Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation has successfully completed their Teretereanga Vaka programme in Mangaia, 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 and its crew arrived back to Rarotonga this week after days of theory and practical training in Mangaia. This was the final workshop in a series held in the Southern Group.

The programme included discussions on and the collection of Māori traditional knowledge names for stars and other navigational tools.

Mangaia students who participated in the programme were: Hinemoana “Moana” Noo, Christopher “Kory” Tangapiri, Aaron Harry, Tuaine Papatua, Tiare Pukenga, Terepai “Tere” Ivaiti, Roseleen Atariki and Naomi William.

Traditional voyaging master navigator, Captain Peia Patai, ran the training supported by the crew.

The students were also taken through the operating procedures of the canoe, safety drills, the raising and lowering of the sails, tacking, and most importantly the man overboard procedures. 

Crew member Zebadiah Revake put the trainees through a swim test which consisted of treading water for 30 minutes and a 300-metre swim. 

Vaka Paikea crew members are grateful to the community of Mangaia for being wonderful hosts and the students for their participation.

Since Paikea cannot moor inside Mangaia’s harbour, the crew members were required to stay onboard to keep watch during the night.

Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation would like to acknowledge the Pawanka Fund for supporting this project and the Australian High Commission, Cook Islands for funding the programme in Mangaia. 

The Foundation has also delivered the programme in Nga Pu Toru islands of Mauke, Mitiaro and Atiu.