko, Rangitāne and Ngāti Apa.
The return ceremony brought together representatives from those iwi in a celebration that focused not only on the waka itself, but on the relationships it continues to strengthen between generations and across tribal boundaries.
For Rangitāne, the waka’s recent journey to Wairarapa allowed thousands of visitors to engage with the history of Kurahaupō and the stories carried by its descendants.
The exhibition attracted people from across Aotearoa and overseas, providing tamariki, whānau and visitors with an opportunity to connect directly with one of the defining narratives of Māori settlement and identity.
For Muaūpoko, welcoming the waka back to the shores of Lake Horowhenua represents the continuation of a long-standing responsibility to care for an important taonga.
Plans are already underway to build a permanent whare waka at Kohuturoa Marae, creating a dedicated home for the vessel alongside other developments planned for the marae. The vision also includes improved access to the lake so the waka can once again return to the water and become part of future cultural events and commemorations.
Leaders involved in the project say the long-term aspiration is to establish annual Kurahaupō commemorations, bringing together all iwi connected to the waka to celebrate their shared whakapapa while strengthening relationships between younger generations.
The hope is that the waka will once again become an active part of community life, with kaihoe from different iwi gathering for wānanga, revitalising traditional haka, paddling traditions and other cultural practices linked to Kurahaupō.
The return also looks towards the future.
Descendants have begun discussing the possibility of taking Te Waka Wairua o Kurahaupō to Waitangi in 2040 as part of commemorations marking 200 years since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, allowing another generation to carry forward the legacy first recognised when the waka was built in 1990.
For many gathered at Lake Horowhenua, the occasion was about far more than the movement of a waka.
It was an opportunity to honour the stories of tūpuna, celebrate the resilience of whakapapa and strengthen the bonds that continue to unite Kurahaupō descendants across rohe.
As Aotearoa continues to explore and celebrate its shared history, Te Waka Wairua o Kurahaupō stands as a reminder that waka are more than vessels—they are living symbols of identity, connection and the enduring relationships that have shaped Māori communities for generations.
#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #Kurahaupō #TeWakaWairua #LakeHorowhenua #Muaūpoko #Rangitāne #NgātiApa #Whakapapa #Marae #TeAoMāori #Taonga #KaupapaMāori #Aotearoa #TeTiriti
