Waitangi detour in place for significant waka visit

A detour for drivers visiting Waitangi Treaty Grounds will be in place today (Friday 14 November) and tomorrow (Saturday 15 November) due to crowds expected to celebrate the arrival of two traditional Polynesian voyaging canoes.

People will be directed away from the waterfront route to Waitangi Treaty Grounds from noon today until 6pm on Saturday 15 November and will instead use Te Kemara Avenue, taking them behind Te Tii Waitangi Marae and straight to Waitangi Bridge to access the upper grounds.

The historic ocean-going double-hulled waka Hōkūle'a first visited Aotearoa, landing at Waitangi, 40 years ago in 1985 after a journey across the Pacific from Hawaii. She will be accompanied by the sister vessel Hikanalia.

Te Hihiri o Te Rā, the arrival of Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia event is expected to be attended by hundreds of visitors and well-wishers, Far North District councillors and other dignitaries. Early on Saturday 15 November, a dawn ceremony raising a replacement pou whenua at Tou Rangatira will take place as part of the celebrations before the waka set sail for Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland to attend the World Indigenous People’s Conference on Education.

In 1985, Sir James Hēnare challenged Māori leadership to build a waka and sail to Hawaii. Hekenukumaingāiwi Puhipi (Hector Busby) rose to the challenge, building Te Aurere, which sparked a resurgence of celestial navigation without using instruments in open ocean voyaging. Te Aurere became the prototype for other waka.