Te Au o Tonga explained

Te Au o Tonga ("the mist of the South")^[1] is a reconstruction of a vaka moana, a double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe. It was built in 1994 by former Cook Islands Prime Minister Thomas Davis and the Cook Islands Voyaging Society.^[2] It was used to teach polynesian navigation.

The vaka is made of laminated wood, 72 feet long, with a displacement of 10 to 12 tons, and a crew of 18.^[1] It has inspired other designs,^[3] being used by the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea as a model for a group of fibreglass-hulled replicas, including Marumaru Atua,^[4] and later by the Te Aurere Voyaging Society in New Zealand as a model for their kauri-hulled Te Aurere.^[5] It has also featured in the filmThe Legend of Johnny Lingo.^[4]

Since 2002 the vaka has been based in Aitutaki.^[4] In 2012 it completed a refit, with repairs to the hull and crossbeams.^[3] In 2014 it completed a further refit, which replaced the hull, decks, and spars.^[6] It is currently used for training and tourism trips in the Aitutaki lagoon.^[6]

Voyages

• In 1995 Te Au o Tonga made an inaugural voyage to Raiatea, Tahiti, Nuku Hiva, Hawaii, Molokai and Oahu.^[4]
• In August 1995 it sailed as part of a protest fleet against a resumption of French nuclear testing at Moruroa.^{[7] [8]}
• In 1996 it sailed to Samoa for the VII Pacific Arts Festival, and then to Tonga and New Zealand.^[4]
• In 1999 it sailed to Auckland, New Zealand, for the opening of the Americas's Cup challenge,^[9] and then on to Gisborne for the Millennium celebrations.^[4] It later returned to Auckland for the America's Cup regatta.^[10]
• In 2002 it sailed to Tahiti, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Borabora, and Mitiaro.^[4]
• In July 2008 it sailed to American Samoa for the Festival of Pacific Arts.^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Te Au O Tonga . Cook Islands Voyaging Society . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200729063441/https://www.cookislandsvoyaging.org/our-vaka/te-au-o-tonga/ . 29 July 2020.
2. Web site: The Cook Islands Voyaging Society Strategic Plan 2018-2023 . Cook Islands Voyaging Society . 3 . 18 August 2020.
3. Web site: Vaka Te Au O Tonga is back . Cook Islands News . 12 September 2012 . 13 November 2020.
4. Web site: History of Voyaging . Cook Islands Voyaging Society . 18 August 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804084222/https://www.cookislandsvoyaging.org/featured/history-of-voyaging/ . 4 August 2020.
5. Web site: NZ vaka modelled on Te Au O Tonga . Cook Islands News . 8 January 2018 . 13 November 2020.
6. Web site: New chapter for much-loved vaka . Cook Islands News . 17 June 2014 . 13 November 2020.
7. Web site: Anti-nuclear ‘dream team’ reunite . Loop . 30 August 2015 . Quintina Naime . 13 November 2020.
8. Web site: Protest Vessels Ring Test Site, Awaiting Signs of First Blast . AP News . CHRISTOPHE MARQUAND . 1 September 1995 . 13 November 2020.
9. News: America's Cup underway with vibrant Pasifika flavour . Pacific Islands Monthly . 69 . 11 . 53 . 1 November 1999 . 13 November 2020 . National Library of Australia.
10. Web site: Sailing in the wake of early navigators . New Zealand Herald . Nick Perry . 30 June 2000 . 13 November 2020.
11. Web site: Cook Islands . Jon Tikivanotau M. Jonassen . Project Muse . 13 November 2020.