Marumaru Atua safely returns to Rarotonga from the Southern group as part of its Taue E Moana (The Ocean and I) voyage.

After two-weeks at sea the vaka came into Avarua Harbour early yesterday morning with its 16 crew led by captain Peia Patai and first mate Deon Wong.

Among the team were a handful of fresh recruits, including Mahonri Williams who said the voyage was a success.

“Newer sailors like myself and others were learning the literal ropes,” he said.

“I learned a lot about the mechanisms on the boat navigating with the environment and what we have around us.”

Williams said he didn’t even scratch the surface with what there was to learn from the experienced sailors like captain Patai and Wong.

With 16 people living in the confines of the vaka, Williams said you needed to know where you fitted in.  

“You all come together as a crew and you’ve got to make it work, you’ve got to know your place and be sure about who you are, your responsibilities and how to work in harmony with others.”

Another new recruit, Bernadette King joined the crew in Mangia and was on the vaka for three days before the canoe returned yesterday.

King said she really enjoyed just being on the vaka, “it’s part of our connection to our tupuna, our ancestors so it’s cool being a part of that,” she said.

First mate Wong said the voyage was perfect. He said the three organisations part of the voyage, the Cook Islands Voyaging Society, Kōrero o te 'Ōrau and the Te Ipukarea Society had a lot more insight this time than when they did the Northern group trip.

Wong said, “everyone was relaxed, it was such a chill sail and the weather was perfect.”