ROIAATA RETURN
A story of revival and reconnection
Carried aboard Roiaata as a kaitiaki (guardian) for the vessel and her crew.
In te reo Māori, Roiaata refers to the Milky Way, a story of navigation by the stars.
Becoming a custodian of Roiaata is an opportunity to honour this story by preserving a classic piece of maritime history and sharing Māori tradition along the way.
Dylan Hallam, Current owner/custodian of Roiaata
Shortly after purchasing Roiaata, Dylan discovered she was launched on September 29, 1935, the exact day he was born, 59 years later, a cosmic alignment that had tied their stories together.
Passed down through generations, Roiaata leaves a trail of stories, memories and maritime history.
Dylan is dedicated to returning Roiaata to her former glory, a fire further stoked by the discovery of a celestial connection and repeating circumstance. He is motivated to sail Roiaata back to Ko Takere Haere at St Mary’s Bay, Tāmaki Makaurau, where he hopes to retrace and share her history, reconnect with past owners, and honour the Māori story behind her name.
We are in the pre-production phase of a documentary series following the revival of Roiaata.
The film will celebrate traditional wooden boatbuilding and craftsmanship, The relaunch and return home to Aotearoa, alongside traditional navigation, surfing and exploration through the Pacific
Our goal is to preserve and celebrate New Zealand and Australia’s maritime history and culture.
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