13 May 2019

Sir Hekenukumai Busby, 1932-2019

From Morning Report, 7:50 am on 13 May 2019

People from all over the world are expected to arrive in the small Northland settlement of Pukepoto to pay their respects to Sir Hekenukumai Busby.

The world-renowned carver and traditional sailing navigator, affectionately known as Sir Hek, died on Saturday, aged 86.

Sir Hek told RNZ in 2015 about being out a sea on a waka hourua Joe Conrad, from Te Aupouri, is the captain of the world's largest waka taua.

Speaking ahead of Sir Hek's investiture at Waitangi earlier this year he told RNZ that you can't understate the role he played in reviving traditional skills.

Peter-Lucas Jones is the General Manager of Te Hiku Media. He talks to Susie Ferguson.