Compass Explained

In the star compass, the horizon is divided into quarters – named after the four winds:

• • Tokerau – the north-east trade winds

  • Marangai – the south-east trade winds

  • Tonga (or Whakarunga – the head of the fish) – the south-west winds

  • Whakararo (from the tail of the fish) – the north-west winds.

The full horizon is also divided into equal areas called houses. There are 32 houses in the full circle. The four main houses representing north, south, west and east are:

• Whitinga – east where the Sun rises out of the ocean

• Tomokanga – west where the Sun returns to the ocean

• Raki – to the right of the Sun’s passage through the sky

• Tonga – to the left of the Sun’s passage.

In addition to these houses, each quadrant has seven houses that further divide the horizon. Each house is replicated in each quadrant and helps with memorising star position and paths. Stars appear to rise out of the eastern horizon, cross the north/south line (meridian) and set towards the western horizon. Individual stars will rise and set in the same named house. The names of the houses and their meanings are:

• Rā – the Sun

• Kāinga – where the Sun lives

• Ngoi – a land bird (the brown noddy) used by navigators to find land

• Manu – the waka as a bird flying across the ocean

• Ngā Rangi – the heavens are where we get our clues

• Ngā Reo – the navigator listens to the voices of the stars that guide him

• Haka – the void where there are no clues, where the true challenge begins.

This star compass is the basis of the navigation system. The various quadrants and houses, as well as the stars that rise and set in those houses, are then memorised. There are at least 220 stars to memorise!