On October 7, the Taiwan Outrigger Canoe Club and New Zealand master boatbuilder Heemi Eruera presented the Pou Haere (Star Compass Carving Post) to the Taitung County Government, received by County Magistrate April Yao. Four additional carvings representing the east, south, west, and north directions will be completed in the future and officially unveiled at the 2026 Taitung Expo, creating a public space that integrates education, cultural exchange, and Pacific navigation wisdom.
During the ceremony, Taiwan Outrigger Canoe Club Chairperson Chiang Imo explained the cultural significance of Pou Haere: “Pou means pillar, and Haere means journey or travel. Together, they symbolize the guidance of the stars and the transmission of knowledge.” Eruera also performed a Māori chant and blessing, and exchanged a hongi—the traditional Māori nose greeting—with Magistrate Yao, demonstrating friendship and cultural connection. The carving, created jointly by Māori artisans and students from St. Joseph Technical Senior High School, was unveiled on October 4 at the Flowing Lake, marking the first of its kind in Taiwan.
April Yao emphasized that Taitung County continues to deepen its Austronesian cultural development, encompassing everything from boatbuilding and navigation to indigenous heritage revival. Since 2023, the “Indigenous Boatbuilding and Navigation Talent Development Program” has been carried out, including the LIMA Boatbuilding Project (Tao people of Lanyu) in 2023, the Amis Bamboo Raft Training in 2024, and the Inter-Island Austronesian Vessel Project in 2025, merging Tao, Amis, and Chamorro techniques to make Taitung a key maritime hub for Austronesian cultures.
In May 2024, the Micronesian traditional canoe Alingano Maisu docked at Shanyuan Bay, attracting voyaging communities from across Taiwan and highlighting Taitung’s role as a convergence point of Austronesian culture.
According to the Taitung County Cultural Affairs Department, the Pou Haere project was led by Heemi Eruera of Te Tapuwae Traditional Boatbuilding School, along with carvers Poutama Hetaraka and Shane Hakaraia from the Hihiaua Cultural Centre, and Pwo Navigator Piripi Smith, collaborating with local artisans and students of St. Joseph Technical Senior High School.
Chiang Imo noted, “This is not only about learning techniques, but also about cultural dialogue and spiritual exchange.” She hopes that the spirit and artistry of the Māori people will bring international recognition to the local students and indigenous youth. Once all four Pou Haere carvings are completed, they will form a landmark representing knowledge, exchange, and navigation — symbolizing Taitung’s continued connection to the Pacific.
