Help the Cook Islands Voyaging Society restore our vaka which has been damaged by fire.
Help restore our vaka...
Auckland
On Saturday the 2nd of September a fire broke out on board our vaka Marumaru Atua. It took firefighters several hours to put out the blaze in the starboard hull of our vaka. She has sustained significant damage of which the full extent is not known yet. Cause of the fire is unknown. Our beautiful vaka has sailed through out the Pacific on the ‘Te Mana O Te Moana’ Voyage (The Spirit of the Ocean), the aim was to reconnect with the traditions, with Pacific communities and with the ocean and to spread the message of ocean protection. Since her return in 2012 she has sailed to Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand. At home in the Cook Islands our aim is to educate our youth and ensure the legacy of traditional sailing and navigation and caring for our precious environment through traditional practices.
It is difficult to see our once proud mama vaka in such bad shape but trying to be positive and looking to the future. We need to do a massive repair job and refit to get her seaworthy again and to continue our Cook Islands Voyaging legacy, so we are asking for support from our friends around the world to lend a hand if you possibly can, to restore a Cook Islands National Treasure. Although we are separated by Moana Nui O Kiva, it is the ocean that connects and binds us. We have already received so many messages of support, and wonderful pledges of assistance from those wanting to help. Meitaki maata in advance from the bottom of our hearts to all those who have already and who will lend a hand.
Kia Manuia, te Atua te Aroa!
Cecile Marten's involvement (page creator)
The Cook Islands Voyaging Society is responsible for vaka Marumaru Atua and to continue to promote Cook Islands Voyaging culture and traditions, while highlighting environmental and marine issues in the Pacific.
Use of funds
Funds raised will be used to repair the damage sustained to our beautiful vaka so she may continue her work through out the Cook Islands and Pacific.
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Latest update
Where are we at? 14 October 2017
The future of Marumaru Atua is still uncertain. We have two options currently before us. One is to repair the badly damaged hull and second is to replace the hull with a new one. The decision to do this will rest upon an independent report from a qualified inspector who will determine if it is indeed possible to carry out a repair job or not. The initial cost we facing are between $100,000 and $300,000+, depending on whether she can be repaired or not.
We have been overwhelmed at the support we have received from our friends and family on our Givealittle page. We will continue to fundraise to reach our target and have her sailing on Moana Nui O Kiva again. Marumaru Atua has and will continue to be the vehicle to share the message about our vibrant voyaging culture and traditions, and to highlight environmental and marine issues that are affecting our people in the Pacific.
To each and everyone that has donated we humbly thank you for showing your aroa towards our vaka. If we look after our vaka she will in turn look after us.
Meitaki maata, Te Atua Te Aroa
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