Black Foils and Master Navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr Launch Te Hau Wawara to Inspire Young Sailors

A high-profile collaboration between SailGP champions and traditional voyaging experts is seeking to reconnect rangatahi with the moana through a new sailing initiative. On Saturday, 60 local young people and their whānau gathered at Ōkahu Bay in Tāmaki Makaurau for the launch of Te Hau Wawara, a pilot event designed to bridge the gap between modern competitive sailing and the ancient maritime heritage of Aotearoa. The project is a partnership between Black Foils co-chief executive and Olympic gold medalist Blair Tuke and renowned master navigator Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr CNZM, founder of the Te Toki Voyaging Trust. According to Waatea News, the initiative also involves ocean conservation organization Live Ocean. The team spent months restoring three Ulua—small, accessible sailing waka—specifically modified to be stable and easy for beginners to handle. Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr noted that while Māori participation in waka ama is strong, there have been fewer opportunities for rangatahi to engage specifically with sailing waka. During the event, participants from various iwi were paired with experienced navigators and sailors to learn the fundamentals of wind power and water safety. This approach provides a practical entry point for young people who may lack access to expensive sailing equipment or large traditional vessels. The long-term vision for the program extends beyond this initial pilot. Tuke and Barclay-Kerr hope to see fleets of these small sailing waka established in coastal communities across Aotearoa. By drawing inspiration from the success of Waka Ama Aotearoa, the organisers aim to foster a national community of sailors who are grounded in the knowledge and courage of their Polynesian ancestors. The three refurbished waka from the Ōkahu Bay launch will continue to be used as a platform for introducing more young people to the water.