Te Au-o-Tonga and Te Aurere off the East Coast, 2000

Te Au-o-Tonga and Te Aurere off the East Coast, 2000

The successes of the Hōkūle‘a led to a renaissance in Polynesian navigation and the sailing of traditional craft. Other vessels were built. Te Aurere (right), pictured here with Te Au-o-Tonga, was built by Hector Busby in 1991. The following year Te Aurere survived strong winds and high seas in a voyage from New Zealand to Rarotonga. This journey did not prove that return voyaging to Polynesia did occur; only that return voyaging was possible with the navigation techniques available to Polynesians. Listen to Pakake Winiata, a crew member on board Te Aurere, explain why the vessel was towed for parts of the voyage from New Zealand to Rarotonga.

Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero (Waka Te Aurere; Pakake Winiata/Reference number C930209G).