MAORI WAR CANOES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 59, 9 March 1940, Page 8

MAORI WAR CANOES

To mark the Centennial of New Zealand, the Waikato tribe of Maoris undertook to construct a fleet of five great war canoes. Two of these have already been completed and launched, and the third will make its first appearance at the Ngaruwahia regatta on March 16. The Waikato Maoris also constructed a great canoe for the Ngapuhis, who used it in the Waitangi Treaty celebrations last month. Although these are the first war canoes built in this country for a hundred years, the hereditary skill of the Maori craftsmen, has been well preserved, and these canoes are said to bear comparison with the -finest production of the past. The hulls are fashioned from huge totara trees, felled in the Taupo forests and roughly hewn there into a semblance of their proper shape and then dragged through the forest ,to Ngaruwahia, where the .carving is being, done by seven highly-skilled craftsmen. One of the workmen stated that to complete a mere square foot of the intricate carving weeks of constant hard labour are required. It was hoped to have completed the five vessels and launch them on the Waitemata Harbour to welcome the Duke of Kent, who, it was thought, would probably be in New Zealand for the Centennial. The war. changed these plans, but whea the ( Duke eventually takes up his position as Governor-General of Australia and visits New Zealand, it is hoped that this ceremony will take place.