If you visit a museum throughout Aotearoa it won't take long to come across a traditional Māori waka. But if you head to Toitū, the Settlers Museum in Dunedin, you'll see something slightly different. Toitū is home to an impressive display of mōkihi, which are waka made of reeds. They were easily constructed, very buoyant, and traditionally used for travelling down braided rivers to harvest kai further afield.
Jesse talks to Sean Brosnahan, a curator at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.
A model of a mōkihi, or reed waka, on display at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum. Photo: Supplied
