A double-hulled waka 18 months in the making was blessed and called into the estuary's water to the delight of the gathered crowd.
The waka was built by a core group of four with plenty of support from the community, Brendan Flack said.
"There is a renaissance going on with Polynesian voyaging, so it's just a way of connecting back to the past and brings with it a lot of knowledge," he said.
The waka was built using kauri, manuka, rimu and fibre-glass by Mr Flack, George Meikle, Greg Kerr and Hinerangi Ferrell-Heath.
The project was supported by Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki and was funded by the Ministry of Health's Healthy Eating Healthy Action initiative.
The waka was joined by four waka ama (outrigger canoes) and several paddle boards, ensuring everyone got on the water.
"It's about getting these youngsters off their PlayStations, really," Mr Flack said.
