Waka Hourua Te Aurere returned to its Northland home after spending more than two months on a spiritual voyage sailing around Te Ika ā Maui (North Island). Te Aurere set sail last November with renowned waka builder Hector Busby at the helm, and returned to Mangonui earlier this year. Te Puni Kōkiri supported this voyage. The first leg of the voyage saw Te Aurere travel down the western seaboard stopping at Hokianga, Manukau, Waitara, Whanganui and Porirua then travelling on to the eastern seaboard and stopping in Napier, Gisborne, Waihau Bay and Tauranga before returning home to Mangonui.