Te Kawau

Rukutia tā Te Kawau ruku

  • Te Kawau ki tai

    Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is proud to present Te Kawau, a traditional Māori waka taua (canoe).

    Named after the Kawau bird, known for its endurance and deep diving ability, this waka symbolises perseverance and the deep connection to the ocean shared by Māori who are the indigenous people of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are the the kaitiaki, the indigenous guardians of Te Kawau.

    Te Kawau honors our tupuna and celebrates our ancestral connection to the moana.

Ko wai te ingoa o tēnei waka? ko Te Kawau
What is the name of this waka? It is Te Kawau
Mō wai tēnei waka? Mō ngā uri o Tuperiri
Who is this waka for? For the descendents of Tuperiri

On, 23 June, 2024 and in a stunning ceremony, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei launched Te Kawau on to our ancestral waters of the Waitematā.

I poho kawau a Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei i te whakamānutanga waka taua. This is the first time in nearly a quarter of a century that Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has a ceremonial waka designed to showcase the deep connection to our ancestral moana Te Waitematā and reaffirm Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as not only tangata whenua but also tangata moana.

Creation and Traditional Practices

The creation of a waka taua is a process steeped in both physical craftsmanship and spiritual significance. The process begins with the selection of a large tree, typically a bigger tree, a Totara or Kauri. This selection was not merely a practical choice but also a spiritual one. The tree was often chosen with the guidance of tohunga (spiritual experts), who performed rituals and incantations to acknowledge the tree’s life force (mauri) and to seek permission from the gods and ancestors.

Once the tree was felled, it was hollowed out and shaped into the canoe’s form, a process that could take several years. The carving was done by expert carvers (also known as tohunga whakairo), who imbued the waka with intricate designs and symbolic patterns. These carvings often represented ancestors, deities, and important cultural stories, each contributing to the canoe's spiritual strength and the mana of the tribe. The stern (taurapa) and bow (tauihu) of the waka were particularly significant, often featuring elaborate carvings that told the story of the tribe's heritage and aspirations.

The entire process was a communal effort, requiring the labour and cooperation of many people within the tribe, from the carvers to those who gathered and prepared materials. The construction of a waka taua was also accompanied by various ceremonies and rituals, ensuring that the waka was not just a physical object but a vessel of spiritual power and tribal identity.