Maori Waka II

[Tronhard]

The first post dealt with the coastal, single-hull waka. This looks at the double-hulled ocean-going waka that brought Maori from far across the Pacific. There is evidence through mitochondrial DNA that the ancestors of the Maori come from the Philippines, migrating south and east across the Pacific as far as South America, a concept reinforced by the incorporation of animals and plant materials indigenous to that area in Maori diets. Maori Kopapa (genealogy) suggests that all Maori trace their ancestry back to one of seven great canoes that brought Maori to NZ around 1100CE. It is likely that these represent multiple migrations over a period of time. There are specific locations where Maori legend identifies landing spots of specific canoes.



The Maori were amazing navigators: using celestial observations to travel, with some accuracy, across broad stretches of open ocean and make predictable landfalls. Recently two ocean-going waka (below) used the same techniques to travel from New Zealand to Tonga and back, a return distance of some 4,800km. Maori navigation skills were almost lost but have come back from the brink and are being taught to Maori and Pakeha (Europeans) sailors who want alternatives to relying just on GPS.



The ocean wakas seen here were constructed in Auckland and can be seen during special occasions, taking out tourists and for training sailors.

[Cantab]

Trev, this is an interesting set of photos and commentary. The carved figureheads(?) at the bow of the single hull boats look like they have some special significance, not just decoration.

[Tronhard]

Hi Bruce:

While many elements that Europeans would consider inanimate, like the first nations in Canada the Maori consider life to be a part of all things. Consequently it is not illogical for them to give life to their Waka, and decorate them accordingly. For that matter we call ships "she" and we would put figureheads on our ships' prows from ancient times until the eras of steel vessels.

[madcrow]

This is one of those rare occasions when super images are outdone by the story. Brilliantly done on both accounts.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.