He Tangata, He Haerenga
It’s the people, it’s the journey
At Haumanu Collective, our people are the pulse of the kaupapa. The leaders you’ll meet on this page are not only part of our governance structure—they are also practitioners, storytellers, and carriers of the mauri of taonga pūoro.
Their roles are woven through with responsibility and aroha: for the sounds of our ancestors, for the future of our rangatahi, and for the collective voice of our communities. As kaitiaki and kaikawe, they guide the collective forward, ensuring our mahi remains grounded in te reo Māori, tikanga, and kaupapa Māori values.
We believe leadership is not a title but a rhythm—one that responds to the collective breath and movement of our people. It is through this rhythm that we sustain our vision: He ara pūoro – He ihi reo, he wehi oro, he wana ora.
Te Tūaroa – Our Governance Approach
Haumanu Collective operates under a unique governance model that reflects who we are: a living, breathing community of cultural practitioners. Our structure is both practical and principled—upholding robust systems while flowing with the spirit of our kaupapa.
We are governed by a trust made up of experienced taonga pūoro practitioners who carry dual roles as both artists and leaders. This structure ensures that the voices guiding our strategic direction are grounded in lived experience and mātauranga Māori.
Our model is shaped by:
- Collective Leadership – Every member contributes to decision-making, bringing their expertise in both creative and cultural practice.
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi Alignment – Our operations honour the principles of tino rangatiratanga and equitable representation.
- Whanaungatanga and Succession – We actively support pathways for new leaders, especially rangatahi, to step into roles of governance and stewardship.
- Huapapa-Guided Systems – All our decisions are informed by our values: Kia Kounga, Kia Kotahi, Kia Ū, Kia Māori.
We view governance not as a structure separate from our mahi, but as a taonga in itself—a vessel that holds and protects our collective aspirations, while ensuring they are nurtured and passed on.
Elizabeth Gray
Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Uepōhatu, Tama Ūpoko ki te awa o Wanganui me Ngāti Tūwharetoa anō hoki.
Strategic Leadership in Action
Ngā Pou o te Haumanu i te Mahi
At Haumanu Collective, each member of our governance team embodies one or more of our strategic pou. These pou guide everything we do—from our internal systems to the way we advocate, create, and grow. This section acknowledges how our leaders actively uphold these pou through their mahi and lived kaupapa.
🔸 Te Pū – Governance & Operations
This pou focuses on strengthening our foundations of governance and operations in alignment with our huapapa while ensuring their relevance in a modern context.
“Te Pū keeps our roots strong, so our kaupapa can grow tall.”
🔸 Te Ihi – Advocacy, Sharing Kōrero & Communication
This pou aims to increase the vibrations of taonga pūoro through advocacy, sharing kōrero, and communications in ways that foster harmonious synergy of practice.
“Te Ihi is the energy that carries our stories where they need to be heard.”
🔸 Te Oro – Sound & Playing in All Spheres
This pou emphasises our roles and responsibilities as kaitiaki and kaikawe to ensure that taonga pūoro and mauri oro continue to reverberate across generations.
“Te Oro is our living sound—resonating through time and space.”
🔸 Te Rongo – Growth
This pou is committed to growing interest, use and expertise in taonga pūoro, for all to hear and feel. We will facilitate Māori sector growth for taonga pūoro practitioners by providing resources and opportunities that align with our huapapa.
“Te Rongo ensures the next voices rise and carry the kaupapa forward.”
Succession & Future Leadership
Te Tuku Iho – Ko te Rangatahi te Ara Kei Mua
At Haumanu Collective, we hold a deep responsibility not only to protect the taonga handed down to us, but to ensure they are carried into the future with strength, integrity, and aroha. Succession is not a strategy—it is a tikanga.
We see our rangatahi not just as future leaders, but as present carriers of mauri. Their voices, energy, and vision are essential to the ongoing life of taonga pūoro. As such, we are committed to creating safe, empowering spaces for them to learn, lead, and grow.
Our Succession Commitment:
- Mentorship and Wānanga: Our leadership actively supports emerging practitioners through dedicated mentoring, shared learning spaces, and intergenerational knowledge exchange.
- Opportunities to Lead: Rangatahi are invited to observe, participate in, and eventually lead within governance, performance, and project kaupapa.
- Access to Resources: We strive to provide the tools, instruments, pūkenga, and support needed to uplift their creative and cultural journeys.
- Living Whakapapa: We acknowledge that leadership is not only about skill—it’s about whakapapa, wairua, and serving our communities in authentic, grounded ways.
This commitment is about more than continuity—it is about transformation. We envision a future where rangatahi stand confident as kaitiaki and kaikawe, not because they have been told they must—but because they feel the call, and know they are ready.
“E kore e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea – You will never be lost, for you are a seed sown from Rangiātea.”
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