Whetu Marama Bright Star

For Māori, the canoe underpins our culture. “If it wasn’t for the waka we wouldn’t be here today and that’s the long and short of it” - Hek Busby.

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We once built waka/canoes from giant trees and sailed the vast Pacific by the stars. These arts were lost to us for 600 years. Then the stars re-aligned and three men from far flung islands met by chance to revive our place as the greatest navigators on the planet, a Hawaiian, a Micronesian and Hek Busby, “The Chief” from Aotearoa/New Zealand.

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Whetu Marama - Bright Star is the story of Sir Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Phuipi, Hek Busby, and his significance to Te Ao Maori, the Maori world, in rekindling their way-finding DNA and ancient navigation kaupapa - knowledge and lore, via an extraordinary connection with Mau via Hawaii. Thus al New Zealanders can reclaim our place as traditional star voyagers on the world and especially Pacific map, although one waka even connected with Leiden in the Netherlands. The ultimate underlying focus of Whetu Marama is the story of a curious culture that reconnects with its amazingly capable inner compass and can find its way over Te Moana - the ocean to all Pacific people.