Te Matau a Māui is a 22 meter waka hourua (double hulled voyaging canoe) named after Maui’s fish-hook. Fishing up ‘an island’ is a Polynesian metaphor for finding islands using traditional navigation.
The grandmother’s jawbone represents oral knowledge handed down by ancestors. Te Matau-a-Māui was one of seven ocean going sailing waka built in 2009 to voyage together on an environmental campaign which spanned 18 months, dozens of Pacific Islands and over 40,000 miles.
Te Matau-a-Māui Waka
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Visiting Info
You can explore Hawke Bay aboard ‘Te Matau a Māui’, enjoying the hospitality and warmth of a friendly crew as they share their passion for sailing with you along with stories of Polynesian migration and local Māori history and legend, including how their ancestors navigated by the stars.
When not at sea you will find Te Matau-a-Māui moored at West Quay, Ahuriri in Napier.
