Skip to main content

Story: Waka ama – outrigger canoeing

Small outrigger, Polynesia

Image
Small outrigger, Polynesia

This peaceful scene shows an outrigger canoe on a river around the beginning of the 20th century. The photo was probably taken in Samoa, where such canoes remained in common use for fishing, transport and other purposes.

Using this item

Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

Reference: 2002/20/6

by Thomas Andrew

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, Waka ama – outrigger canoeing – Traditional waka ama, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/40454/small-outrigger-polynesia (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, published 12 February 2013.