1987 marked the centenary of Whangaroa County. As a part of the celebrations, the giant Maori war canoe, Ngatokimatawhaorua was  paddled the 70 km from Paihia to the Whangaroa harbour – a 10 hour journey across open sea.

“Rere Ki Uta Rere Ki Tai – The Voyage”, was a documentary shot on 16mm film which followed the training of the canoe’s paddlers in Paihia, the voyage itself, and the reception for the paddlers on their arrival in Whangaroa Harbour.

Brought in by the New Zealand Film Commission to provide production expertise, I helped to co-produce and co-write this documentary. The New Zealand Film Commission provided the funding and Television New Zealand assisted with post production services.

Unfortunately the only record I have of this documentary is on VHS tape. From this I have attempted to ressurrect an acceptable series of sequences cut from the half hour programme.