‘Waka’ being built at NorthTec Trades Centre
Construction Programme Leader at Future Trades, Mark Askew with the “waka”
The first fibreglass Māori waka is being constructed at NorthTec’s Future Trades in Whangarei, thanks to the efforts of
eight of its boatbuilding and marine cabinet making students.
For the past few months the students have been hard at work building to Maritime NZ Safety Standards, a 50 foot (15m)
fibreglass waka. Maori Tours (industry partner) approached NorthTec’s Future Trades to build the waka, as part of the
Certificate in boatbuilding course. A mutual relationship has developed, with the finished waka to be used locally for
youth and education programmes on the Whangarei Harbour.
Prior to construction of the waka, to help with their understanding and development, the students went on excursions to
learn the local Maori history of Whangarei, and to the Bay of Island to familiarise themselves with an operating
fibreglass waka, as well as the traditional wooden waka at Waitangi.
The efforts of the eight boatbuilding and marine cabinet making students at Future Trades is drawing to a close with the
waka released from its mould just recently.
Construction Programme Leader at Future Trades, Mark Askew, said that significant work by the partners had gone in to
seeing the waka built at Future Trades two years after the idea to build one was first mooted.
“It’s a collaborative project between NorthTec and Maori Tours Whangarei to build a waka for youth and education, and
the trade development of our students at NorthTec.”
Apprenticeships and work opportunities in Boatbuilding (and related trades) are a big focus of the Trades training
facility, first opened in 2009.
Mark identified that the fibreglass waka project will give students, including young Maori, access to educational and
work opportunities with possibly other projects planned to be run at Future Trades.
“We will be offering short courses in paddle making for Waka-ama and Maori waka.”
This is an exciting project for all involved and plans for something similar for the Boatbuilding course could possibly
occur for next year as well Mark said.
Composite(fibreglass) boatbuilding tutor, Roger Rhodes, says that he has a desire to see people in the industry being
well trained, noting that what is being accomplished with this boatbuilding course was being able to link the boat
construction work with the waka build.
He noted the design approval and the construction Survey by Steve Mabbett Ship Surveyors added another dimension to the
student’s learning.
ends