Vaka Paikea’s scheduled sail from Rarotonga to the island of Mitiaro tomorrow, Friday, will mark the beginning of another voyage for Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation UNESCO Teretereanga Vaka programme.

A special workshop called Iriiri Kapua no runga i te Taku Kaveinga Māori a te Ui Tupuna will be held as part of this weeklong programme on Mitiaro. This workshop aims to facilitate discussions on the navigation techniques used by ancestors and will be open to anyone interested.

Cecile Marten, a trustee of Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation, expressed their goal of sharing knowledge about traditional navigation and seeking local insights on star names within the three islands of Nga Pu Toru (Mauke, Mitiaro, Atiu).

Teretereanga Vaka includes five days of theory and practical training that will be run by traditional voyaging master navigator Captain Peia Patai.

The programme is designed for six to seven participants from the age of 16 years and over who can commit to the weeklong course. Experience is not necessary.

Teretereanga Vaka was conducted on the island of Mauke in August during which time Patai met his nephew, Vaipunu Ian Tairea for the first time.

Tairea was born in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and moved to Mauke last year with his dad, also Vaipunu Tairea. He is working as a software developer.

He signed up for Teretereanga Vaka after learning about Te Puna Marama, the revitalisation of traditional voyaging, and about the Cook Islands’ only two traditional navigators – Captain Peia Patai and Captain Tua Pittman.

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity so I feel privileged to have participated in the workshop and to learn from the master himself Captain Peia,” said Tairea.

“Although it was my first sailing experience, I really enjoyed being out at sea and experiencing the same experiences our ancestors would have.”

Tairea expressed how motivated he was in learning how to sail and how to be a useful crew member on the vaka.

“It feels good knowing how the vaka works and how to sail.

“It was also really cool seeing our Mauke mapu sailing Paikea.

“We are in the midst of the revitalisation of another generation of vaka voyagers.”

He would like to encourage more Cook Islanders to join Teretereanga Vaka.

“This is an opportunity to work towards learning the lost art of traditional navigation, so why wouldn’t you want to be a part of that?”

Tairea said traditional navigation is important to learn “because it honours our ancestors and acknowledges the level of intelligence, skill and mastery that they had”.

He said through this programme more insight is acquired and absorbed about how knowledgeable the ancestors were, who they are, and their steadfast determination and courage to voyage and discover new land.

“I also believe traditional voyaging is a significant skill to learn considering this knowledge gives us a sense of independence.

“My personal goal is to one day sail often between the islands of Nga Pu Toru, and to encourage others to do.”

Tairea’s aspiration is becoming a reality, since he will be joining Teretereanga Vaka on Friday sailing on Paikea to Mitiaro as a crew member.

“I’ll gain more sailing experience.

“And I’d also like to help other beginners to discover a passion in voyaging, so that we can work together and encourage each other and to eventually take up the mantle from Captain Peia and continue to nurture the knowledge and pass it on.”

Three vaka crew from Mauke will also be joining the voyage. They are: Ngatama Mareta, Ngatupuna Oti and Pungaia Makitae.

Vaka Paikea is scheduled to depart Mitiaro on Saturday, October 21, for the island of Atiu to deliver Teretereanga Vaka. Paula Low from Mauke will be flying to Atiu to join the programme there.

For those on Atiu interested in the programme, contact Te Puna Marama Foundation trustee Cecile Marten on 54107.