NAVIGATING TO NORFOLK AND BEYOND....

My lil baby sister, Bonni Luafutu Tamati, wasn't born into sailing or waka and has had no previous experiences sailing unless you consider body surfing at New Brighton Beach in Christchurch back in the day experience. She's a "city slicker hard", so it’s pretty amazing thats shes taken this all on board, and in true littlest sister fashion, she’s giving it 100%

Bo (as we call her) has been selected to crew the traditionally designed sailing canoe (the canoe is Haunui) to Norfolk Island. Being selected means Bo voyagers Leg1 (Auckland-Norfolk) and the return voyage Leg2 (Norfolk-Auckland).

This adventure - now life plan started when Bo went for a 1 hour day sail in 2017 - she never left.

Bo took to sailing wholeheartedly and would talk and describe all her learnings to anyone who would listen. She was going out every weekend to learn more about sailing the best way she knew how, actual sailing.

She realised for her to truly know, understand and learn all that is needed about herself, her people and our world she had to commit 100% of her time to learn how to sail and all that it encompasses. She quit her job, took her daughter Mikki, and both went back on the waka and since has become a full time volunteer, voyager, fundraiser, traditional and current knowledge learner and teacher as well as a true advocate for the community and our pacific environment with Haunui waka and it’s crew.

On the waka she has been studying stars, wind, swells. Understanding Water safety & regulations, waka tikanga and of course competency at sailing.

Bo's story is truly amazing and unique. It so amazing as an older sister to see your little sister making a difference in the world.

She's motivated by the challenges for her crew, her community and the world. She’s not afraid to make mistakes, curiosity will see her through any and every situation with the curiosity to understand it and go deeper and grow further.

About Haunui Canoe and the trip:

Haunui is a Tepairua (Tahitian designed) double hulled, traditional sailing canoe. He is setting sail for Norfolk Island and 24 young navigators have been selected from all around Aotearoa to gain open blue water experience in a voyage from Aotearoa to Norfolk Island and back. This voyage is the first step of a three part training towards a major voyage for Haunui to participate in FESTPAC, Hawai’i 2020.

Bo's last words "I understand that waka is the way that our people navigated the world, and it is still a practical, spiritual and mental way for our community to thrive and create a sustainable indigenous future".

Our family are so proud of her

Please help her achieve a unique opportunity to grow by giving what you can…...every and any amount truly appreciated and taken with LOVE!!!