Pacific canoe sails into Sydney

from w

Pacific Island canoe flotilla sails into Sydney Harbour for IUCN World Parks Congress

By Peta Yoshinaga and environment reporter Jake Sturmer

Updated Thu at 11:38amThu 13 Nov 2014, 11:38am

PHOTO: A flotilla of canoes from the Pacific Islands sailed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge before arriving at the Australian National Maritime Museum. (Melissa Sinclair. )

New South Wales' Environment Minister Rob Stokes has welcomed Pacific Island leaders into Sydney Harbour, as the World Parks Congress begins with more than 5,000 delegates gathering in the city to participate in this once-in-a-decade event.

A flotilla of canoes from the Pacific Islands has reached Darling Harbour marking the end of a voyage to highlight the need for more action to tackle climate change, with their final destination being the International Union for Conservation of Nature Sixth World Parks Congress (IUCN).

The Vaka canoes of the Mua Voyage sailed across the harbour this morning with Pacific Island leaders from Kiribati, Cook Islands and Palau on board.

They sailed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge before arriving at the Australian National Maritime Museum for the official welcoming ceremony.

It is the first time a fleet of traditional voyaging canoes has sailed to Australia, with crews embarking on a 6,000 nautical mile journey.