Vaka Marumaru Atua and Vaka Paikea have been relocated to the western seaside of Constitution Park to make way for developments for the Te Tau Papa o Avarua project.

Both vaka were moved from the harbour side of the park to their temporary home, where they will remain until the end of the cyclone season (December through April).

Captain Peia Patai, the master navigator of Vaka Paikea and a trustee of its board, Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation, met with Minister George “Maggie” Angene, Jojo Heather from T&M Heather, and Cook Islands General Transport (CIGT) earlier this week to discuss the move.

Without a custom-made trailer for Vaka Paikea, the only option is for the CIGT crane to lift the vaka onto and off the loading truck.

Yesterday morning, the relocation of both vaka was successful with the assistance of members from Te Puna Marama, the Cook Islands Voyaging Society, and its president, Ian Karika.

Patai expressed that building a purpose-built trailer for Paikea would make its transport on land much easier.

Te Tau Papa o Avarua project represents the envisioned future for the Avarua Township for the next 20 years, including infrastructure and landscaping activities to be carried out at the Punanga Nui Market and Rarotonga’s main central business district.

The 20-year masterplan, developed in 2019, has a proposed cost of $7.6 million through the joint Infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF).

Meanwhile Te Puna Marama Foundation will be holding their next workshop, “Iriiri Kapua No Runga i te Tuku Kaveinga Māori a te Ui Tupuna,” in Porirua, Wellington, on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 9am to 5pm at Te Akapuaànga Cook Islands Hall, 14 Mentor Lane, Cannons Creek, Porirua.

The workshop’s purpose is to discuss and document Māori names for stars and navigational tools.