He Kākano i Ruia, He Rākau Kua Tupu
“I’m grateful to Haumanu for the confidence they had in me. It’s been an immense privilege to walk beside this Collective.”
The Work Behind the Scenes with Haumanu
In 2020, a knock came at the door. Margaret Aull (Margy) had just returned from a Toi ki Waikato wānanga when James Webster called in. That moment marked the beginning of a remarkable journey with Haumanu Collective.
With a background in arts management and kaupapa Māori, Margy had previously worked with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts, and Toi Māori Aotearoa. She admits she didn’t know much about taonga pūoro at the time—beyond the legacy of Hirini Melbourne and her wife’s connections with Richard Nunns and Horomona Horo through their group Ngā Tae.
Widely known in Māori visual arts circles for her leadership and creative advocacy, she reflects, “I’d watch Horo and James perform at kaupapa and think it was cool—but never understood how important it was for us as a people.”
The opportunity to contribute became clear:
“For those who know me, I’m kaupapa-driven. I had just finished project managing the 9th International Indigenous Arts gathering at Tūrangawaewae and was already super busy. It wasn’t until Waimihi reminded me of the opportunity to use my skills for taonga pūoro, and that James came to see me kanohi kitea—it said a lot. I knew then I had to at least consider it.”
From the outset, Margy hit the ground running—building relationships, infrastructure, legal frameworks, financial systems, and the Collective’s huapapa and brand.
“Effectively, my first task was to do in three weeks what is normally done in four months—we had deliverables to hit.”
This momentum shaped her approach: grounded, generous, and fiercely effective.
“Being a conduit between funding bodies and the kaupapa you always have to know the ‘why’ when doing this kind of work—it helps keep the many parts moving forward.”
Navigating New Territory
Her first hui was on Valentine’s Day in Kirikiriroa, with Te Kahureremoa, Libby Gray, Tāmihana Katene, Horomona Horo, Warren Warbrick, and Hinewīrangi Kohu-Morgan.
“I was nervous—I knew full well how passionate artists and practitioners can be. But it was clear this was a very special project with some very special people.”
Margy quickly grasped how deeply colonisation had impacted taonga pūoro.
“I realised how much I didn’t know. When I saw it was deemed an ‘at-risk reo’ by a Ministry report, I knew I needed to support James and the Collective to turn that around.”
Responding to Challenge with Innovation
COVID-19 disrupted Haumanu’s wānanga-based, marae-rooted kaupapa.
“The only way to reach our people was through innovation,” Margy said. This sparked the creation of Oro Rua, a podcast series offering a digital platform specifically for taonga pūoro—a gap she identified and helped fill.
She also maintained energy and relationships through unpredictable times.
“Mahia te mahi hei painga mō te iwi—keep working for the greater good of the kaupapa for our people.”
Moments of Meaning and Loss
The 2020 launch in Waikato stands out. Haumanu ran a full day of activities at Waikato University.
“I remember the overwhelming interest—we had registrations from Christchurch to Te Kao. Our people were hungry for this taonga.”
Despite her mother suffering a stroke, Margy continued her mahi.
“It was a fragile time. When I heard the oro from Horo and the team that morning, it helped me release that stress and focus forward. I saw the magic they brought—it was beautiful.”
Haumanu was also marked by loss. When matriarch and kuia Hinewīrangi passed, it left a deep gap.
“The tribute at Te Papa was powerful—Horo and the team launched the album that night and Season 2 of Oro Rua, with her interview as the first episode. It was Matariki. It felt right that we could honour her in that way.”
A Legacy Rooted in Collective Growth
Margy is most proud of the Collective’s resources—wānanga, podcasts, publications, and the album.
“It’s not just the outputs—it’s about regenerating the momentum of Hīrini, Richard, Rangiiria and others.”
She acknowledges the challenge and reward of leading a collective:
“Trying to bring artists together can be like herding cats—I know, because I am one too! But when we come together, that’s when the magic happens.”
Margy celebrates the uniqueness of Haumanu as a group of kaupapa-driven leaders—each already accomplished in their own right—coming together for the love of taonga pūoro.
“They’ve worked hard to get Haumanu going and have a deep love and responsibility to the wellbeing of Taonga Puoro.”
Thanks to strong digital engagement and high demand, Haumanu wānanga often hit capacity within 24 hours.
“It’s important to let Haumanu do what they do best, and then wrap the support around them to make it happen. People like Brendon Moses and Aunty Judy Ripia have been key to that.”
Making Way for What’s Next
After five years, Margy sees this not as an ending but as an evolution.
“The Project Manager role isn’t the right fit anymore—Haumanu is now an Incorporated Society with a new strategy, growing from 7 to 11 members. In leadership spaces, especially in ngā toi Māori, you have to be agile and strategic to ensure we are heading in the right direction .”
He Mihi Whakamutunga
Margy continues her journey as a multitalented change agent—an accomplished painter, curator, and leader—deeply grounded in her culture, creative practice, and the strength of her whānau. Through kaupapa like The Veiqia Project she is helping to revive the sacred tradition of tā moko for Fijian women, alongside the many commitments to the arts.
When asked how she balances it all, she laughs: “It’s about the bigger picture stuff – activating, whakapapa, connecting, creating, our people – doing what I believe in and what I’m passionate about.”
The Veiqia Project – a creative research project inspired by the practice of Fijian female tattooing.
She is currently developing the new taonga pūoro programme for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, set to launch next Matariki “I’ll still be doing my bit our taonga tuku iho – just in another way.”
She doesn’t have any regrets and is grateful to Haumanu “I love Haumanu I have deep respect and aroha for them. It’s helped my practice, my whānau—they’ve taught me so much. It’s been transformative, serving this kaupapa. I’m excited for them.”
Dr Awhina Tamarapa reflects:
“Margaret has exceeded her role responsibilities… We benefited from her knowledge, skills, and guidance to navigate unfamiliar terrain. It takes a remarkable set of skills to manage important kaupapa and creatives. Margaret deserves this acknowledgment. She has total belief in Māori tū, mana motuhake, through the advancement and delivery of kaupapa toi.”
These words echo the collective sentiment: Margy has carried this kaupapa not only with competence, but with deep conviction and care.
To Margy, from all of us: Ngā mihi maioha, nāu te rourou, nā mātou te rourou, ka ora ai te kaupapa.
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