About the Voyage
Cast your gaze to Te Moananui a Kiwa – the mighty Pacific Ocean – from the shores of Aotearoa New Zealand this October to December, and you’ll be treated to the sight of the Tuia 250 Voyage – a journey of national significance.
Crews on two waka hourua from Aotearoa, three tall ships including the Endeavour replica from Australia, and the va’a tipaerua Fa’afaite from Tahiti are sailing to and engaging with 14 communities.
And in an experience of a lifetime, hundreds of New Zealanders from all over the country have been accepted as Tuia 250 Voyage Trainees, and their creative responses to this inspirational journey will be shared on our social media channels.
Visit the Vessels
On land, vessel crews and communities share stories and teach about Pacific, Māori and European sailing and navigation.
Family-friendly events in many regions include activities, displays, a pop-up planetarium, roadshow trucks and speakers, and a chance to get onboard the vessels. Find out here how you can visit the vessels when they come to a location near you.
The Voyage Schedule
You can download the full schedule here (PDF), which includes the vessels that will be at each location.
The schedule is subject to change depending on weather and maritime conditions. We will make updates here and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Follow the Flotilla Online
Wherever you are in the world you can follow the progress of the flotilla with the interactive tracker. You can also watch the live broadcast of the arrival of the voyaging waka of the Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla during opening events in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa (Gisborne) on Saturday 5 October on TV1 and Māori TV – or come along!
The crew of Fa’afaite are representing their ancestor, the ‘arioi and revered navigator Tupaia. He was pivotal in communicating with Māori. The route of the va’a echoed the vast ocean distances travelled by Pacific peoples for centuries.
The two waka hourua in the flotilla – Haunui and Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti – are also using the celestial navigation of their Māori tupuna to navigate the Tuia 250 Voyage route. Learn more about our Te Moananui (Pacific) voyaging heritage.
Meet the Vessels
There are six vessels in the Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla, showcasing the Pacific, Māori and European voyaging traditions that brought us together. There are three ngā waka and three tall ships:
- a Pacific va’a tipaerua: the Fa’afaite from Tahiti
- two Māori waka hourua: the Haunui and Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti from Aotearoa New Zealand
- three European tall ships: the HMB Endeavour replica from Australia, and the R.Tucker Thompson and Spirit of New Zealand.
Va’a Tipaerua
Fa’afaite, a double-hulled voyaging canoe from Tahiti representing the origin of our Pacific people, as well as representing Tupaia as an important communicator and mediator between Māori and Cook.
This vessel is the main asset of Fa’afaite-Tahiti Voyaging Society, a non-profit organization created in 2009. Its goal: to help the renewal of ancestral navigation, without instrument. Fa’afaite means reconciliation, which reflects our desire to reconcile man with nature, his culture and his ancestral roots. The organisation is part of a local network, bringing together more than 20 cultural and environmental protection associations.
| Vessel name | Fa’afaite – from the Tahiti Voyaging Society – travelling from Pape’ete, Tahiti return |
| Gross tonnage | 14 tons |
| Full dimensions | Length: 22m Beam: 6.5m Draft: 2.10m |
| Year built | 2009 (TBC) |
| Flag | Cook Islands |
| Certifying authority / class | Novelship / Recreational vessel |
| Power | 220v AC |
Waka Hourua
Waka hourua represent Māori and their voyaging and trading capability, where they came and went from New Zealand, the great fleets, and subsequent voyagers right up until today, demonstrating the blue water sailing capability of Maori both historically and currently.
Haunui – This waka hourua was originally given the name Va’atele and made for American Samoa. His maiden voyage was from American Samoa to Samoa in 2009, however when a tsunami hit the island the waka was damaged and left. When Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr took responsibility of the waka through the Te Toki Voyaging Trust, it was renamed ‘Haunui’. More about the story of Haunui: tetokiwakahourua.org
| Vessel name | Haunui – from Te Toki Voyaging Trust – travelling from Auckland, New Zealand return |
| Gross tonnage | 11 tonnes |
| Full dimensions | Length: 22m, Beam: 6.5m, Draft: 0.5m (without centreboards) to 1.7m (with centreboards down). |
| Year built | 2009 |
| Flag | New Zealand [NZ] |
| Certifying authority / class | Authority Class: Maritime NZ Part 40G Novelship (MNZ 135064) Area of operation: Unlimited / Certified Passenger ship: CAT 1 |
| Power | 220 AC |
Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti – In 2000, Sir Hekenukumai Puhipi (Sir Hector Busby) began the build of a second waka hourua Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti, named after his late wife, with a view to ‘closing the Polynesian Triangle’ by sailing to Rapa Nui (Easter Island). This vessel was part of the Waka Tapu voyage in 2012, departing Auckland and sailing 10,000 nautical miles return to Rapa Nui, before returning to Doubtless Bay on the east coast of the Northland region. Read more about Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti and the Waka Tapu project.
| Vessel name | Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti – from Te Puna i Rangiriri Trust – travelling from Tauranga, New Zealand return |
| Gross tonnage | 9 tonnes |
| Full dimensions | Length: 15.8m Beam: 4.8m Draft: 0.5 – 1.7m |
| Year built | 2005 |
| Flag | New Zealand [NZ] |
| Certifying authority / class | Maritime NZ Part 40G Novelship |
| Power | 2×12 Volt house batteries and charges starter battery for outboard. Outboard motor is wired to give batteries top up charge. House batteries can be run in parallel and series |
Tall Ships
The HMB Endeavour replica represents the original Endeavour, as well as the Royal Society’s commitment in 1760’s to explore the world and map land to further understand navigational capability, including observing the transit of Venus and other scientific enquiries that form some basis of our knowledge today. The R. Tucker Thompson and Spirit of New Zealand will represent both trading and voyaging capability and the subsequent migration that occurred as a result of those first onshore encounters.
HMB Endeavour – Construction of the Endeavour replica began in 1988 in Western Australia and the ship was launched five years later. Since then, she has sailed more than 170,000 nautical miles twice around the world, visited 29 countries and many Pacific islands, and opened as a museum in 116 ports.
| Vessel name | HMB Endeavour – from the Australian National Maritime Museum – travelling from Sydney, Australia return |
| Gross tonnage | 397 tonnes |
| Full dimensions | Length Overall x Breadth Extrstronge: 44m × 9m.Length: 43.6 m (143 ft), bowsprit to stern/Beam: 9.28 m (30.4 ft) Height: 28 m (92 ft) mainmast / Draught: 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Year built | 1994 |
| Flag | Australia [AU] |
| Certifying authority / class | Australian Maritime Safety Authority |
Read more about HMB Endeavour: https://www.sea.museum/whats-on/vessels/hmb-endeavour
R. Tucker Thompson – The traditional gaff-rigged schooner was started by R. Tucker Thompson in the late 1970s as a project to embody the best features of a traditional design, married to the materials of today. She has a very high reputation in the traditional sailing world and is considered a perfect example of a working Tall Ship with the advantage of being new and safe. The R. Tucker Thompson is operated by a not-for-profit charitable trust. All income derived from tourism sailing activities are used for her maintenance, as well as providing a contribution to help Northland youth access the sail training voyages. In this way, the ship can continue to provide pleasure and learning to people of all ages; young and old, Māori and Pākehā, visitors and Northlanders alike.
| Vessel name | R Tucker Thompson – from the R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust – travelling from the Bay of Islands return |
| Gross tonnage | 44 tonnes – approved to carry up to 49 passengers within Inshore Waters, 12 Nautical Miles of the coast from North Cape to East Cape. |
| Full dimensions | Length: 17.8m, Beam: 4.88m, Draft: 2.6m |
| Year built | 1985 |
| Flag | New Zealand [NZ] |
| Certifying authority / class | Maritime NZ / passenger vessel / number 100492 |
Read more about R. Tucker Thompson: https://tucker.co.nz/
Spirit of New Zealand – The Spirit is a three-masted barquentine and is believed to be the world’s busiest youth training ship. She is at sea for more than 300 days a year and is owned by the Spirit of Adventure Trust. The Trust’s mission is to empower a diverse range of young Kiwis to reach their full potential through the challenge of the sea. Ongoing research by Otago University has fully endorsed the positive outcomes the Trust’s programme achieves for young people, their families and their communities.
| Vessel name | Spirit of New Zealand – from Spirit of Adventure Trust – travelling from Auckland, New Zealand return |
| Gross tonnage | 184 tonnes (gross registered) – 55.32 (net tonnage) |
| Full dimensions | Length: 45.2m, Beam: 10m, Draft: 4m (Legal overall length on deck 33.25m) |
| Year built | 1986 |
| Flag | New Zealand [NZ] |
| Certifying authority / class | Maritime NZ 875169 (MNZ 100620), Anti-foul current |
| Power | 12v and 24v DC and 230v AC |
Read more about the Spirit of New Zealand