Story: Waka – canoes

On the Whanganui River

Hoe were often used as poles on rivers. Here, a man guides a waka downstream through rapids on the Whanganui River.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Auckland Star Collection (PA-Group-00610)

Reference: 1/1-003003; G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, Waka – canoes – Waka equipment, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6030/on-the-whanganui-river (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

30 November 2016

Hi Peter. Thanks for pointing out these errors, we've updated the caption now. Regards, Jamie Mackay

Peter
22 November 2016

Not a lone man. Second paddler in back of waka. Not using toko down river on the Whanganui (too deep). Using hoe.