TĀHERE TIKITIKI: THE MAKING OF A MĀORI CANOE

Master carver, Tohunga and elder, Piri Poutapu, Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) leads a group of young men into the forest with chants and karakia in order to clear their way during the selection and felling of two trees. Later these are transported and brought to rest on the banks of the Waikato River at Tūrangawaewae Marae for the building of a waka taua. With the official blessing of Te Atairangi Kaahu and under the supervision of Piri Poutapu, it took 18 months to complete the waka taua. The canoe was officially launched on August 10, 1972.c

He pakipūmeka i hanga mo te taraitia o te waka taua ko Tāhere Tikitiki tuarua kei Ngāruawāhia. Mai te topa i ngā rākau nui, taea ki te whakaterenga o te waka i runga i te wai o te awa o Waikato. Ko Piri Poutapu te tohunga tarai waka. Ka kitea te mana, te wehi, te tapu me te miharo o te mahi tahi me te whakaaro tahi o te iwi ki te tautoko te āhua me te tohu o tēnei mea te waka. Ka whakarere tēnei waka hei te ra tekau mā toru o Here-turi-kōka 1972.