{"product_id":"biography-of-a-waka-the","title":"Biography of a Waka, The","description":"\u003cp\u003eWINTER CLEARANCE 30% OFF\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"strapline\"\u003eThe power of mana waka to inspire a people\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"strapline\"\u003eShortlisted for the 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the biography of the mighty ceremonial waka taua\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eNgātokimatawhaorua\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethat rests on the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inspiration for its construction came from Te Puea Hērangi. In the late 1930s the Waikato leader held a dream to build seven waka taua for the 1940 centennial commemorations at Waitangi. By 1937 two waka had been commissioned. Carved in Northland under the guidance of Pita Heperi (Te Tai Tokerau) and Piri Poutapu  (Waikato),\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eNgātokimatawhaorua\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas one of them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut it was to be many decades before the true power of the waka to inspire a people was realised. In 1974\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eNgātokimatawhaorua\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas refurbished by the late Sir Heke-nuku-mai-nga-iwi ‘Hec’ Busby for relaunching during Waitangi Day ceremonies. It was then that Te Puea’s dream turned into reality. By 1990, The Year of the Waka, 22 waka and their 2000 crew gathered at Waitangi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNgātokimatawhaorua\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand others became symbols of Māori unity and pride and an important part of the renaissance of the traditions of carving and voyaging around Aotearoa and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Massey Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44084242907170,"sku":"9781991151193","price":5.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0052\/0785\/1042\/files\/PET-Web-format---2025-08-15T153244-419.jpg?v=1755228837","url":"https:\/\/petronella.pro\/products\/biography-of-a-waka-the","provider":"Petronella's Gallery and Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}