In the heart of Tūhoe country, Wai-Oro-Ariki – Wānanga Taonga Pūoro at Te Rewarewa Marae brought together practitioners, learners and whānau for two days of
Te Tohu Taonga Pūoro (Level 4) is now open at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa – creating a new pathway for learners and practitioners to deepen
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,
Pūrerehua or turorohu create eerie sounds as they spin on the ends of their cords. Stories are told of them calling rain, summoning tears and even enticing food from hiding places.
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
He oro whakaora — sound that nurtures and restores.
Mā te hā me te oro o Hinepūtehue, ka mauritau. The breath and vibration of Hinepūtehue can create space for stillness, connection and healing. The hue carries oro through the tinana, reminding us that taonga pūoro are more than instruments — they carry whakapapa, mātauranga and ways of caring for our wellbeing.
At our rongoā wānanga, we explored how these taonga can sit alongside rongoā Māori practices, reconnecting us with ancient understandings of oro, hau and mauri.
He taonga tuku iho. He ara whakaora.
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPūoro #Hinepūtehue #RongoāMāori #Oro #Mauri #MātaurangaMāori
Ko te reo o te tangata, he taonga. 🤎
The voices and experiences of those who join our kaupapa are an important part of understanding the impact of our mahi.
Through each reflection shared, we gain insight into the ways wānanga can inspire learning, deepen understanding, and support people in their own journeys with taonga pūoro and mātauranga Māori.
Today we share the words of one participant who joined us recently.
Ngā mihi nui for trusting us with your whakaaro and allowing us to share your experience with others. 🤎
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPuoro #Wānanga
He toi whakairo, he toi pūoro. 🤎
Our hands create more than taonga...they leave pieces of ourselves within them.
Over four days in Tauranga, participants immersed themselves in the practice of hanga taonga pūoro, choosing the taonga they felt called to create and then bringing it to life with their own hands.
Every carving, every pattern, every decision carried meaning. These aren`t simply instruments; they are taonga shaped through patience, intention, and care. Each one carries the story, whakaaro, and mauri of the person who created it, making every piece completely unique.
The finished taonga are beautiful, but it`s the journey behind each one that makes them truly special. They are reminders of time spent learning, creating with intention, and honouring the mātauranga that continues to be passed from one generation to the next.
Each taonga tells a story.
And the first chapter was written by the hands that created it.
#HaumanuCollective #TaongaPuoro #Wānanga
Before the night ends, we remember Tēnei G.O.A.T - Papa Hirini... Hari Huritau 🎉
Te Rewarewa Marae is the marae of the late Dr Hirini Melbourne ONZM - one of the great pou of the taonga pūoro revitalisation movement.
Practitioners, learners, whānau and lovers of taonga pūoro recently gathered at Te Rewarewa Marae for Wai-Oro-Ariki – Wānanga Taonga Pūoro.
To sit within the whare, surrounded by memories of Hirini, was humbling.
His presence could be felt throughout the kaupapa.
in the kōrero
the waiata
the instruments
and in the responsibility carried by those continuing this journey today.
Not all legacies are loud.
Some continue through sound, teaching, remembrance and quiet commitment.
Read more about our Wai-Oro-Ariki – Wānanga Taonga Pūoro in our latest blog `Returning Sound to Place: Wānanga Taonga Pūoro at Te Rewarewa Marae`.
https://www.haumanucollective.com/returning-sound-to-place-wananga-taonga-puoro-at-te-rewarewa-marae/
#HiriniMelbourne #TaongaPuoro #HaumanuCollective
He tikanga tō te pūoro, ehara i te mea he whakatangi noa.
Taonga pūoro are not only instruments — they are part of a wider way of engaging with sound and the world around us.
Within this practice, listening is active. Something that shapes understanding rather than simply receiving it.
What we hear is only part of what is being communicated.
What changes when you stop hearing sound as noise — and start listening to it as connection?
He waiata tō ia tangata, he reo he oro ka rere
Everybody has their song, and each person has their voice.
Taonga pūoro invites us to remember that connection—inside us, and all around us.
🎥 @wakahuiatvnzofficial
#TaongaPuoro #HaumanuCollective
Whakanuia ngā pūkenga Taonga Pūoro for the very first tohu Taonga Pūoro with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa 🙌🏾
https://www.twoa.ac.nz/nga-akoranga/hauora/te-tohu-taonga-puoro-level-4-hatp401
