It is not surprising with a vessel as exceptional as Te Aurere that there are a number of questions that are asked frequently.  Here are some of those:

Q: Will I have to paddle?

A: No, Te Aurere is an ocean-going sailing canoe.  The waka weighs eight tonnes and the deck is over a metre above the waterline so paddling (like in a waka taua) is impractical on Te Aurere.

Q: How many people can the waka carry?

A: Te Aurere is licensed for 20 passengers and four crew.  On non-commercial trips around the coast or offshore the waka typically has a crew of 8-12 (maximum of 14) and no passengers. 

Q: Where does the crew sleep?

A: There are seven bunks in the hulls - nothing flash, just planks with thin rubber mats on top.  On voyages these are “hot bunks” with crew using them when they are off-watch, with the changover typically every six hours.  Some crew prefer to sleep out in the open on the netting “racks” on either side of the deck.

Q: How do you cook your food?

A: The smaller of the two beige-coloured boxes on the foredeck contains a two-burner gas stove.  If conditions are too rough, cooking may have to wait as the cook has no shelter!

Q: Why do you have an outboard on a traditional-style vessel?

A: The outboard frees us from the need for a support vessel to tow us in and out of port and enables us to move around easily in confined spaces like the Maritime Museum and the Viaduct Basin.  The 40 horse power, four stroke motor can also get us back to our berth if the wind drops while we are sailing on the Harbour.  The motor simply provides push - all the steering is done with the hoe (steering paddle).

Q: Does the waka have a toilet?

A: Yes, the waka has a proper marine toilet with a holding tank, although we encourage people to use the toilets in the Museum before coming out for a sail to better protect the environment.

Q: Can anyone sail on the waka?

A: Yes.  There are no cultural issues which restrict access to Te Aurere (unlike waka taua) - everyone is welcome aboard!