The Ātea A Rangi Educational Trust Launches Vaka Moana – A Graphic Novel Telling The Ancestral Journeys Of The Waka

The Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust will launch its latest publication, Vaka Moana – From Tārai Pō to Takitimu, and associated exercise book at the Ātea a Rangi on Monday 22 December at 5.00am, timed to coincide with the summer solstice sunrise.

Vaka Moana is a richly illustrated graphic novel that tells the story of the ancestral waka of Ngāti Kahungunu, the Takitimu, and its many names as it travelled across Te Moana-nui-a Kiwa. Originating in Samoa, travelling through Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti and Rarotonga before bringing the ancestors of Ngāti Kahungunu to Aotearoa. The book draws on pūrākau (ancient kōrero) passed down through generations, honouring the many island homelands, navigators, and storytellers connected to this waka.

The aim of Vaka Moana is to engage tamariki and rangatahi with ancient forms of kōrero and to help them recognise the enduring links between peoples of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.

The book is available in both Te Reo Māori and English, it sits alongside a wider set of learning resources developed by the Ātea a Rangi, linking to Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and the refreshed New Zealand Curriculum, with connections across reading and writing, social sciences, science, and mathematics.

The project is a collaboration between Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust and Māui Studios, who assisted with the graphic designs.

Next year the voyaging waka Te Matau a Māui will commence the first of two planned voyages over the next five years to travel through the many islands and homelands of this great waka that became known as Takitimu.

Quote: Piripi Smith - Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust

“Some people might not be familiar with the entire kōrero of this waka before it became known as Takitimu or before it came to Aotearoa. Vaka Moana is a result of generations of storytelling, and years of personal research on our many voyages and wānanga with the islands in the Pacific. We have made the waka the focus in these resources and linked the current NZ curriculum subjects to ‘waka’ and ‘moana’ as the main themes, instead of the other way around. We hope that kura, schools and whānau will enjoy and learn something from these resources”.

LAUNCH DETAILS

What: Vaka Moana – Graphic Novel book launch

When: Sunday 22 December, 5.00am

Where: Ātea a Rangi,

Further information and resources are available at: www.atea.nz/vakamoana

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