A two-year, once-in-a-lifetime voyage came to an end for a Hastings man when the sailing waka Te Matau A Maui pulled into port at Ahuriri yesterday morning.
Tawhana Chadwick was one of just two crew members who sailed the entire return journey from New Zealand, through the Pacific to the west coast of North and South America.
The waka hourua, or double-hull vessel, was one of seven which completed the trip to raise awareness of the marine environment. There were several legs of the journey, and each offered a chance for people to be part of the crew, but Mr Chadwick and skipper Frank Kawe, from Tauranga, were the mainstay throughout the journey.
"We arrived here midnight [Wednesday] and we were felling pretty good about coming into port. We celebrated and it was just a big buzz, especially for myself and Frank; we've been on board the waka for the past two years and finally have come home."
Mr Chadwick initially planned to be part of the waka voyage for the only first leg but after three months became hooked on sailing and learning about celestial navigation.