Waka Warriors - First Episode

Television (Full Length Episodes) – 2015

In this first episode of the 2015 Māori Television series, three rangatahi answer a Facebook call for sailors who are up for reconnecting with nature and their culture, on a six week waka journey circumnavigating the North Island. The te ao Māori twist on the fish out of water reality show sees a trio of young Māori (including Boy discovery Rickylee Russell-Waipuka) set sail on Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr’s waka Haunui, where they’re separated from social media, face seasickness and rough seas, and learn the "ancient laws of voyaging". The winner gets the chance to join a voyage to Rarotonga.

Mereana Pitman talks about the waka as a kind of floating marae; you learn about the environment, how to live and work together and what it takes to survive in that natural environment. You have to connect and be in sync and work together.
– Massey University lecturer Te Rina (Krystal) Warren, to Stuff reporter Sienna Yates, 24 May 2015