Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation has launched its Teretereanga Vaka programme on Mauke, providing educational opportunities for youth on the island to participate in a course that promotes and preserves the art of traditional voyaging and navigation.

Vaka Paikea’s captain Peia Patai and crew were welcomed ashore on Mauke on Monday morning and hosted with a breakfast feast by the Island Council. The Island Council encouraged the delivery of Teretereanga Vaka.

Patai said he is pleased to have the programme in Nga Pu Toru (Mauke, Mitiaro, Atiu) starting with Mauke, up and running.

“This is a good opportunity for our young people in our outer islands to learn about traditional navigation,” he said.

Patai thanked the Island Council, Ui Ariki and the community of Mauke for their support and hospitality, and UNESCO for making the course possible.

Nane Teokotai Vainepoto Papa of Mauke acknowledged Patai and Te Puna Marama Foundation for the delivery of the course, which encourages their youth to learn more knowledge and skills about the “Peu Māori” of traditional navigation.

The induction of the week-long programme was delivered on Monday to the 12 participants, which includes five young women. Each student received a training manual and uniform.

Paikea crew member Zeb Revake conducted the participants’ swim test that involved a 300-metre swim and 30 minutes of “treading water” in Mauke harbour.

Lessons continued on Tuesday, and as part of the training, the students will experience a sail on Vaka Paikea to Mitiaro and back to Mauke.

Te Puna Marama aspires to provide trained crew the opportunity to sail to other islands of the Cook Islands, Aotearoa New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti and Samoa. It also hopes to identify those who are keen to continue on the path to train to become a traditional navigator.

Paikea departed Avana harbour, Rarotonga over the weekend on Saturday at 1.30pm for Mauke.

During the voyage, the crew landed two skipjack tuna followed by fresh sashimi meals, and were “blessed” to see many whales passing by.

The Rarotonga-Mauke crew are: Zeb Revake, Olly Oolders, Ian Tairea, Mao Onesemo (Samoa Voyaging Society - SVS), Kimiora Patai, Captain Peia Patai, Temanava Patai, Robert Matapo and Kalolo Steffany (SVS).