Waka (canoe) - Other Materials Used

Other Materials Used

Some waka, particularly in the Chatham Islands, were not conventional canoes, but were constructed from raupo (bulrushes) or flax stalks. In April 2011 Te Puni Kokiri, The Maori Development Agency, announced a joint venture with an Auckland tribe, to build a plastic PVC waka as a promotion for local Maori. Most of the $2 million funding comes from the taxpayer but the tribe is contributing $100,000 and will retain ownership after the event. The "tupper waka" as it has been called in the media, is actually a small conference facility for well off visitors during the world rugby competition being held in New Zealand in September 2011. The graphic on TV shows that it is largely a promotional device with seating, tables and a bar. It will not be open to the general public according to the media briefing. The waka taua Te Tuhono in the National Museum of Scotland was restored and partially reconstructed by the Maori craftsman George Nuku, using carved Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) to recreate missing sections.