29 Aug 2018

Hopes more young New Zealanders learn traditional navigation

7:10 am on 29 August 2018

There's a call for more young people to learn traditional navigation in New Zealand.

The Te Toki Voyaging Trust is running short sailings to raise funds for a three week voyage of the waka Haunui and 16 crew from Auckland to Norfolk Island in mid-September.

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Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Trust administrator Kereama Mcleod said more youth should get on board waka, especially Maori and Pasifika.

"The waka and moana connect us all and so if you are near a waka get involved," Kereama Mcleod said.

"In terms of identity, these waka, although they're a mixture of new technology but made in traditional ways, they are vessels in which we can trace back and reaffirm for a lot of people, especially Pacific people, their identity."

Kereama Mcleod said the Norfolk Trip is part of preparations for a 4000 nautical mile voyage to Hawai'i for the Pacific Arts Festival in 2020.

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