A waka is a Maori canoe. On Hobson's Beach the waka house shelters the 35 metre long Ngatokimatawaorua. A minimum of 76 paddlers are required to handle it safely on the water. Ngatokimatawaorua was launched as part of the Centenary Celebrations in 1940. It bears the name of the voyaging waka in which the explorer Kupe visited Aotearoa (The Land of the Long White Cloud, New Zealand) after it was enlarged with adzes in Hawaiki and sailed back to Aotearoa by Kupe's grandson, Nukutawhiti.
Wakas gathering on Hobson's Beach for the Waitangi Day celebrations.
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Now in spite of all the cultural differences I can't help at the same time getting associations to the Viking ships!
ReplyDeleteWow. They are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThose are masterpieces of boats! WOW!
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