Our changing moana through the eyes of waka voyagers
Moana Project PhD student Rangihurihia McDonald (Ngāti Maniapoto) is passionate about mātauranga Māori, as well as being an avid waka enthusiast. Rangihurihia’s PhD aims to bring together historical and contemporary knowledge around waka navigation and mātauranga Māori to better understand our changing marine environment.
Raised on a farm in the rolling hills of Waitomo in the King Country, Rangihurihia also has a close connection to the west coast of the Te Ika-a-Māui. Trips to “the coast” where her grandmother was born and raised were a regular occurrence. Going home to places like Marokopa, Kāwhia, Kinohaku and Te Waitere were always opportunities to fish, gather kaimoana, go to the marae, visit whānau and enjoy the beauty of the coastline.
Marokopa village, by R. McDonald
Rangihurihia McDonald, supplied.
Rangihurihia’s relationship with the moana grew through her involvement with the Kāwhia Moana Waka Tangata Trust under the leadership of her kaumātua, Tata Keepa. The Trust aimed to reconnect rangatahi with the moana, with waka and waka traditions.
“We used to have holiday programmes where we would go out to Kāwhia for a week at a time to learn things like mau rākau, karakia, waiata and all about the moana. That’s where I developed a passion for the moana and for waka as well.”
Moving to Hamilton to start her tertiary studies at the University of Waikato, Rangihurihia joined Te Toki; founded by renowned waka captain Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr. Joining waka ama under Hoturoa’s tutelage alongside the guidance of his children, was an unmatched experience for Rangihurihia, and it was where she was introduced to the world of waka hourua – double hulled waka.
Rangihurihia and crew representing Te Toki at Waka Ama Nationals, by @wakaama
“Hearing stories first-hand from people like Hotu [Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr] and Jack Thatcher, about their navigational experiences is mind blowing. It’s just phenomenal how our ancestors travelled across the moana and these navigators, even today, do it without the aid of navigational instruments. That they’re able to decipher all these clues in the natural environment to get to their destination - is amazing.”
Completing a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Te Reo Māori and Tikanga with honours, and then a Masters in Tikanga; Rangihurihia has added to her firm standing in Te Ao Māori, which she brings to the Moana Project. She is part of the He Papa Moana Team, a platform for Cross Cultural Ocean Knowledge.
Supervised by He Papa Moana member Dr. Haki Tuaupiki and University of Waikato Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies Dean, Professor Brendan Hokowhitu, her research aims to provide insight into two important factors of waka voyaging and its current practice in the changing climate.
Investigating the impacts that climate change has on waka voyaging and navigation is the first area of research she is tackling in her PhD.
“Waka sailors and navigators have a unique relationship with the ocean given their reliance on it for successful ocean travel. It will be interesting to hear about the changes they have observed in the environment and how it might be affecting the tohu – the environmental indicators they use to navigate. These unique perspectives will help with our overall understanding of climate change on our oceans.”
Rangihurihia was able to hear first-hand some of these experiences at a recent wānanga held by the Te Ahu o Rehua; a Network for Cross Cultural Ocean Knowledge led by the Matangireia Waka Trust. It was an opportunity to listen and engage with Māori communities, scientists, practitioners and students to discuss ocean health, mahinga kai, climate change, kaitiakitanga, environmental issues, ocean warming, waka voyaging and navigation, weather and relative mātauranga Māori and science kaupapa.
Understanding these personal narratives and observations around the changes in the ocean and the effects on waka voyaging leads into Rangihurihia’s next area of research; which is to identify mātauranga Māori approaches to dealing with climate change in the marine environment.
“Within kōrero, within ingoa, within our pūrākau, and pakiwaitara there are codified messages as to how the world works.
Our ancestors knew about the Pacific Ring of Fire, we explained it in terms of Ngātoro-i-rangi freezing on top of Tongariro and asking his sisters to send fire from Hawaiki, and so there’s Whakaari and the geothermal hotspots that came up through the central plateau. Our ancestors knew we were on two tectonic plates, they just explained it in a different way.
I’m keen to look at those sorts of traditional narratives to uncover solutions that we could use in a contemporary context as we tackle climate change, and things that are changing in our marine environment.”
Rangihurihia’s research will contribute to the coming generations of waka voyagers, and those with connections to the moana to ensure that their whakaaro, their kōrero; their mātauranga is recognised and placed on an equal footing alongside western science.
“I know that mātauranga Māori has been overlooked for so long and labelled as myth and legend, fairy tales and stories to tell little kids but actually, within our stories there is so much value. And I want that to be recognised. The overarching goal of my research is to really highlight our knowledge.
My hope for the future is that Māori people will be at the decision-making table and Māori knowledge will inform decision making and nationwide planning for climate change. I hope that we will honour Māori perspectives and see an equitable approach to addressing contemporary issues.”
Follow Rangihurihia and the rest of the Moana Project team members and their progress here