>1,000 YEARS AGO
Kupe arrived in Aotearoa / NZ
Over 1,000 years ago, Kupe, the great Polynesian navigator, discovered Aotearoa (New Zealand) after voyaging across the Pacific in a double-hulled waka powered by the wind.
Settlement of Aotearoa was shaped by Māori customs that include kaitiakitanga, the practice of guardianship and care for the natural world. The ocean wasn’t seen as something to conquer, but something to protect.
As pressure grows on marine ecosystems across the globe, this legacy matters more than ever. Aotearoa’s voyaging traditions remind us that we can move forward, through innovation and care, while still honouring the places we move through.
From ancient waka to electric boats, the question remains: How do we travel with care, and leave the ocean better than we found it?