Whetū Mārama – Bright Star

For Māori, the canoe underpins our culture. “ If it wasn’t for the waka we wouldn’t be here today and that’s the long and short of it” (Hek Busby)

We once built waka/canoes from giant trees and sailed the vast Pacific by the stars.  These arts were lost to us for 600 years. Then the stars re-aligned and three men from far flung islands met by chance to revive our place as the greatest navigators on the planet, a Hawaiian, a Micronesian and Hek Busby, “The Chief” from Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Whetū Mārama-Bright Star is the story of Sir Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Puhipi, Hek Busby, his significance to Te Ao Māori, the Māori world, in rekindling their wayfinding DNA and for all New Zealanders in reclaiming our place as traditional star voyages on the world map.   

For us the ultimate underlying focus of Whetū Mārama – Bright Star is the story of a culture that understands an inner compass. Being at sea, trying to find your way across a vast ocean without modern technology - makes you completely dependent on the natural world to find your way.  Find your way at sea - find who you are - find your way in life.  Hec talks of always knowing where he is - a sense of connection to his ancestors '"lying just below the surface". His voyaging has reconnected his crews with their inbuilt GPS systems and they in turn are teaching and inspiring the next generation, building a bridge back into our past to take us forward into the future.