How did Polynesian voyagers travel to New Zealand across the Pacific Ocean?

It is generally agreed that Polynesian voyagers from eastern Polynesia reached New Zealand in the early 13th century. While there are no precise archaeological records detailing the exact nature of these journeys, historians believe these explorers traveled in large, double-hulled canoes.12

These vessels were well-provisioned for long ocean voyages, carrying the necessary supplies to establish a new home, including plants for cultivation—such as taro, yams, and the kumara (a variety of sweet potato)—as well as dogs and rats. It is likely that these voyagers set sail intentionally in search of new lands. Although the journey across the Pacific was dangerous and likely involved only a few canoes, the arrival of even one such craft could have been sufficient to establish the Māori population encountered by Europeans centuries later.12

Modern efforts to understand these ancient techniques have involved the Polynesian Voyaging Society, which has reconstructed traditional double-hulled canoes to test the efficacy of non-instrumental navigation methods over long distances.3