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Story: Waka – canoes

Double raft

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Double raft

This double mōkihi (raft) was a type constructed by people of the Ngāti Porou tribe. It was made from the wood of the whau or houama tree, which was extremely buoyant. The whau was pinned together with hard wood such as mānuka, and lashed together with pirita.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: Elsdon Best, The Maori canoe. Wellington: Dominion Museum, 1925, p. 136

by E. Richardson

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How to cite this page

Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, Waka – canoes – Other types of waka, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/8179/double-raft (accessed 4 June 2026).

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