Kupe - Voyaging by the Stars

Forget the idea that sailing’s fun — it’s not, not what you guys are going to be doing. For me — when I go to sea, and I’ve done it so many times — it’s the compelling challenge and the adventure of it all ... trying to find islands 1000s of miles away with no instruments. You get this strong sense of understanding your heritage and this tremendous pride and respect for your ancestors, because in a lot of ways you’re dealing with the exact same elements that they did.

– Hawaiian Naenoa Thompson, director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, to Te Aorere’s prospective crew

Because a canoe like this has not been tested in over 400 years, you need to do the initial sea trials first: put it in the water and test it ...

– Naenoa Thompson, director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society

Waka can be built and maintained with the simplest of tools, but this way’s quicker, and Hec’s not shy of the 20th Century!

– Narrator Glynnis Paraha, on Busby’s use of his bridge building machinery to help with the waka construction