Te Awanui Restoration Project Update

Next time you’re walking past the waka shelter (Te Urunga) at the end of The Strand you’ll notice that it sits empty. This is because the Te Awanui Restoration Project has reached its final phase, with the hull of the waka undergoing conservation treatment.

Repair of split Tauihu and replacement of missing pieces
Image: Dean Flavell, Private Collection

Project co-ordinator Dean Flavell, had this to say about the undertaking:
“It is often acknowledged that the art of carving requires numerous skills, and most carvers will readily recognise the obvious disciplines of sculpting and shaping, drawing and painting, engineering and technical aspects a jack of all trades to coin a phrase. A definite skill not always acknowledged is that of repairman or restorer. Damage and repairs are topics carvers usually don’t like to think about because they denote a setback or at the very least, an interruption in the completion of a carving."

Te Awanui on the water, Tauranga harbour, 10 February 1973
Image: Bay of Plenty Times, Tauranga Heritage Collection

“However, time is the great leveller and wood, a most vulnerable material, does succumb to natural conditions such as temperature, light, water and probably the most unforgiving wear and tear from usage. Te Awanui has undergone several restorative phases throughout its nearly 50 years. Most of these have been to address various accidents or misfortunes around breakage during use. Other restorative attempts have resulted in the removal of protective coatings such as polyurethane and non-marine paint rendering which has over time obscured the detail of the carvings."

A restored piece of Te Awanui
Image: Fiona Kean, Private Collection

"For the past few years restoration efforts have been focussed on the carved Tauihu (bow) and Taurapa (stern) pieces as these are in the greatest need of repair and renovation. Preliminary works were started on the Rauawa (top strakes) in removing paint rendering and coated to protect the wood from possible deterioration. It is now time to finish the job.”