Friday, May 04, 2007


VAKA MOANA – Voyages of the Ancestors –

The Discovery and Settlement of the Pacific


Editor K.R.Howe


Publisher-David Bateman Ltd./Auckland Museum $90.00




A generous friend gave me this sumptuous hardback last week. What a gorgeous book, a fine piece of publishing. Often joint publishing ventures between museums and art galleries and commercial publishers produce very fine results of which VAKA MOANA is an excellent example.
Published late in 2006 to coincide with a major exhibition at the Auckland Museum which has just concluded its four month season there and will soon be on tour.

Museum Director Rodney Wilson says in part of his thoughtful foreword:

Vaka Moana : voyage of the ancestors , is the epic story of the last original human migration, and, simultaneously, the first for which technology was required in order to be achieved. It is the story of how people of Asian origin migrated across the Pacific, settling its furthest reaches. It is our story as Pacific people.

And what a story it is. My goodness, the courage and ability of these explorers and travelers is hugely impressive. And wonderfully told by six main chapter authors headed by Professor Howe of Massey University’s Auckland campus along with smaller contributions from eight others. All beautifully pulled together to create a treasure of a book.
My warmest congratulations to all involved on a spectacular piece of publishing.

And US readers good news, University Of Hawaii Press are publishing their edition in August.



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