Artist Statement
Te Pou Waka Uruao – The Celestial Canoe
They are among us. Concept (Waka Uruao) being pulled by the Tohorā. The Tohorā (whales) were said to have come from Hine-Takurua (Moon Goddess) and one of the wives of Tamanuiterā (The Sun). Every section of the waka hourua (double haul canoe) was gathered and collected by the Tōhunga Tātai Arorangi (Celestial Navigators) and Tōhunga Whakatere Waka (Deep-sea Navigators) from the stars (Kāhui whetū) and solar systems (Marama Huakina). Then the Tohorā (whales) were asked to guide the waka uruao (celestial canoes) to planet earth. When they got to earth the Tohorā was asked to hold the sacred breathe (hā) and life-force (mauri) of Papatūānuku (Mother Earth). Hence, why they carry the “tāpihapiha” or the blowhole. With the significant job of holding the earths (Papatūānuku) “pulse” in alignment. (Hale Makua also confirms this story through Hank Wesselman).
This is why the “Kauae runga” (ancient lore) and “kauae raro” (applied practice) comes for the Tohorā (whales). The proverb being “He Rei Ngā Niho, He Pāraoa Ngā Kauae” (To obtain the sacred knowledge embedded in the upper and lower jaw bone of the whale you must be worthy to wear the teeth (niho). Not only did they (tohorā) agree to hold the sacred breathe (hā) for mother earth (Papatūānuku), but they all agreed to carry the sacred knowledge (mātauranga, mōhiotanga, maramatanga, mauri ora, and mau mahara) for all life on earth, and that was placed into the jawbone of the whale. Thats why the “rei niho” the tooth of the sperm whale was reserved for those worthy of graduates (tauira) of the ancient knowledge and applied practice of the traditional whare-wānanga (sacred school of learning). So when we look at the name “Hikurangi,” this speaks about the tail of the whale pointing to “Ngā Rangi Tūhāhā” the celestial heavens. Te Hikurangitanga O Te Tohorā (The tail of the whale pointing to the celestial realms) was the highest form of consciousness (Hiringa-i-te-mahara) any Tōhunga could achieve. This is why we carried the name Hikurangi from Hawaiki and gave it to our most sacred icons, the mountains. The first place consciousness (Te Hiringa Matua) enters the earth. These are our pūrākau (cultural narrative).
