Skip to main content

Story: Tokelauans

Carving a vaka, 2012

Image
Carving a vaka, 2012

In 2011 and 2012 Tokelauan men and boys gathered at the Matauala community hall in the Porirua suburb of Cannons Creek to carve a traditional vaka (canoe). Led by master carver Vase Reupena, the 30-strong group worked together for around five months to build the vaka from two tōtara logs. 

Using this item

Fairfax NZ, Kapi-Mana News

Reference: 6 March 2012

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder by contacting <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Tokelauans – Communities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/46728/carving-a-vaka-2012 (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 29 January 2016, updated 1 March 2015.