Nature provides hurdles in Pacific MUA voyage

Traditional vaka voyagers from the Pacific are already drawing much needed attention to the region's environmental and global warming concerns – a message Pacific island leaders will convey at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Parks Congress in Sydney on November 12. Pictured is Vaka Marumaru Atua anchored on the Gold Coast two weeks ago when the MUA voyager made a historical stop in the region – the first time by traditional Pacific voyagers. Since leaving the Cook Islands on the MUA voyage, Marumaru Atua was joined by Fiji's Vaka Uto Ni Yalo and Samoa's Gaualofa and together the three double hulled canoes have been raising the profile of the Pacific's voice leading up to the conservation congress. Yesterday the voyagers were welcomed at the Yarra Bay Sailing Club with the welcome ceremony lead by the Samoa and Tongan community. The vessels have faced rough sailing conditions as they cruise the coast of Australia to Sydney.