“Kia rongo te ao i te reo o te taonga.”
Let the world hear the voice of our taonga.
On Saturday 29 March 2025, the Haumanu Collective hosted our very first digital wānanga – Protecting Taonga Pūoro in the Digital Age. This powerful kaupapa brought together 26 passionate participants from across Aotearoa to explore how we can protect, preserve and uplift the sacred sounds of taonga pūoro in the ever-changing digital world.
Held over Zoom, this five-hour immersive experience featured a stellar line-up of guest speakers, collaborative kōrero, and reflections grounded in tikanga Māori and mātauranga. Together, we explored the intersection of traditional sound, intellectual property, and cultural guardianship.
Highlights from the Day:
- Hinewehi Mohi (APRA AMCOS) shared deep whakaaro on the importance of protecting our compositions and registering our mahi — especially when taonga pūoro takes centre stage. She reminded us: “Give your work a name, and register it. It’s part of how we protect our legacy.”
- Dr Hannah Darroch (SOUNZ) introduced the many ways SOUNZ supports Māori artists — from their national music archive and educational tools to their Visual Stories and Hōtaka Māori platforms — all designed to amplify our voices and stories.
- Reti Hedley, our feature artist, gave a powerful and personal insight into his journey as a taonga pūoro practitioner and musician. He walked us through his creative process, his use of digital tools, and how tikanga shapes his decision-making as a modern artist working with ancient knowledge.
- Our breakout session on Intellectual Property Rights gave participants space to unpack real-world challenges around ownership, cultural consent, and creative freedom. The kōrero was rich, honest and kaupapa-driven.
What We Heard From Participants
“This kōrero helped me realise how whakapapa can guide our understanding of IP.”
“It was refreshing to hear from people who walk the line between tradition and technology.”
“I’ve registered my work before, but never thought about how that sits alongside tikanga — now I will.”
What’s Next?
This wānanga is just the beginning. With support from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) and Creative New Zealand (CNZ), we’re building a digital learning series that continues to centre te ao Māori, protects taonga, and supports the growing community of taonga pūoro practitioners and enthusiasts.
We’ll be announcing the next digital wānanga soon — diving deeper into topics like WAI 262, whakapapa, and the future of cultural sovereignty in sound.
Missed the Wānanga?
We’ll be releasing select recordings and resources soon. Keep an eye on our News page or follow us on social media to stay in the loop.
Ngā mihi maioha to all who joined, presented, and supported this kaupapa.
Together we’re ensuring the voice of our taonga continues to thrive — in every space, for generations to come.
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