Tuia 250 Waka Hourua – Whangaparāoa

Te Whānau a Kauaetangohia, Te Ūngāwaka, Whangaparāoa Mai Tawhiti will host Tuia – Encounters 250 - A national commemoration of the first meetings of Māori and Pākehā.

The most significant event is the coastal voyage of three waka hourua, including Ngāhiraka-mai-tawhiti (Tauranga), Haunui (Tainui) and a va’a moana Fa’afaite (Tahiti). These waka will make landfall at Whangaparāoa commemorating the arrival of the waka tīpuna to Taungāwaka, Te Haika o Tainui, Whangaparāoa between 1000-1200AD.

The flotilla will also include three smaller vessels (waka hauiti) travelling up the east coast from Ūawa. This is a momentous occasion for Te Whānau a Kauaetangohia, Te Whānau ā Apanui and Aotearoa. The cultural significance of the landing place of the ancestral waka from Hawaaiki plays a pivotal part in the history of this country.

Kīngi Tuheitia will also be present at the whakatau waka hourua to the Haika o Tainui beach front.

The schedule for the long weekend of activities is:

Saturday, September 28
- 10am Te Whānau a Apanui will whakatau Te Arikinui
- 11am Te Whānau a Apanui, Kīngi Tuheitia and his support group to whakatau waka hourua to the Haika o Tainui beach front. Once whakatau is complete, the waka crew will be taken by bus to Kauaetangohia Marae
- 1pm pohiri to waka hourua crews and nga hau e wha – onto Kauaetangohia Marae
- 3pm Hakari
- Whangaparāoa
- 8.30pm Po Whakangahau at Kauaetangohia Marae for waka hourua crews.

Sunday, September 29
- 8am Parakuihi, Kauaetangohia Marae
- Ngā kōrero o Te Whatianga
- Hīkoi, Taungā Waka & Lunch, Puketapu, Ngutu Awa
- Waka activities
- Kai o te Pō
- Wānanga54.

Monday, September 30
- 8am Parakuihi
- Poroporoaki / Karakia
- Departure of waka hourua.

This event is part of the Tuia 250 Encounters programme.