'Arise, Sir Hek' - Newly-knighted Sir Hekenukumai Busby explains beautiful whale tooth taonga

February 4, 2019

Hek, as he’s affectionately known, was knighted today at Waitangi.

Canoe builder Hekenukumai Busby, 86, has been knighted today at Waitangi - and yesterday spoke to 1 NEWS about the meaning behind his life's work and the intricate whale bone carving he wears.

Sir Hekenukumai - known to friends as Hek - left school at 15 and went into the workforce building bridges, so he had a constructive set of skills from a young age.

When a Hawaiian crew visited Waitangi in 1985, Sir Hekenukumai said he was deeply affected hearing Sir James Henare welcome the Hōkūle’a to Aotearoa, and when Sir James died in 1989, he made a promise to change his career - and his life.

Busby is responsible for reviving long haul voyaging in the 1990s.

Sir Hekenukumai began to teach himself how to make traditional waka with no help from anyone, not even the Hawaiians.

Te Aurere - his first canoe - was eventually finished and sailed to Rarotonga without the aid of an escort, using only the stars as navigation.

He took this as vindication that Māori had come to New Zealand intentionally, as opposed to just ending up here by chance.

Today, his investiture was completed by Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy.

Speaking yesterday to 1 NEWS, he told the story behind his beautiful whale tooth taonga, which was carved by a member of Ngāti Kahungunu.

The 85-year-old dedicated the Queen’s Birthday Honour to his late wife.

It depicts a bird flying across the Pacific Ocean leaving a long wake, far away from home, flying towards Rapa Nui.

He compared building a waka to building a bridge, saying one of his mates joked that his journey from New Zealand to Rarotonga was "the longest bridge you've built".

Dame Patsy thanked Sir Hekenukumai for his "outstanding contribution" to Māori culture, telling him to wear his insignia with pride.

Master carver Sir Hekenukumai Busby, 86, has been honoured for his work with waka hourua.

"Sir Hek - your legacy is represented today in the best way possible - with the presence of a waka hourua below us in the bay, and the representatives of many Pacific nations that have come here to join in today's celebrations.

"Your work is valued here in Aotearoa, and beyond our shores, and has inspired many others to follow in your example."

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