Tāua e Moana

In a unique collaboration with local environmental NGOs Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau and Te Ipukarea Society, the voyage aims to bring ocean health education and awareness and knowledge sharing throughout the Pa ‘Enua, beginning with a 50-day journey to the northern group.  The southern group voyages will take place later in the year.  

 

The name Tāua e Moana describes the idea of kinship where we all should develop and foster our personal relationship with the ocean.  The crew hopes to engage with the Pa ‘Enua – sharing and recording stories of ocean sustainability, voyaging histories and stories of the ‘eke from each island visited.  

 

The vaka will also serve as a research vessel – collecting microplastics samples from the ocean throughout the voyage as plastic does not disappear – but breaks down into smaller pieces.   Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic and relatively little is known about their presence in the Cook Islands.  Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau will be engaging in coral sampling and checking for taramea in the marine environment, and sharing their ‘Ātui’anga ki te Tango programme with communities visited.  Te Ipukarea Society will be looking at rat traps on Suwarrow, collecting butterflies on Pukapuka, and promoting their Maine Mura project.    

 

Marumaru Atua has never been to the northern group, and the vision of connecting with all the Pa ‘Enua has been a dream for the Cook Islands Voyaging Society for many years. The voyage was made possible by supporting partners Nia Tero, Seacology and Synchronicity Earth, whose goals align with the indigenous and environmental missions carried by the three NGOs collaborating on this voyage.