12:30 PM |
Ocean voyage will highlight environmental issues threatening the Pacific
Captain of the Uto Ni Yalo Jonathan Smith (left) with the crew's cultural adviser Manoa Rasigatale as he prepares for the traditional kava ceremony on Sunday. (Photo: Josephine Latu).
Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Josephine Latu.
Four vakas will set sail from Auckland Harbour this week on a pioneering group voyage to raise awareness about key environmental issues threatening the Pacific Ocean. With crew members hailing from a range of Pacific backgrounds, the voyage also aims to rebuild ancestral sea-faring traditions and cultural links between the islands.
Backed by German philanthropic conservationist group Okeanos Foundation for the Sea, the fleet of traditional style double-hull canoe vessels include the Uto Ni Yalo (Fijian crew), Marumaru Atua (Cook Islands crew), Te Matau a Maui (Aotearoa crew) and Hine Moana (Samoan, Vanuatu and Tongan crew).
Each vessel will carry a team of 16.
"For us, it's about re-establishing our links with our neighbours and revitalizing the traditional art of sailing, navigation and canoe-building… But it's also about highlighting the trouble our Pacific Ocean is in," said Fiji crewmember and president of the Fiji Voyaging Society, Colin Philp.
He said overfishing, coral reef destruction, pollution, and climate change were some of the issues they are trying to raise through workshops and training.
President of the Fiji Voyaging Society Colin Philp (third from left, back row) and some of the Fiji crew aboard the Uto Ni Yalo. (Photo: Josephine Latu).
The vakas (traditional sailing canoes) are scheduled to arrive in Raivavae, French Polynesia on May 1, where they will be joined by the Tahitian contingent on the Faafaite.
Over a three-month period, the fleet is set to travel from New Zealand to Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and back to New Zealand, with one vaka staying behind at each stop to continue training crew in environmentally sustainable methods.
"The Pacific has a small population, but we are custodians of the largest ocean…Our crew are spreading the word first amongst our own people, and then getting recognition from larger countries," Philp added.
Ancestral traditions, environment-friendly methods
Takitumu's Queen Pa Ariki (centre) with son Sam Napa and Angelie Robinson, both members of the Cook Islands crew. (Photo: Josephine Latu).
According to paramount chief of Takitumu in Rarotonga, Queen Pa Ariki, the vakas were modelled after a canoe that sailed from the Cook Islands to American Samoa for the 2008 Pacific Festival of Arts.
The 22-metre vessels were built by Salthouse Boatbuilders in Auckland, following the traditional double-hulled constructions of ancient Polynesian ships.
The hulls, lashed together using wooden beams and rope, also feature customary carving, colouring and insignias of each nation. Traditional flax sails and modern sails are used and two of the vaka include a solar power system for auxiliary propulsion.
Motors were ditched to avoid ocean noise pollution.
"It's an awesome start," said Pa Ariki. "People used to say that our ancestors drifted to these islands, but this proves we sailed as seafarers."
The only Tongan on the Hine Moana, 'Aunofo Havea, added that the cultural experience was "amazing".
"It serves reminds us of ancient times. Tongans used to be great seafarers but a lot of the knowledge has been lost," she said.
Please visit url for full story: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/04/ocean-voyage-will-highlight-environmental-issues-threatening-the-pacific/
----------------------------------------
pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
----------------------------------------
The pima.nius googlegroup is a facility for discussion and distributing information. Content sent by this googlegroup are forwarded from various networks and media publications.
DISCLAIMER: These emails are unedited and discussions made through this googlegroup are unmoderated. Announcements made through this googlegroup do not constitute endorsement for the organisations, individuals or opinions featured. Please check the integrity of organisations and individuals before exchanging personal information with them.
- - - - - - - - -
comment here:
http://groups.google.com/group/pima-nius/topics?hl=en
send an email comment here:
pima-nius@googlegroups.com
unsubscribe:
pima-nius+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
more options
http://groups.google.com/group/pima-nius?hl=en?hl=en
- - - - - - - - -
0 comments:
Post a Comment