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Story: Canoe navigation

Te Au-o-Tonga and Te Aurere off the East Coast, 2000

Audio file

The successes of the Hōkūle‘a led to a renaissance in Polynesian navigation and the sailing of traditional craft. Other vessels were built. Te Aurere (right), pictured here with Te Au-o-Tonga, was built by Hekenukumai (Hector) Busby in 1991. The following year Te Aurere survived strong winds and high seas during a voyage from New Zealand to Rarotonga. This journey did not prove that return voyaging to Polynesia occurred, but showed that it was possible with the navigational techniques available to Polynesians. Listen to Pakake Winiata, a crew member on board Te Aurere, explain why the vessel was towed for parts of the voyage from New Zealand to Rarotonga.

Using this item

New Zealand Herald

Reference: 13 April 2000

by Nicola Topping

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. Reference: Waka Te Aurere; Pakake Winiata / Reference number 10386.

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Canoe navigation – Recent voyaging, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/speech/2237/te-au-o-tonga-and-te-aurere-off-the-east-coast-2000 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009.

Comments

merekaraka wikotu
25 May 2011
Kia ora i was on Te au o tonga when i was 12yrs old the year was 2000 im now 22yrs and still remember like it was yesterday