From the high-speed world of SailGP to the ancient traditions of Polynesian navigation, some of Aotearoa’s finest sailors have joined forces with a renowned Māori master navigator to reconnect rangatahi with the moana and the extraordinary voyaging heritage of their ancestors.
Black Foils co-chief executive and Olympic sailing champion Blair Tuke has teamed up with master navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr CNZM, founder of Te Toki Voyaging Trust, to introduce a new generation of Māori and Pacific young people to sailing waka.
The partnership came to life at Ōkahu Bay in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday, where 60 local rangatahi and their whānau participated in Te Hau Wawara, a special waka sailing experience.
The pilot event brought together the Black Foils, Aotearoa’s SailGP team, Te Toki Voyaging Trust and ocean conservation organisation Live Ocean.
The kaupapa is about much more than learning to sail. It aims to reconnect young people with the traditions, knowledge and maritime achievements of their Polynesian ancestors.
From SailGP to Traditional Waka Sailing
Over recent months, Tuke and the Black Foils team have been working to restore and modify three Ulua, small sailing waka designed to introduce beginners to the water.
The waka have been refitted to make them stable, easy to handle and suitable for two-person sailing.
During Saturday’s event, rangatahi from different iwi groups were paired with experienced sailors and navigators to experience the power of the wind and learn basic sailing skills.
Additional six-person sailing waka were also on the water, giving participants an opportunity to experience different forms of waka sailing.
The project brings together modern sailing expertise and traditional Polynesian maritime knowledge, creating a pathway for young people who might otherwise have limited opportunities to participate in the sport.
Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr: Reconnecting Rangatahi With Their Ancestors
Master navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr has played a significant role in the revival of traditional ocean voyaging aboard waka hourua.
Through Te Toki Voyaging Trust, he has helped preserve and revitalise the knowledge, practices and traditions associated with Polynesian navigation.
Barclay-Kerr says the new initiative addresses an important gap in participation.
While Māori involvement in waka ama has grown considerably, fewer Māori young people have opportunities to experience sailing.
He and Tuke have spent considerable time discussing how to change that.
The introduction of smaller, accessible sailing waka provides a practical starting point, allowing rangatahi to develop confidence on the water without requiring access to large vessels or expensive sailing equipment.
Barclay-Kerr believes the three refurbished Ulua represent the beginning of something that could grow across the country.
A Vision for Fleets of Waka Across Aotearoa
The long-term ambition extends well beyond a single event in Auckland.
Tuke and Barclay-Kerr share a vision of small sailing waka becoming a familiar sight in harbours and coastal communities throughout Aotearoa.
They hope communities will eventually develop their own fleets, providing opportunities for recreational sailing, coastal journeys and competitive racing.
The model draws inspiration from the success of Waka Ama Aotearoa, which has helped build a strong national community of paddlers and created pathways for rangatahi participation.
The three refurbished waka used at Ōkahu Bay are intended to continue introducing young people to sailing, while the organisers hope the pilot will encourage the construction of additional vessels.
A central objective is to increase Māori and Pacific participation in sailing and strengthen connections to the extraordinary maritime achievements of Polynesian ancestors.
Celebrating the Legacy of Polynesian Navigators
Long before modern navigation systems, Polynesian voyagers travelled vast distances across the Pacific Ocean using their understanding of stars, winds, ocean currents, waves and the natural environment.
Their achievements remain among the great maritime accomplishments in human history.
For Māori, waka traditions are deeply connected to whakapapa, identity, migration histories and relationships with the moana.
Reviving those connections through practical sailing experiences provides an opportunity for rangatahi to engage with mātauranga Māori while developing new skills.
The partnership between Te Toki Voyaging Trust and the Black Foils demonstrates how traditional knowledge and contemporary sailing expertise can complement one another.
It also creates opportunities to connect cultural learning with sport, leadership, teamwork and environmental awareness.
Haunui Welcomes Whānau at Ōkahu Bay
Alongside the smaller sailing waka, the larger voyaging waka Haunui was anchored in Ōkahu Bay for whānau to visit.
The vessel provided a connection to the traditions of long-distance ocean voyaging and the continuing revival of waka hourua.
Onshore activities introduced participants to traditional navigation, voyaging knowledge and the importance of protecting the marine environment.
Rangatahi and whānau also had opportunities to explore marine life through virtual reality experiences.
The activities reinforced the connection between voyaging traditions and the responsibility to care for the ocean.
Protecting the Moana for Future Generations
Ocean conservation organisation Live Ocean, founded by sailors Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, is a key partner in the initiative.
The foundation supports marine science, innovation and education aimed at improving ocean health.
Its involvement reflects the shared belief that encouraging young people to spend time on the water can strengthen their understanding of the marine environment and the importance of protecting it.
For Māori, that connection also reflects the principles of kaitiakitanga and the responsibilities of current generations to safeguard the moana for those who follow.
By combining sailing experiences with environmental education, the initiative aims to inspire rangatahi to become both confident participants on the water and advocates for healthy oceans.
A New Generation Taking to the Water
The success of the inaugural Te Hau Wawara event provides an encouraging foundation for the partnership’s wider ambitions.
With 60 rangatahi and their whānau taking part, the organisers hope the experience will encourage more young people to explore sailing and reconnect with their voyaging heritage.
For the Black Foils, the project represents an opportunity to use their sporting expertise to support communities and create new pathways into sailing.
For Te Toki Voyaging Trust, it is another step in the continuing revitalisation of traditional waka knowledge.
And for rangatahi, it offers something powerful: the chance to experience the moana not simply as a place for recreation, but as a living connection to their ancestors.
From the navigators who crossed the Pacific generations ago to the young sailors taking their first steps aboard waka today, Te Hau Wawara is helping ensure the knowledge, courage and spirit of Polynesian voyaging continues into the future.
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