Hector Busby

{{Short description|New Zealand canoe builer and navigator (1932–2019)}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = Palu

| name = Sir Hector Busby

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|KNZM|MBE}}

| image = Sir Hec Busby (cropped).jpg

| caption = Busby in February 2019

| native_name = Tā Heke-nuku-mai-nga-iwi Puhipi

| other_names = Hec or Hek

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|08|01}}

| birth_place = Pukepoto

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|05|11|1932|08|01}}

}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2018}}

Sir Hector Busby {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|KNZM|MBE}} (1 August 1932 – 11 May 2019), also known as Heke-nuku-mai-nga-iwi Puhipi and Hec Busby,{{cite news |title=Waka builder Hekenukumai 'Hec' Busby made a Sir |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/104357891/waka-builder-hekenukumai-hec-busby-made-a-sir |accessdate=4 June 2018 |work=Auckland Now |date=4 June 2018}} was a New Zealand Māori navigator and traditional waka builder. He was recognised as a leading figure in the revival of traditional Polynesian navigation and ocean voyaging using wayfinding techniques.{{cite web |url=http://www.maoriart.org.nz/hekenukumai-hector-busby-p-149.html |title=Profile: Hekenukumai (Hector) Busby |author= |date= |work=Toi Māori Aotearoa |publisher= |accessdate=12 October 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141011205028/http://www.maoriart.org.nz/hekenukumai-hector-busby-p-149.html |archive-date=11 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.wakatapu.com/ | title=Waka Tapu Canoes | publisher=NZMACI & Taitokerau Tarai Waka | accessdate=12 October 2014}}

He built 26 traditional waka,{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/20100206 |title=Hector Busby:waka builder |author= |date=6 February 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand interview |publisher= |accessdate=14 November 2010}} including the double-hulled Te Aurere which has sailed over 30,000 nautical miles in the Pacific including Hawaii, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island.{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/waka-canoes/1/5 |title=Hekenukumai Busby |author= |date= |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=National Library of New Zealand |accessdate=14 November 2010}} In December 2012, Te Aurere and Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti (another waka built by Busby) reached Rapa Nui after a 5000-nautical-mile, four-month voyage from New Zealand.{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10852166|title= Waka end four-month voyage on Easter Island coast|date=5 December 2012|work=The New Zealand Herald|publisher=APN News & Media|accessdate=5 December 2012}} The two waka then made the return journey to New Zealand, landing at Aurere Beach in Doubtless Bay in May 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8689810/Waka-welcomed-home-from-epic-journey |title= Waka welcomed home from epic journey |date=18 May 2013 |work=www.stuff.co.nz|accessdate=20 May 2013}}