A dream of building the world's first traditional waka navigational school is now well on its way to becoming reality in Doubtless Bay.
The ground has been blessed, the foundations laid and the framing erected for the Kupe Waka Centre at Aurere, on family land of master waka builder Hekenukumai Busby. The roof will go on next.
The project is being driven by Te Tai Tokerau Tarai Waka committee and fulfils a dream Mr Busby has held for 30 years.
Project spokesman James Watkinson said the centre's purpose was to preserve and disseminate knowledge based on the teachings of Mr Busby, a world-renowned expert in waka building and traditional celestial navigation. "This will certainly be a world first and nothing excites us more than the ability to house the knowledge of our ancestors and provide this as a home to waka navigational history and teachings to generations to come," he said.
"Uncle Hek is an absolute powerhouse in terms of his knowledge - he isn't just a waka builder and navigator, he's a businessman. This project has been entirely his vision for the future."
