A Canoe (Waka) or Two

[ST1]

A Canoe (Waka) or Two, I wasn't sure if there is a collective noun for a group of the Waka (War Canoes) so went for a canoe or two as it sort of trips off the tongue.

This was an amazing sight to see and more importantly to hear the crews chanting as the Waka were being paddled to this beach prior to them moving round to the Treaty Grounds. The image was made on Waitangi Day (6th February 2017) and processed today, well you can't rush these chores can you!

As always your thoughts and comments are welcomed.

#1 Original posted thread image (2017)



#2 Image from a previous visit to the Treaty Grounds (2014)



#3 Close up of a Waka stern carvings (2014)




#4 A 2017 image, showing the crowds watching the crews preparing to haul the Waka out of the water and in to the shed as shown in #2 above. You may be able to spot the metal track in both this image and #2.

[Wavelength]

A marvellous picture

[Jim A]

Conveys the relaxed feeling nicely, Peter. Would have also been good to see one of the waka up close. Am sure you will have a few to choose from. If you haven't heard, this years celebrations went off very well. The greetings were done at the upper marae and our lovely Prime Minister, Jacinda Adhern, carried out her part of the proceedings very well indeed!

[Tronhard]

I am assured that the plural of waka is .... waka!

Having seen many photos of waka in an urban setting - mostly around Auckland Harbour - it is refreshing to see them in a more historically appropriate setting. To me this scene might have been enacted over centuries with the different types of waka seen here - the big, twin-hulled waka that brought Maori to NZ, the large war waka and transport waka, and finally the smaller fishing and transport ones. I really like this scene.

The only blot on that concept is the mass of Europeans walking around!

Yes, this year's Waitangi Day was a very different atmosphere in the area from that of most over the last many years that were previously marked by protest, and at times, conflict. Our new PM Jacinda has charmed and warmed the Maori community with her humility, straight talking and recognition of their issues. Hopefully the start of a new era in many respects.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[ST1]

Conveys the relaxed feeling nicely, Peter. Would have also been good to see one of the waka up close. Am sure you will have a few to choose from. If you haven't heard, this years celebrations went off very well. The greetings were done at the upper marae and our lovely Prime Minister, Jacinda Adhern, carried out her part of the proceedings very well indeed!

Thanks for your comments Jim, I'm pleased that all went well this year. But to be honest whilst there was some issues in 2017 it seemed mostly to be around how the media were reporting the event. On our 2017 visit I couldn't get near to the Waka to get any close up images. But I have added two images to my original post from a previous visit in 2014.

[ST1]

A marvellous picture

Thank you Nandakumar.

[ST1]

I am assured that the plural of waka is .... waka!

Having seen many photos of waka in an urban setting - mostly around Auckland Harbour - it is refreshing to see them in a more historically appropriate setting. To me this scene might have been enacted over centuries with the different types of waka seen here - the big, twin-hulled waka that brought Maori to NZ, the large war waka and transport waka, and finally the smaller fishing and transport ones. I really like this scene.

The only blot on that concept is the mass of Europeans walking around!

Yes, this year's Waitangi Day was a very different atmosphere in the area from that of most over the last many years that were previously marked by protest, and at times, conflict. Our new PM Jacinda has charmed and warmed the Maori community with her humility, straight talking and recognition of their issues. Hopefully the start of a new era in many respects.

Thanks Trev for taking time to look and comment and thanks for all of your advice via Skype when I was in planning mode for the 2017 trip.
As I'm sure you can imaging there was a great number of people about on the day so without resorting to a mass clone out I decided to leave the visitors on the beach.

[Tronhard]

Hi Peter:

Removing mass numbers of people from the beach might be construed as some kind of photographic massacre! Great images and I am glad you had an enjoyable time. If you come by this way again likelihood is that I shall be in NZ, so it would be great to hook up.