SAVE THE BOATYARD

I write in response to the three recent articles in your fine magazine, penned by John Macfarlane, on the status and potential fate of the wooden boatbuilding industry in New Zealand. As a fellow Kiwi I have always held an immense sense of pride in our boatbuilding industry, old and new. The sight of classics like Waitangi, Rawhiti, Ariki and so many others out on the waters of the harbour and Gulf is a soul-stirring event that reminds me of our immense heritage and our depth of expertise in the design, construction and build of such beautiful boats. To hear that the same heritage is now in danger of slipping away is truly concerning. As a recent returnee to New Zealand, I freely admit to not having any understanding of the politics and processes underlying Panuku Development’s consultations and any decisions that are being made around the fate of the Percy Vos boat yard. I can relate, however, that my experiences postretirement of spending a year as a student at a fully functional, highly successful boatbuilding school (North West School of Wooden Boatbuilding, Port Hadlock, WA, USA), and as a boatwright volunteer at a publicly accessible ‘experience’ centre (Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle, WA, USA), that the benefits to the US boatbuilding industry (old and new) and to the community at large of maintaining the skills and knowledge of wooden boatbuilding alongside more modern methodologies are immeasurable. A showcase place, accessible to the public and to tourists, demonstrating wooden boatbuilding skills and techniques with construction and restoration examples should be an integral part of our vibrant and active boatbuilding industry. What better place to have it than at the Vos boatyard on Auckland’s waterfront as a part of the Viaduct, Wynyard Quarter and new America’s Cup developments? This could easily provide for: a permanent home for the New Zealand Traditional Boatbuilding School; an experience centre for paying public/tourist access in a safe place for viewing activities; a facility for practical demonstrations, tuition, seminars; a place for local volunteer participation; a facility for showcasing our pre-european traditions of Maori/ Polynesian boatbuilding and voyaging. Come on Panuku / Auckland City Council, help facilitate this happening. Dr. G. Kere Kemp North West School of Wooden Boatbuilding - https://www.nwswb.edu/ Center for Wooden Boats – http://cwb.org/