Mātaatua

According to Māori tradition, the Mātaatua was sent from Hawaiki to bring supplies of kūmara (sweet potato) to Māori settlements in New Zealand.

The Mātaatua facilitated trade and cultural exchange between Polynesian tribes, and navigated long distances without modern technology. Its core crew consisted of the children of Irakewa and their families, who were tasked with bringing supplies to Māori settlements.