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For the first time in history, taonga pūoro will be judged as a standalone, non-aggregate category at the Tainui Waka Kapa Haka Regionals—marking a powerful
In January 2026, taonga pūoro returned to the whenua of Mōtītī in a powerful wānanga focused on rongoā Māori and sound healing. Across three days,
The sound is made placing the finger over the hole at the tapered end then blowing into the mouthpiece and at the same time quickly releasing the finger.
Friday 1st – Saturday 2nd May 2026
An immersive wānanga exploring the sounds, stories, and revitalisation of taonga pūoro, grounded in Tūhoetanga and connection to place.
Our story
Taonga Pūoro were historically used in the arts of healing and cultural ceremonies and still are today, in varying degrees. Due to historical events, there was a decline in the use and cultural practice of the instrumental traditions within Māori culture and with the knowledge base connected to it.
There has been a revival of this craft over the last 30-40 years, led by the late Hirini Melbourne, the late Richard Nunns, Brian Flintoff and Ranginui Keefe, Joe Malcolm, Clem Mellish, the late Rangiiria Hedley, Aroha Yates Smith, Hinewīrangi Kohu Morgan, Ross and Bruce Gregory, Te Miringa Hohaia and others. Haumanu has grown from these initiatives.
The group is dedicated to the revival, teaching, and sharing of these taonga. We are a newly formed rōpū of six people, are representatives of the wider rōpū, and a continuation of Haumanu.
Mandated by the broader Taonga Pūoro whānau with the support of CNZ and MCH to facilitate a Strengthening Taonga Pūoro strategy over the next three years.
The core collective are:
HAUMANU COLLECTIVE KAUPAPA
✨ Tūtaki ki a Brendon Moses ✨
Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Tūhourangi, Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa
For more than two decades, Brendon has worked at the intersection of music, culture, technology, and indigenous knowledge.
His journey began in contemporary music, studying at Whitireia before working as a musician and recording artist throughout Aotearoa. It was through his connection with master carver and taonga pūoro revivalist Brian Flintoff that Brendon was first introduced to the living world of taonga pūoro — a meeting that would shape the path he continues to walk today.
Since then, Brendon has developed a deep relationship with pūoro, while using his skills in digital technology to support the sharing of Māori knowledge and creative mahi.
His work has also played an important role in supporting te reo Māori, Maramataka Māori, Matariki, and mātauranga Māori, creating digital spaces that help make this knowledge accessible to whānau and wider communities.
Now undertaking a Master’s in Applied Indigenous Knowledge, Brendon continues to explore the relationship between tradition and innovation, bringing together his experience in music, digital development, reo, and mātauranga Māori.
As part of Haumanu Collective, he contributes to the ongoing revitalisation of taonga pūoro and the knowledge carried within it — finding new ways for these taonga to be heard, experienced, and shared.
He kōrero tuku iho, he ao hou. 🌿
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPuoro #Mātaurangamāori
✨ He Haerenga Whakahoki | A Journey of Reconnection ✨
Reviving taonga pūoro within the people and places of our ancestors is an uplifting journey of reconnection.
Recently, we gathered at Petane Marae for a taonga pūoro wānanga with Ngāti Whakaari and Ngāti Matepū hapū, reconnecting with the pūrākau, whakapapa, and spiritual guardians of Te Whanganui-ā-Orotu, Ahuriri, Napier.
The Haumanu Collective kaupapa of taonga pūoro as a pathway for healing, connection, and awakening has inspired the hapū to re-establish taonga pūoro practice as part of the tikanga and kawa of the new Petane Marae.
The wānanga provided an opportunity to learn, kōrero, create, and reconnect — bringing taonga pūoro back into the spaces, stories, and practices of the hapū.
Through this mahi, taonga pūoro is being embedded into cultural practice today, ensuring its sound, knowledge, and connections can continue to be carried forward for generations to come.
He taonga tuku iho. He taonga ora. 🌿
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPūoro #MātaurangaMāori #PetaneMarae #Wānanga
Tūranganui-a-Kiwa/Gisborne, our next Wānanga Taonga pūoro is in your rohe!
Join James, Rikki and Hemi to learn about taonga pūoro.
Whether you are new to the kaupapa or an enthusiast wanting to learn more, come spend the weekend with us in oro.
Spaces are limited, so register today! Comment PŪORO for our registration link.
#haumanucollective #taongapūoro #wānanga
✨ Taonga Pūoro Makers Wānanga | Ōtautahi ✨
What a special 2 days of mahi, learning, and connection in Ōtautahi.
Led by Tony Smith, the Taonga Pūoro Makers Wānanga brought together makers with experience in whakairo and/or hanga taonga pūoro to spend time deepening their skills, sharing knowledge, and learning alongside one another.
At the heart of the wānanga was hands-on mahi — working with materials, exploring traditional practices, and giving participants the space to create and develop their own taonga pūoro.
Wānanga like this are about more than what is made, they create space for kōrero, the sharing of knowledge, whanaungatanga, and the strengthening of relationships between makers carrying this kaupapa forward across Aotearoa.
Ngā mihi nui to Tony and Mahina for pulling this kaupapa together and sharing their knowledge, experience, and passion for hanga taonga pūoro.
To Jodi Cameron for the workspace at Te Pā o Rakaihautu, and to everyone who came together to share their pūkenga in Ōtautahi — aroha ki a koutou for the mahi, the kōrero, and the energy you brought to the wānanga.
He taonga tuku iho. He mahi kawe whakamua. 🌿
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPūoro #HangaTaongaPūoro #Wānanga #Ōtautahi #MahiToi
A few moments from behind the scenes ✨
From wānanga and kaupapa to planning, travelling, creating and connecting - here’s a small recap of what our board have been involved in recently.
Often the mahi happening behind the scenes is just as important as what’s seen publicly.
Ngā mihi to our board members who continue to give their time, energy and whakaaro to this kaupapa.
✨ Tūtaki ki a Elizabeth Gray (Libby) ✨
He uri ia nō Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Uepōhatu, Tama Ūpoko ki te awa o Wanganui me Ngāti Tūwharetoa anō hoki.
He kaiwhakatangi Taonga Pūoro, he kairangahau, he kaiako, he kaitito waiata, he ringa hāpai, he ringa tuhi anō hoki.
Libby’s relationship with taonga pūoro is deeply personal, shaped by parenting, healing and her practice of taonga pūoro as rongoā. A formative memory is the discovery of a pūtātara unearthed from the backyard of her childhood home in Napier - foreshadowing her own journey of reconnecting with the ancestral knowledge held within taonga pūoro.
Libby shares this mātauranga through wānanga, presentations, teaching and Whare Kōhanga, supporting ira hapū to reconnect with ancestral knowledge through hapūtanga and whakawhānau. She is the kaiako for the new tohu Taonga Pūoro at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Kahungunu.
As Co-Chair of Haumanu Collective, Libby contributes to the revitalisation of taonga pūoro and is author of Hineraukatauri me te Ara Pūoro, weaving pūrākau with the whakapapa of sound.
Her Master’s thesis explores how taonga pūoro activates the Whare Kōhanga, reconnecting rongoā, whakapapa, wairua and birth.
Libby carries deep gratitude for her late kaiako and mentors, Rangiiria Hedley, Hinewīrangi Kohu-Morgan and Hirini Melbourne, whose mātauranga and legacy continue to guide her mahi.
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPuoro #RongoāMāori
Photo credit: @irenematonphotography
He mihi nui ki a koutou katoa 🤎
Every wānanga is shaped by the people who choose to be part of it.
To everyone who travelled, learned, shared, asked questions, supported one another, and immersed themselves in this kaupapa — thank you.
To our practitioners who continue to generously share their time, knowledge, and experience, ngā mihi nui.
To those working behind the scenes, capturing moments, preparing resources, organising logistics, and helping bring these kaupapa to life — your contributions are deeply valued.
It is through the collective efforts of many that these spaces continue to grow, allowing mātauranga to be shared, nurtured, and carried forward.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. 🤎
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPūoro #Wānanga #Mātauranga
He tangata, he mātauranga, he kaupapa kotahi. 🤎
A journey of learning is never walked alone.
Our wānanga are an opportunity to step away from the rush of everyday life and immerse ourselves in learning alongside one another.
Throughout our makers Wānanga Taonga Pūoro in Tauranga, participants came together with an openness to learn, to share, and to be guided by the kaupapa. Through kōrero, observation, questions, laughter, and moments of reflection, a space was created where knowledge could flow freely and experiences could be shared.
Beyond the tools and techniques, it was the moments between the making that held their own significance — the stories exchanged, the encouragement offered, and the relationships strengthened.
A wānanga is not only about what we learn with our hands, but what we learn through being present with others.
It is in these moments of connection that mātauranga continues to grow, strengthen, and be carried forward.
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPuoro #Wānanga #Mātauranga
