Vaka (outrigger canoe)

The Niuean vaka (canoe) and the ancient practice of vaka building continues to remain integral to Niuean culture. The vaka is a physical manifestation of the connection between people, land and the sea. The most common type of vaka fournd in Niue is the outrigger canoe, a capacity of one or two people, useful for fishing the tahi (near coastal waters) of Niue.

Vaka from Niue have a torpedo shaped hull, ama (outrigger float), kiato (outrigger booms) and tutuki (small sticks) that are attached to the kiato and secure the ama in place. This vaka was transported back to Aotearoa New Zealand by Donald Evans, previously a resident of Niue, who would often use the canoe to fish in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington harbour and on holidays on Lake Taupō.

Background

This model vaka was made in Niue from 1973 - 1974 by master vaka maker, Dr. Harry Nemaia, Piavale from Alofi North and the vaka's owner, Donald who was stationed in Niue as the Secretary to the Resident Commissioner for five years in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Te Papa’s collection holds a rare image taken as part of the Dominion Museum Science Expedition in the 1970s (Reference: CT.027500). This image depicts Harry, Piavale and Donald with other men surrounding a moota tree (dysoxylum forsteri) shaped and dug out as part of the vaka building process.

Significance

This vaka is significant as it was made during a time when new fishing technologies were introduced to Niue in the 1960s and 1970s, and the use of indigenous vaka decreased significantly. Motorised dinghies proved easier to operate on the open sea and the quantities of fish caught were significantly higher than that of indigenous methods involving a vaka.

Historically, the making of vaka was undertaken by households or family groups. From the 1960s the practice became uncommon and the profession is now reserved for specialist vaka makers who are paid for their work.

Donald returned to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1974, the same year Niue gained self-government in free association with New Zealand. The vaka travelled here on the one of the last voyages of the cargo/passenger ship Moana Roa, a government supply ship that travelled monthly throughout the 1960s and 1970s to the Pacific, until it was taken over by the Royal NZ Navy in 1974. Together with other cargo/passenger ships Maui Pomare and Matua, the Moana Roa (commonly referred to as banana boats) were the main transportation route for not only trade products, but also Pacific people as they migrated in large numbers to New Zealand.