Ngahuia Mita

Waka are bastions of Māori and Pacific identity and culture that enabled Polynesian ancestors to navigate across Te Moananui a Kiwa the Pacific Ocean to settle in Aotearoa. In this research, Dr Mita will investigate kaitiakitanga within waka hourua practices, by studying the lived experiences of those involved in waka voyages. This will yield deeper insights into fundamental values and principles like whanaungatanga social connection and manaakitanga principles of care. The research will undertake a systematic review of existing literature and multimedia sources, and collect new data through interviews, to gather evidence that underpins a better understanding of how waka practices influence identity and hauora health and overall wellbeing. The research will also support the preservation of mātauranga knowledge and kaupapa practices surrounding waka hourua double hulled sailing canoes for future generations.

Ka tūhura a Tākuta Ngahuia Mita (Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hako) o Rehutai Consulting me Tairāwhiti Waka i te āhua o te noho a ngā waka hei kaitiaki, hei waka hauora me te oranga. He pou ngā waka mō te tuakiri me te ahurea i taea ai e ngā tīpuna o Poronīhia te whakatere i Te Moananui-a-Kiwa kia noho ai ki Aotearoa. I tēnei rangahau, ka tūhuratia e Tākuta Mita te kaitiakitanga i roto i ngā tikanga o te waka hourua, mā te rangahau i ngā wheako o ngā kaumoana waka hourua. Ka puta i tēnei ngā kitenga whānui e pā ana ki ngā uara me ngā mātāpono taketake pērā i te whanaungatanga me te manaakitanga. I roto i te rangahau ko te arotake i ngā tuhituhinga me ngā puna rongorau onāianei, me te kohikohi i ngā raraunga hou mā ngā uiui, te kohikohi whakaaturanga e mārama ake ai ki te pānga o ngā tikanga waka ki te tuakiri me te hauora me te oranga whānui. Ka tautoko hoki te rangahau i te tiaki i te mātauranga me ngā tikanga o te kaupapa e pā ana ki te waka hourua mō ngā reanga o āpōpō.

Dr Ngahuia Mita and fellow kaumoana Jay Love onboard Tairāwhiti Waka with local tamariki (Photo: Tairāwhiti Waka)