Mātauranga Māori and mātauranga whakatere waka are fundamental to revitalising Indigenous communities, strengthening planning for climate change and resilience to climate change impacts. Despite concerns about the risks of climate change to contemporary voyaging, navigators are motivated by their responsibility to maintain and pass on their knowledge of voyaging practices, to raise environmental awareness and to advocate for the environment. Adaptation to climate change is already taking place, and navigators discuss their practice as a way of life. Climate change impacts who they are, and they act on their intrinsic motivation and responsibility to kaitiakitanga to maintain voyaging traditions. Voyaging is a core element of their identity, and through this deep connectedness with the environment they act in pro-environmental ways.