Tōia mai te waka
On Anzac Day 25 April, the waka haurua ‘Haunui’ arrived in the estuary and settled on the Waikouaiti awa. There was a big turnout of locals, the wider community and friends to witness and be a part of the arrival. Our tamariki performed the haka pōwhiri “Tōia mai’.
Over the past few years our very own Brendon Flack has been a part of the waka kaupapa, sailing throughout the Pacific and also over to San Francisco. It was from there that he became known to the crew as ‘Uncle B” or “The Top Master Chef on the waka. Our whānau here at Puketeraki were very fortunate to spend a week with the waka and the crew, who were from all different parts of the Pacific. Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, whānau, friends and the wider community would like to thank the Haunui waka crew for their time, commitment, and the love they have for this kaupapa that is our past and forever will be our future, nō reira e āku kauhoe e mau nei ki ngā tikanga a kui mā a koro mā, nei te reo mihi ki a koutou katoa.
Haunui coming in to shelter.
Time out with the Haunui crew.
Waka Haunui visit
The whānau at Ōtākou were fortunate to have the waka hourua Haunui visit us for a few days at the end of April. We were even more fortunate to be blessed with typical Ōtākou weather – blue skies, sparkling moana – for the arrival from Puketeraki and departure for Awarua. Whānau had opportunities to sail on the harbour on board the waka, and on one trip, the waka beached on Pilot’s Beach just below Pukekura, a truly moving moment following ngā ara moana o ō tātou tūpuna.
Some of the tauira from Te Wharekura o Arowhenua, Bluff School and members of the public who came to greet the arrival of the Haunui Waka.
Coming in to shore.
Haunui beached at Pilots Beach.
Crew and whānau at Ōtākou Marae.
Haunui Waka calls into Bluff
Excitement had been mounting since the beginning of May. People were continuously ringing to check when the waka was arriving, as no one wanted to miss out on seeing him sail up the Bluff Harbour. Sunday 4 May was a false start, but on Monday it became a reality.
The morning started off cold, raining and cloaked in grey making visibility poor. This created doubts that we would get a good view of the waka coming up the Bluff Harbour. But the weather gods were kind and although still grey, the skies cleared. The waka looked majestic as it was coming up the harbour entrance with its sails out. Haunui was greeted with a heartfelt haka pōwhiri by the tauira of Te Wharekura o Arowhenua and Bluff School, plus members of the public.
Our very own rūnanga trustee, Steph Blair, had the opportunity to join the crew in Dunedin to travel to Bluff and felt very proud sailing into our port representing Awarua Rūnanga. During their visit the crew stayed at Te Rau Aroha Marae and were available to members of the public to discuss Haunui and waka revitalisation, their journey and waka ama in general.
Haunui Waka coming up Bluff Harbour, opposite Morrison’s Beach.
Some of the tauira from Te Wharekura o Arowhenua and members of the public who came to greet the arrival of Haunui waka.
Steph Blair on board (in the middle in the background).
Sails down as Haunui approaches the Old Wharf in Bluff.
Haunui tied up alongside the Old Wharf.