On 14 November 2025 the 18th annual Waiata Māori Music Awards lit up Hastings as the national stage for Māori musical excellence. This year’s kaupapa – Toitū te Reo – Titiro Whakaroto – reminded us that our reo, our stories, our soundscapes endure and evolve through music.
We were especially honoured to have two of our Haumanu Collective whānau in attendance: kaikaranga of taonga pūoro Horomona Horo (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Taranaki) and researcher-practitioner Libby Gray (Ngāti Rēhia, Ngāti Uepōhatu, Tama Ūpoko ki te Awa o Wanganui & Ngāti Tūwharetoa).
Their presence at this gathering of Māori composers, musicians and cultural custodians marks a powerful step for Haumanu’s mission: to champion the resurgence of tāonga pūoro, to nurture Māori sound-art, and to strengthen the kaiwaiata, kaihanga and rangatahi who will carry that legacy forward.
Horomona’s mastery of pūoro and his global collaborations position him as a beacon of how indigenous instruments can speak into today’s music scene. Libby’s research and work with taonga pūoro as rongoā (healing) reflect the deeper resonance of our kaupapa: that music is relational, musical, cultural, and has the power to transform.
As we reflect on this evening we capture more than photos: we capture connection-making, ideas in motion, possibilities of alliance between taonga pūoro and popular Māori music, between the whānau of Māori music and the whānau of Māori sound-art.
The night also reinforced that for Māori music to thrive, our frameworks must embrace both cultural wisdom and creative innovation. Haumanu stands ready to contribute: through workshops, taonga-pūoro wānanga, digital storytelling, and pathways into music composition where Māori instruments and Māori voices chart new territories.
We move ahead with joyful intent, strengthened by what was celebrated, inspired by what lies ahead. He wawata kua ara – a vision awakened.
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