Sharing the knowledge of Māori astronomy, science and culture

Image: courtesy of Nga Tohunga Whakatere—The Navigators.

This Saturday the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery will unveil its latest show at the Launceston Planetarium; Nga Tohunga Whakatere—The Navigators.

Audiences will be taken on a journey with Moko, an intrepid teenager who follows the star paths of her ancestors as they sail across the Pacific towards her homeland, Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Spanning centuries and cultures, viewers will join Moko on board the waka hourua (sailing canoes) of her Māori forefathers, alongside the ships of English captain Lt. James Cook and Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman. 

Learn about traditions and science through Moko's journey as you learn about historical and present-day voyages. 

Launceston Planetarium Officer, Chris Arkless, said Nga Tohunga Whakatere—The Navigatorsis a fantastic addition to the Planetarium schedule for 2022. 

'A great feature of the show is how it compares first nations and western approaches to navigation and shows how we are all under the one sky,' Arkless said. 

'From the engaging storytelling, through to the detail of the animation in this show, audiences of all ages will enjoy this show. 

'I've certainly seen the show a few times now, and I can say it gets better and better each time.'

Nga Tohunga Whakatere—The Navigatorswill officially open to the public for its first screening at 1:30pm this Saturday 2 July at the Launceston Planetarium.

Bookings to all shows are available via the QVMAG Eventbrite page. 

Issued 1 July 2022.