Mokihi, or mogi as it was then known, traditional canoes crafted from raupo and flax, were used by the Waitaha for transport on the Waitaki River.
Whanau preparing to launch
Shane and Katerina Te Maiharoa on the Waitaki
Shane and Mokihi
Mokihi Binding
Rangimarie Te Maiharoa
Alexander and Tauhou 1956 Waitaki Bridge Opening
The waka mokihi were used by the Waitaha descendants to navigate, hunt and gather food in the still waters, lakes and ponds.
Our people harvested mahinga kai all over the takiwa and the warmer months were often spent up the Waitaki Valley. Omarama and Ohau were prime areas for hunting weka. Mokihi were an intrinsic part of the food gathering cycle and would be built to carry the kai and people down the river to the Coast.
There are two types of mokihi. The first was a bundle of dry bulrushes or flax flower stalks on which a person would sit, paddling with his hands or a piece of wood.
The second was bigger and more elaborate – several bundles were lashed together to create a boat.
The Te Maiharoa whanau grew up on the Waitaki and were skilled craftsman in the art of making mokihi. Timothy Te Maiharoa was well known for sharing this knowledge with others.
The attached documentary of Tim and Harry Te Maiharoa, was filmed by the Otago University at Moeraki marae in 1987. It is copyright to the university but they have given permission for us to share this on our website.
The early picture is of Sandy and Tauhou Te Maiharoa with the mokihi mainly built by Rangimarie Te Maiharoa and his brother for the opening of the Waitaki Bridge in 1956 – It is now on display at the North Otago Museum.
In July 2004 a mokihi was made by Rangimarie and Tamati Te Maiharoa out of raupo (bulrush) and harakeke (flax) collected from Hakataramea and Duntroon. This was presented to the Waimate District as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations and can be found holding pride of place in front of the Waimate District Library.
In May 2010 Rangimarie made a mokihi and this article was published by Hamish Clark in a Newshub article on 16/05/10.
Title – Rare Maori reed boat cruises river in South Canterbury
A rare sight from the past has been floating down South Canterbury’s Waitaki River.
The mokihi, or Maori reed boat, was used by the Waitaha people for hundreds of years as a form of transport – able to stay afloat for up to 12 days.
Rangi Te Maiharoa and his son Shane built one especially for a 40km journey down the river.
“It’s got a porous centre all the way through, that’s what makes it float,” Mr Te Maiharoa told 3 News.
Shane and the crew left from the Kurow bridge and headed downstream toward the sea. A jet boat scouted ahead for any trees or obstacles hidden in the river.
“(The mokihi) doesn’t have a rudder, it just goes with the flow of the river,” said Shane.
“On the day we had a good current.”
The journey to the sea takes two days to complete, in which time the reed proved it was safe to ride on.
“Once you’re in you don’t want to get out,” Shane said. “It is one experience you don’t want to leave.”
The mokihi will be dried out and displayed in Kurow where the journey began.
Waitaha Taiwhenua o Waitaki 
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