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Story: Canoe navigation

A Fijian ndrua

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A Fijian ndrua

A ndrua was essentially a very large outrigger. In this photograph it is easy to see the difference in length between the main and secondary hulls. The longer main hull bore the weight of goods and people, while the shorter hull stabilised the vessel and allowed quick turning. Large ndrua were used on ocean-voyaging trips. Although they could not carry as much as double-hulled designs, they were more manoeuvrable.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-098264; F

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

Rāwiri Taonui, Canoe navigation – Waka – canoes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2209/a-fijian-ndrua (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009.