"Tupaia: Master Navigator", School Journal, Level 3, August 2019
20 August 2019
This the story of Tupaia, a navigator and high priest from the island of Rā‘iātea.
You can find the story and the teaching notes here:
"Tupaia: Master Navigator", School Journal, Level 3, August 2019
Other useful resources
- Explorers of the Sunrise, Captain Cook Charting Our Islands, and Painted Hoe – These are three other journal articles that explore navigation in the Pacific region.
- Excitement levels bubble as first Tuia 250 voyage sets sail for Aotearoa and Canoe sails from Tahiti to Tauranga guided by stars – These are two news articles about a vessel that has sailed from Tahiti to New Zealand using the same navigation methods used by Tupaia. Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Bernadette Cavanagh said of the crew, "They bring the mana of their tupuna, Tupaia, who represents the skill and knowledge of Pacific voyagers and was pivotal in communicating with tangata whenua during the first onshore encounters with Pākehā in 1769."
- Waka Trust practise ocean sustainability – This podcast is about the Tairāwhiti Waka Voyaging Trust. Its mission is to educate students and visitors about the history of Polynesian navigation.
- Loading Docs: He Hekenga Tūhura – This is a video of Sir Hector Busby, a revered Polynesian navigator. Sir Hector Busby discusses a legacy of celestial navigation and waka carving, considering who will carry the knowledge after he's gone.
- History of sea navigation – This is an article about sea navigational tools used in different time periods.
- Salina Fisher: Tupaia – This article and audio is about the first of a series of works by New Zealand composers for the Tuia 250 commemorations. This one is inspired by Tupaia.
- Land of voyagers – This website, through Tuia 250, shares the stories of Pacific navigation with videos and 3D imagery.
Discussion questions
- What navigation tools did Tupaia use and understand that were part of his Tahitian culture?
- What navigation tools are used by ships today?
- Can you trace the development of navigational tools over time alongside what was happening in the world at the time and the new technologies that became available?
- How have the development of navigational tools impacted on society?
- Explore the navigation tools/systems used by Tupaia and navigators today. What knowledge do you think Tupaia and navigators today consider useful to successfully navigate the Pacific Ocean?
Indicators of progression for discussion starters
Note: Students could also partake in technological practice and create a technological outcome (using a variety of technological areas e.g. digital, materials, processing, or design and visual communication) to share the story of Tupaia with their community. They could also develop a technological product that celebrates the story of Tupaia.
| Component | Indicator | Level |
| Characteristics of technology |
| 3 |