Next month is the 175th anniversary
of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
One of the planned events
is the sailing of the waka across the Bay of Islands,
and for the first time ever,
two waka from Hawai'i will join the fleet
as a part of the final leg of their voyage around the world.
Hikianalia and Hokule'a have been voyaging
around the Pacific for 18 months.
They've visited 11 countries
to promote Malama Honua (caring for the environment.
Malama Honua is about looking after the environment.
Malama Honua - it's about looking after the ocean.
And their voyaging has achieved a lot.
I spoke with the sailors while we were at sea.
They were talking about how the ocean is a living entity,
just as mankind are living beings.
Looking after the people and land.
That's the point of it all.
These two waka made landfall in NZ last November.
It's Hikianalia's first time here.
Hokule'a is a return visitor after 30 years.
The crew of both ships are here for five months
to share their knowledge.
When they docked in Whangarei, Te Karere was there.
Welcome aboard the Hokule'a.
There 12 sailors on this waka.
We have one captain and one navigator.
Meeting with people
who will preserve traditional knowledge
for the future.
I enjoy sailing,
especially getting the waka to speed along
and using the wind to traverse the ocean.
Experiences they brought with them to Auckland,
the final destination of their Malama Honua voyage.
These waka will be Auckland until February 6
when they will meet up with other waka to form a fleet
to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi.
And it won't be long before these waka depart
for foreign shores.
Hikianalia will return home to Hawai'i
while Hokule'a will sail the Indian Ocean,
leaving the Pacific Ocean for the first time.
They don't know when they'll be back.
What happens on the waka, stays on the waka!