Kōrero: Waka

Mau Piailug, navigator

In 1992, Te Aurere, a replica double-hull canoe, sailed to Rarotonga from New Zealand. It was captained by Hekenukumai Busby and navigated by Mau Piailug, a Micronesian navigator, the last traditional ocean navigator in Oceania. Aware that a storm was brewing, the crew were given two different opinions on where it would hit. The New Zealand Meteorological Service indicated that they should sail in one direction, and Mau suggested another. They opted for the direction suggested by the Meteorological Service, and found themselves caught in the storm. Pakake Winiata recalls how they realised their mistake and turned to Mau’s traditional knowledge to get themselves out of the storm.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

TVNZ Television New Zealand

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Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, 'Waka - Ngā takenga i Te Moananui-a-Kiwa', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/video/5995/mau-piailug-navigator (accessed 19 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, i tāngia i te 12 Jun 2006