Tokanui Waka - Nga Toi O Te Moana

OUR COLLABORATIVE ART DREAM:

Nga Toi O Te Moana is a creative project coordinated by Tokanui Trust. It is about sharing our love for the Moana and a celebration of waka connections across the Pacific.

We are dreaming of a creative collaboration that will support young artists, strengthen ties with waka whanau across the Pacific and enhance our waka workshop and learning space with both painted and carved work.

Pierre Kaiha, a carver from the Marqueses, will come and stay with us in Tutukaka, Whangarei. He will share his knowledge and guide us in delivering carving wananga for rangatahi from around Te Tai Taokerau. Through this, our Pasifika community and children from local schools will feel connected as Tangata Moana.

Kahuetahi Kaiha, a Marquesian filmmaker living in Aotearoa, will assist us in documenting our work together.

As well as carving workshops, a mural will be painted on the wall of “Moata” our whare waka. This is a project led by young artists and will depict the voyaging and wayfinding traditions of our tupuna, which Tokanui draws on as we navigate towards bright horizons.

WHAT WILL THE FUNDS PAY FOR?

Our funds will go towards:

• Cost of materials for both carving and mural work
• Cost of holding wananga with community and schools
• Stipend for artists
• Filming costs for a short video of the event

ABOUT TOKANUI TRUST:

Tokanui is here to connect people to the Moana through kaupapa waka.

Our Kaihautu is Joelene Busby, mokopuna and navigation student of Sir Hekenukumai Busby. She is one of the first wahine to circumnavigate Aotearoa using traditional voyaging ways on a waka hourua. She is an experienced waka captain.

Significantly, our workshop is wahine led and we empower woman to be on the water; as builders, sailers, wayfinders and crew. Through this, we work for the well-being of all people and the Moana.

Tokanui is providing learning opportunities for rangatahi and everyone on the following:

• Construction of different waka
• Sailing and paddling
• Paddle making
• Lashing techniques
• Star compass and celestial navigation
• Marine science and conservation (Tūtūkākā Harbour Kelp Reforestation project)
• Boating education and water safety
• Matauranga and tikanga associated with waka

Our projects always include tamariki, whanau, local craftspeople and the wider community. During our events you will see babies, nanas and everyone working side by side. It is a collaboration of all people who have a love for waka and the Moana.

Through kaupapa waka we reconnect to our tupuna and remember their voyages across the Moana to Aotearoa. The mātauranga of kaupapa waka shows us how to respect and enhance the mauri of the Moana and realign our lives to our ancestral knowledge and practices. 

We believe that with this relationship comes a strong sense of kaitiakitanga. Therefore, Tokanui delivers wananga that helps people learn about, protect and preserve the realm of Tangaroa.

Our vision is to create a community that embraces the Moana as an integral part of our identity and wellbeing," says Joelene Busby, of Tokanui Trust.

Tokanui aims to eventually build a large voyaging waka hourua for rangatahi to learn all of the arts of waka and wayfinding. 

Kaupapa waka participant:

“Waka is beautiful. Being in the water or even just on land with a paddle in my hand and learning signals or certain hakas, helps my health both mentally and physically. Whenever I feel mamae I take it to Tangaroa and let the tide come in and take it out again. I let go and I know everything will be alright”