Model camakau (outrigger sailing canoe)

This is a model of a camakau, a fast and highly manoeuvrable outrigger canoe used to travel among the islands of Fiji. Although its history is unknown, it was probably made in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

Materials and decoration techniques
The average length of a full size camakau was twelve metres, and some are reported as being up to thirty metres in length. The hulls were made from a single trunk, or in the case of larger vessels, two trunks joined together. Larger vessels required a crew of forty men to handle the large triangular sail and rigging. The sail was made from pandanus mats and could be very heavy, but all reports mention the great dexterity with which crews managed to handle them.

Significance
Models of canoes and other sailing vessels from the Pacific have long been popular collectors items and there are many in Te Papa's collections. With increased tourism the demand for canoe models has increased, along with a general decline in the standards of workmanship. Old models from the early and late twentieth century often display great detail and are a fascinating insight into a disappearing aspect of Pacific maritime tradition.