Polynesian Navigation and the Discovery of New Zealand

The Polynesian navigator Kupe is credited with the discovery of the land his expedition named Aotearoa, country of the long white cloud. How did he and the many voyagers that followed find their way without modern navigational techniques through perilous seas in wooden canoes? By examining myth, star charts and contemporary Polynesian seafaring, Jeff Evans traces the methods by which the early explorers made their epic voyages in Part One. The book’s second part travels with Maori canoe expert Matahi Brightwell and navigator Frances Cowan aboard the traditional canoe Hawaiki-nui following age0old navigational techniques – with no modern aids – on its historic voyage from Tahiti down to New Zealand. Richly illustrated with photos, maps and drawings, this is an essential guide to one of the world's great stories of discovery.