Press Release

‘The Waka is a vehicle for leadership’.

Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, a leading innovator in Maori Voyaging, Waka and Sustainability is to be the next guest speaker in Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum’s Kupe Sites Landmark Series – Ancient Narratives Whakapapa. This will take place on Sunday 20 October in the Edmiston Gallery at 1.30pm. His address is called ‘The Waka is a Vehicle for Sustainability’.

Hoturoa has been sailing canoes for 30 years plus and working and training young people on the water. He worked for over 45 years on the war canoes of Dame Te Ata. He took command of her fleet in 1981, only recently relinquishing this position to his son Runanga.

The Waka Haunui has been moored in Voyager’s marina for most of this year. Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr is the Leader of Haunui. Haunui’s message is to restore the knowledge and the stories of the Pacific with all the people of Aotearoa. “We want to keep alive the unique Waka culture, protect our environment and raise peoples’ consciousness of the problems facing our oceans and their mammals due to pollution”.

Haunui is a special Waka in terms of an environmental story. “We’ve found wherever we’ve sailed we’ve taught people to be more environmentally friendly”. Haunui does not rely on any fossil fuel for auxiliary propulsion. It has got electric motors and solar panels. There are huge batteries in each hull. “We have no running water. We carry 80 to 20 litre water containers and also rain catchers. Haunui is a perfect blend of old and new technology”.

Hoturoa’s session will be followed by light refreshments in The Imaginarium from 2.30pm -3.30pm. Koha (donation) is welcome.

For further information call 09 373 0800 or go to www.maritime museum.co.nz

ENDS

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