Taonga Pūoro as Healing, Connection, and Awakening
📍 Pukemokimoki Marae, Ngāti Kahungunu | 14–16 March 2025
Following the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, the whenua and people of Kahungunu have carried heavy mamae. In response, the Haumanu Collective, in partnership with local practitioners and community leaders, hosted Haumanu ki Kahungunu—a three-day wānanga exploring taonga pūoro as a powerful tool for healing, reconnection, and cultural revitalisation.
Held at Pukemokimoki Marae in Napier, the wānanga brought together an intergenerational group of participants, practitioners and knowledge holders under the kaupapa “Taonga Pūoro hei Rongoā.” It was a time of deep learning, creative expression, collective healing and whakapapa strengthening.
✨ What Unfolded
From the first karanga and breath of pūoro that welcomed us onto the marae, a sacred space was opened. Across three days, participants were immersed in a rich offering of learning and connection:
- Whanaungatanga & mentoring – Building trust and belonging within a growing local community of pūoro practitioners.
- Pūrākau & whakapapa – Hiraani Hutana guided us through kōrero that honoured place and people, including the sacred name of nearby Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
- Wellbeing & healing – Anthony Tipene and others shared mātauranga on the use of oro (sound) in hauora practices, supported by global and indigenous perspectives.
- Crafting taonga pūoro – Under the guidance of James Webster, participants created instruments such as nguru, kōauau, and hue pūoro, learning the tikanga of making and the wairua imbued in each tool.
- Environmental connection – Eli Maiava and Libby Gray facilitated connection to the taiao and whenua through pūoro, building aroha for the places and whakapapa that sustain us.
🌊 A Pilgrimage to Petane
One of the most moving experiences was the journey to Petane, where whānau shared kōrero about the loss of their wharenui during Cyclone Gabrielle. With the guidance of Awhina Tamara and her whānau, we offered our pūoro as a form of hiki wairua—to the whenua, to the awa, and to the urupā nearby. This act of collective aroha was followed by a purea at the moana, restoring balance and grounding us in shared purpose.
🌕 Under Rākaunui
Evenings were alive with waiata, sound baths, and instrument making under the full moon. As whānau gained confidence, taonga pūoro filled the air with the voices of our tūpuna—echoing in karanga, waiata, and spontaneous composition.
🧡 A Living Legacy
As a result of this wānanga, a local Kahungunu collective has emerged with plans for ongoing taonga pūoro sessions, mentorship and community learning. The ripple effect of this gathering—emotional, cultural and spiritual—continues to move through the hāpori.
The Haumanu Collective remains committed to uplifting communities through oro, fostering leadership among rangatahi, and honouring our shared responsibility to ensure that these taonga tuku iho continue to thrive.
“Ko te pūoro he rongoā, ko te rongoā he oranga wairua.”
English 
Māori