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Kupe - Voyaging by the Stars

1993 Television
  • Māori
  • Pasifika
  • Documentary
  • NZ History
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About

According to Māori legend Aotearoa was found by the explorer Kupe, chasing an octopus from Ra'iatea, Tahiti. This documentary follows Northland building contractor Hekenukumai 'Hek' Busby, as he leads the construction of a waka hourua (double-hulled canoe), then retraces Kupe's course across the Pacific, back to Rarotonga. Busby first heads to Tahiti to learn navigation methods used by Polynesia's great ocean voyagers, then returns home to fell a kauri and begin building Te Aurere. Busby would go on to build at least another 20 waka. He passed away in May 2019.

Key Cast & Crew

Profile picture of Ian John
Ian John
Producer
GP
Glynnis Paraha
Narrator
PT
Pita Turei
Director
DH
Dean Hapeta (aka Te Kupu)
Composer

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