Graphic novels tells tale of Ngāti Kahungunu ancestral waka

Hawkes Bay Today

29 Dec, 2025 09:30 PM2 mins to read

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Vaka Moana From Tārai Pō to Takitimu is a graphic novel sharing the story of the ancestral waka of Ngāti Kahungunu.

A waka that took Māori across the Pacific to Aotearoa is the focus of a Hawke’s Bay graphic novel to inspire future generations.

Vaka Moana – From Tārai Pō to Takitimu shares the story of the ancestral waka of Ngāti Kahungunu, the Takitimu and its many other names as it
travelled across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa/the Pacific Ocean from Samoa to Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti and Rarotonga before bringing the ancestors of Ngāti Kahungunu to Aotearoa New Zealand.

The book draws on pūrākau/ancient kōrero passed down through generations, honouring the many island homelands, navigators, and storytellers connected to the waka.

Launched by Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust, the aim of the book is to engage tamariki and rangatahi with ancient forms of kōrero and to help them recognise the enduring links between the people of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa/the Pacific Ocean.

Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust co-founder Piripi Smith said some people might not be familiar with the entire story of this waka before it became known as Takitimu or before it came to Aotearoa.