A collaborative effort to preserve and share invaluable Cook Islands voyaging heritage is gaining momentum, with the Cook Islands Voyaging Society (CIVS) digitizing rare footage originally recorded by filmmaker Nick Henry on Vaka Te Au O Tonga. The CIVS digitization project, supported by key partners and contributors, aims to make this cultural treasure accessible to the public while seeking funding to complete the ambitious endeavor.
The project recently overcame significant technical challenges with the acquisition of a functioning DVCAM video hub, purchased for approximately $1,000. After a family member lost the original hub, facing a malfunctioning backup which was a long shot get working, and encountering an incompatible eBay purchase, the team has now digitized 12 of an estimated 200 tapes, yielding approximately 6-8 hours of footage. Among the footage is Voyages on the Vaka Te Au O Tonga – 2008 voyage to Pago Pago, American Samoa, for the Pacific Arts Festival, and a 2002 trip to Tahiti featuring Ariki (Chief) Te Tika Matapo—both captured by Nick Henry. These videos will soon be uploaded to the CIVS YouTube page with watermarks and backed up in cloud storage, with plans to transform them into documentaries featuring crew members from these historic journeys.
This footage, which has never seen the light of day until now, offers a rare and special glimpse into the past. By releasing it, the CIVS hopes to document key dates and identify crew members who were onboard, preserving their stories for posterity. A striking difference in the footage is the age of the voyagers—mostly adults in their late 20s to 60s—compared to today’s much younger crews, reflecting an evolution in the voyaging community. Notably, some individuals featured have since passed away, adding emotional weight to this rediscovery. “This footage has been keep in great condition awaiting to be brought back to life,” said Byron Brown, Secretary at CIVS. “Bringing it to life honors those who paved the way for today’s voyagers and inspires future generations to take up the challenge of voyaging.” The team is also actively seeking footage of the 1994 launching of the Vaka Te Au O Tonga at Avarua Harbour, a vital day in Cook Islands voyaging history that remains a missing piece of this legacy.
The CIVS extends heartfelt thanks to 88FM and its staff, particularly Gdub, for their invaluable assistance, and to John Teirney, who provided the tapes and granted permission to digitize and release Nick Henry’s footage for public viewing. This collaborative spirit is vital to preserving the Cook Islands’ voyaging legacy.
Background: A Partnership Rooted in Preservation
This initiative builds on a longstanding partnership between Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision, supported by Manatū Taonga (New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage), and two Cook Islands organizations: The Cook Islands Ministry of Cultural Development (MOCD) and The Cook Islands Voyaging Society. In 2023, Ngā Taonga provided two Rokirokitia digitization kits to the Cook Islands to preserve at-risk audiovisual taonga, such as VHS and audio cassettes, which are prone to degradation and reliant on obsolete hardware.
The collaboration traces back to 2013, when the audiovisual collections of the National Archives of the Cook Islands (NACI) were deposited with Ngā Taonga, totaling 6,000 items. A 2022 deposit agreement solidified this relationship, integrating the NACI collection into the Utaina Magnetic Media Digitisation Project. To build local capacity, three representatives—Tui Tupa, Archivist from MOCD, and Byron Brown and Tiana Haxton from CIVS—attended Rokirokitia training workshops in Wellington from May 15-18, 2023. The trip included visits to Ngā Taonga’s Motutawa Vault in Avalon, Te Papa, Heritage NZ, and the Alexander Turnbull Library.
Rokirokitia is dedicated to safeguarding mātauranga (knowledge) held in magnetic media, ensuring kōrero (stories) and images remain accessible for future generations. The kits and training empower the Cook Islands to preserve their cultural heritage independently, a commitment Ngā Taonga continues to uphold.
Funding Needed to Complete the Vision
While progress is promising, the project requires additional resources. Digitizing, post-editing, uploading, and cloud storage costs approximately $100 per tape, totaling $18,800 for the remaining 188 tapes. “We’re passionate about sharing this heritage, but we can’t do it alone,” said Brown. “We’re seeking donors to help us finish this work and inspire others to voyage in the future and applying for grant funds to help with the process”.
Supporters can contribute via a donation link on the CIVS website or email cookivs@gmail.com for more information. With 6-8 hours of treasures like the Pago Pago and Tahiti voyages already digitized, and the search ongoing for the 1994 Vaka Te Au O Tonga launch footage, the project promises to deliver a captivating window into Pacific history—thanks to Nick Henry’s lens and the dedication of all involved. Stay tuned for updates as this cultural journey unfolds, reviving the legacy of voyagers past to ignite the explorers of tomorrow.
