Project Vaka Fanāua

Vaka Fanāua concept image

In 2006, the National Committee for Political Reform held Talanoa meetings in every village in Tonga. In outer islands consultations, it was found that the struggle for political reform was grounded in a major frustration with basic impediments to achieving a self-sustaining local economy. For the Niuatoputapu, Niuafoʻou and Tafahi peoples, the major issue was the lack of sea transport. “The government provides roads for the people of Nukuʻalofa. The road is the sea. Why can’t they provide a boat?”

In the 1970s, the collapse of the copra industry caused drastic cutbacks in government subsidised inter-islands shipping services. Over time, these services have continued to deteriorate. Tonga, like many other Pacific island countries, has fallen into a vicious circle of lacking sustainable sea transport services, lacking sustainable development in outer island economies and lacking sustainable management of both its fragile marine and land ecosystems. Innovative thinking is needed to deal with this critical problem, which is undermining self–sufficient and sustainable living in outer island communities.

Project Vaka fanāua aims to address this area of development and conflict by building confidence in the sustainable future of small, marginalised outer island communities and their ecosystems.

Design Brief

A competitive sailing passenger-cargo boat for outer island communities to run and maintain. Providing affordable, safe, flexible and regular service.

Building Confidence in Self-sufficient and Sustainable Outer Island Futures.

Designer Dick Newick
Designer: Dick Newick

A pioneer in sailing multi-hulls, Newick’s inspiration is the Polynesian voyaging canoe. In 2008, he was inducted into the North American Boat Designers Hall of Fame. His "fast, safe, ocean proven multi-hulls can truly be said to have been 'ahead of their time'". When asked where he had gotten the ideas for the 140 or so designs he completed, Mr. Newick, who believed in reincarnation, said he had been a Polynesian boat builder in a previous life. He called the Polynesians’ 4,000-year-old canoes "the wave of the future", especially as he reimagined them.

– excerpt from Dick Newick’s New York Times obituary

Vaka Fanāua

Literally meaning two-mast boat in the Tongan language, Vaka fanāua references the sailing ships that operated in the mid-twentieth century, carrying copra and passengers between Tongatapu and the Niua islands group. To meet the outer islands’ economic needs today, Project Vaka fanāua aims to develop a prototype inter-islands cargo/passenger sailing trimaran that is flexible, affordable, safe and sustainable in all aspects of its operation and management.

Although envisaged as a regional project, the Vaka fanāua trimaran is specifically designed for the northern Tongan islands of Niuatoputapu, Niuafouou and Tafahi. These islands, 480km (300 miles) north of Tongatapu, closer to Samoa than to Nukuʻalofa, epitomise the extreme conditions of the South Pacific. They are small, far from their public service provider, isolated, marginalised and surrounded by deep, exposed waters. Other South Pacific island communities can easily modify the Vaka fanāua prototype by choosing another of the 30+ possible Pacific rigs.

“VAKA FANAUA combines old Pacific island tradition with modern construction to safely and quickly carry almost three tons of people and/or cargo on deep sea voyages. She can average about 10 knots in usual trade wind conditions. A small diesel engine gives an economical 6 to 8 knots in a calm and increase her manoeuvrability in small, shallow harbours closed to larger vessels. A 14 foot tender is carried to load and deliver people and goods to islands without a harbour. Wood construction, sheathed with epoxy and fiberglass, gives a moderate first cost, and, equally important, low maintenance by islanders. An experienced skipper, helped by an apprentice and the passengers, when needed, keeps manning requirements to a minimum. The lug schooner rig was developed by English Channel smugglers a few hundred years ago when seaworthy speed was necessary. They were quite successful until Revenue Services learned to copy their rigs.”

— Dick Newick

The Build

After wonderful and continuing community support from all over the world, Aaron Beattle and his Lifestyle Yachts team formally began construction on the Vaka Fanāua, in Pipiroa, New Zealand on 1 April 2014.





Dr Halapua with Lifestyle Yachts owner
Aaron Beattie 2nd from the left and his team.

The Name – ʻUtumaʻatu

Below is the emailed letter from the Lord Chamberlain Viela K. Tupou to Sitiveni Halapua regarding the wish of His Majesty Tupou VI to name the prototype Vaka fanāua sailing cargo boat 'Utuma'atu.

Ko e tohi tu‘utu‘uni na‘e fakahoko ‘e Lord Chamberlain Viela K. Tupou kia Sitiveni Halapua fekau‘aki mo e finangalo ‘Ene ‘Afio Tupou VI ki he hingoa ‘‘Utuma‘atu” ko e koloa ma‘ae vaka ‘a e masiva ki he ongo Niua mo Tafahi. Koeni kuou ma'u a e Tuutuuni pea ko e finangalo ke ui a e vaka ko e 'UTUMA'ATU

Ko e talanoa ki he hingoa na'e folau mai e Tu'i 'Uvea ko Lavelua ki Niuatoputapu pea ne 'omi ai 'ene mata'u nge'esi fingota. 'I he lea 'a Niuatoputapu ko e pa eni ka 'i he lea faka 'Uvea ko e 'utuma'atu. Na'e manako 'a Latu, ko e 'eiki 'o Niuatoputapu, he mata'u 'a Lavelua pea na fetongi hingoa leva. 'I 'Uvea ko e fa'ahinga mata'u ko ia ne ui ia ko e pa pea 'i Niuatoputapu na'e ui ia ko e 'utuma'atu.

Ko e 'eiki 'o Niuatoputapu na'a ne to'o 'e ia 'a e hingoa Ma'atu 'o fetongi'aki hono hingoa ko e Latu pea hokohoko mai aipe hono 'ea hoko 'a e ngaue'aki 'o e Ma'atu kae li'aki e Latu. 'I 'Uvea he hoko 'a e fo'i lea 'utuma'atu ki he mata'u ko e tapu. Ko Puaka'ilakelo, foha 'o Latumailangi, na'a ne liliu e hingoa fakanofo mei he Latu ki he Ma'atu.

Ko e kau Niua Fo'ou 'oku nau fehokotaki vaofi mo e kau 'Uvea. Pea ko e fekau'aki 'a e hingoa ko e 'utuma'atu ko e mata'u ko e naunau toutai ke ma'u mo'ui mei ai, ke fefakatau'aki, ke fe'ilongaki mo feohi pea feako'aki he mo'ui.

The story behind the name [‘UTUMA‘ATU ] came from a voyage made by Lavelua the Tu‘i (King of) ‘Uvea to Niuatoputapu.

Lavelua brought with him his fishing lure/hook made from shell. In the language of Niuatoputapu this fishing lure/hook was called pa but in the language of ‘Uvea2 it was called ‘utuma‘atu. Latu the chief of Niuatoputapu liked Lavelua’s fishing lure/hook and they exchanged names.

In ‘Uvea that type of lure/hook was thereafter named pa and in Niuatoputapu it was called ‘utuma‘atu. The chief of Niuatoputapu, adopted the name Ma’atu to replace Latu and this was continued by his heirs who used the name Ma’atu, thereby abandoning Latu. In ‘Uvea the word ‘utuma‘atu for fishing lure/hook became tapu. It was Puaka‘ilakelo, the son of Latumailangi3, who changed the bestowed name/title from Latu to Ma‘atu.

The people of Niuafo’ou have very close connections with the people of ‘Uvea. The connection is in the name ‘utuma‘atu : a fishing tool — a means of livelihood; a means by which to exchange and trade; a means of communication and to meet one another; a means by which to learn from one another in life.

Footnotes:

1. Translation and footnotes by Sitiveni Halapua.
2. ‘Uvea is now known as the Wallis Islands.
3. Puaka‘ilakelo, son of Latumailanga, was the 3rd Latu of Niuatoputapu. It was Latumailangi who met the Dutch explorers Schouten and Le Maire in April 1616.

Launching ʻUtumaʻatu – Kopu

22 November 2016

Launching ʻUtumaʻatu

Launching 'Utuma'atu in the presence of H.S.H Prince Kalaniuvalu, The Lord Fotofili, the Lifestyle Yachts building crew and members of the Auckland Vaka Fanāua committee.

We would like to acknowledge those who have volunteered their time and technical expertise enabling us to get the Vaka Fanāua project underway. Many have commented that their involvement is a result of their relationship with Dick Newick and their desire to see his vision fulfilled.

In the USA

Pat Newick and Granddaughter Lisa for making sure we have all the materials we need from Dick’s files.

Meade Gougeon, developer of the West Systems Epoxy, who is providing designer oversight with assistance from John Marples, Marine Engineer & Surveyor.

In New Zealand

Ron Given, Multihull designer, who checked the plans and completed any additional bits as necessary.

Matthew Flynn for his legal advice.

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Funding

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Ko e Foomu ki he Tokoni

Tātā Tuli Vaka

Donations - Individual & country | NZ$72,527

Fundraising Events

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Koniseti 21/04/2017 | NZ$11,004.07
SYDNEY, Australia, Koniseti 19/04/2017 | NZ$45,004.08
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Koniseti 02/12/2016 | NZ$8,617.4
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Koniseti 01/06/2016 | NZ$10,110.25
NUKUALOFA, Tonga, Koniseti 28/11/2015 | TOP$56,060
MELBOURNE, Australia, Koniseti 30/10/2015 | NZ$10,339.17
MILDURA, Australia, Koniseti 11/09/2015 | NZ$7,209.71
PERTH, Australia, Koniseti 24/07/2015 | NZ$18,157
BRISBANE, Australia, 26/06/2015 | NZ$32,311
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Koniseti 17/04/2015 | NZ$9,646
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, Koniseti 15/11/2014 | US$42,900
SEATTLE, U.S.A., Koniseti 08/11/2014 | US$19,422
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Koniseti 31/10/2014 | NZ$22,736.65
SYDNEY, Australia, Koniseti 01/11/2013 | NZ$25,169.43
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Koniseti 04/10/2013 | NZ$6,020.00
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, USA Luau 21/09/2013 | NZ$23,004.69
SYDNEY, Australia, Koniseti 13/09/2013 | NZ$10,287.60
MELBOURNE, Australia, Koniseti 7/09/2013 | NZ$23,840.50
EULESS TEXAS, USA, Koniseti 17/08/2013 | US$11,370
SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA, USA, Koniseti 03/08/2013 | US$7,069.00 (NZ$8,654.86)
SYDNEY, Australia, Koniseti 02/08/2013 | NZ$12,369.88
SYDNEY, Australia, Koniseti 15/06/2013 | NZ$5,470.21
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, USA Fundraiser 18/05/2013 | NZ$9,218.08
SYDNEY, Australia, Registration and Donations 17/05/2013 | NZ$13,895.99
MAUI, Hawai'i, Donations 10/05/2013 | US$3,717.00
HONOLULU, Hawai'i, Koniseti, 05/04/2013 & 01/05/13 | US$33,538.00
SAN FRANCISCO BAY, USA Koniseti 16/03/2013 | US$11,829.0

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