Story: Canoe navigation

Māori star compass

Te kapehu whetū – the Māori star compass – divides the 360 degrees around a canoe in the open ocean into different whare (houses). The location of these houses depends on where the sun, moon and stars set and rise. The navigator attempts to keep the canoe on a course relative to these observations.

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How to cite this page:

Rāwiri Taonui, 'Canoe navigation - Ocean voyaging', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/diagram/2222/maori-star-compass (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 8 Feb 2005