Waka conservation at Muriwai

WAKA: is lifted out of its old water tank. ARC ranger Joe Rangihuna was one of 11 workers helping move it.

WAKA: In Muriwai

Relevant offers

An historic waka found at Muriwai beach and undergoing conservation could have been used for sailing.

Auckland Regional Council historic heritage specialist Robert Brassey says the kauri vessel appears to have a socket or step for a mast.

"Waka with fittings for masts are quite rare in New Zealand collections."

Mr Brassey says the vessel could also be pre-European particularly in the context in which it was found- at the mouth of the Okiritoto Stream which has moved over the years in the area's shifting sands.

The waka, which is about seven metres and weighing 1200kg, was moved this afternoon <February 16> from its old water tank to a new longer term storage tank under shade.

Mr Brassey says it will be there for up to two years for conservation and dating.

"If it dried out it would basically turn into dust."

The project of conserving the waka is being supervised by Dylis Johns, Senior Research Fellow in Conservation at The University of Auckland, and funded by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Its future home is under discussion with Maori, with local iwi hoping it will be eventually displayed at Helensville Museum.

The waka was discovered poking out of the sand at the end of last year.

- © Fairfax NZ News