Matariki and Navigation - Kupe, Cook and Today

Introduction 

Winter is the perfect time for your journey of discovery to see how navigation has changed since Māori first arrived in Aotearoa. The Matariki star cluster rises in the midwinter night sky marking the beginning of the Māori new year and it is a time of reflection. On this field trip you will investigate the importance of stars in early navigation. You will practice traditional Māori navigation methods as you help paddle a waka in Pōneke before travelling to the Marlborough Sounds to sail to Cook's landing sites. You will use 18th century navigation and charting techniques and compare these with modern marine navigation and charting.

Meet Shelley the LEARNZ field trip teacher

Watch the introductory video - on Vimeo.

Location

You will begin your field trip in the capital city of Pōneke Wellington. Here you will meet experts who will show you traditional Māori methods of navigation and how to use a star compass. You will then use this knowledge to help you navigate your waka across Wellington harbour in the direction of the Matariki star cluster. After flying across Te Moana-o-Raukawa Cook Strait, you will sail part of Captain Cook's voyage in the Marlborough Sounds and see where astronomical observations were taken from. Then you will journey to Nelson to pilot a maritime navigation simulator and see how technology has improved navigation and safety at sea.  

Travel Day

Read the first diary about the travel from Ōtepoti Dunedin to Pōneke Wellington to begin the Matariki and Navigation field trip. Read the ambassador updates and check out the questions for tomorrow's web conference.

Tuesday 11 June

Traditional Māori Navigation

Start your journey at the planetarium at Space Place. Watch the videos to see Matariki and find out if this star cluster was used for navigation. Read the diary to see how Māori used stars to navigate to Aotearoa. Practice traditional Māori methods of navigation as you help paddle a waka across the harbour. Watch the recording of today's web conference and read the ambassador updates.

Wednesday 12 June

Navigation in the time Cook

Sail from Waikawa to Meretoto/Ship Cove to see where Cook spent much of his time in the Marlborough Sounds. Watch the videos to see how Cook navigated. Read the diary about today's journey. Watch the recorded web conference and read the ambassador updates. 

Thursday 13 June

Modern Marine Navigation

Attempt to successfully pilot a maritime navigation simulator and watch the videos to see how technology has changed the way people navigate at sea. Read the diary about marine navigation and Abel Tasman. Watch the recorded web conference and read the ambassador updates.