Significant Maori master carver, navigator and traditional waka builder Sir Ta Hekenukumai - Hector - Busby has died
Significant Maori master carver, navigator and traditional waka builder Sir Ta Hekenukumai - Hector - Busby has died
11 May 2019
Sir Hector - knighted in 2018 - was recognized as a world leader in the revival of traditional Polynesian navigation and ocean voyaging.
Sir Hector built 26 traditional waka, including the double-hulled Te Aurere which has sailed over 30,000 nautical miles around the Pacific visitng Hawaii, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island.
Hec" as he was known left school at the age of 15 and established a bridge-building business.
He was of mixed Pakeha and Maori heritage, from Te Rarawa and Ngati Kahu.
Sir Hector was 86.
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