Horeta and the Waka

The first sighting of Captain James Cook and his crew is told through the eyes of a young Maori boy. These strange European people were seen as tupua (foreign demons) by the Maori because of their colouring. And this fear was reinforced by their strange behaviour – sitting backwards in a rowboat must surely mean they could see through the back of their heads! A fascinating look at first contact between Maori and European, based on true events.