The term mātauranga Māori literally means Māori knowledge and is closely aligned to the period of pre-European contact as it encompasses traditional concepts of knowledge and knowing that Māori ancestors brought with them to Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Nā Hina is not just a calendar, but a symbol of our cultural heritage and connection to the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar. Created with artwork from tauira (students) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and mātauranga (knowledge) from maramataka experts, including New Zealander of the Year Rangi Matamua and myself
He Kete Pūoro Volume 1 album is a groundbreaking album featured Taonga Pūoro as the star. This project was put together by Haumanu Collective and I have enjoyed supporting the process for launch.
In honour of ngā whetū o Matariki, Haumanu Collective hosted an immersive evening of taonga pūoro (Māori musical instruments) at the Te Papa Matariki Whakangahau event in Te Whanganui-a-Tara on Friday, July 14.
As we bid farewell to the shortest day and the longest night of the year, we celebrate the reawakening of Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun) and the transition towards summer.
Last week Haumanu hosted the first national wānanga since the official reforming of the ‘collective’ at Pūrekireki marae in Pīrongia. By all accounts the wānanga was a success and stands as a new milestone for Haumanu in pursuit of providing a solid foundation for the revitalising of taonga pūoro and the normalisation of these of taonga pūoro in today’s context.
The chief adviser to the Government on the Māori New Year, Professor Rangi Mātāmua (Ngāi Tūhoe), has been named this year’s New Zealander of the Year Awards.
Hue, also known as Bottle Gourds, are a popular vegetable in many cultures, including New Zealand. It is a vine that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and produces large, round or bottle-shaped fruits that can be used for a variety of purposes. However, for the fruit to develop properly, the flowers need to be pollinated. Here I discuss how to hand pollinate hue (bottle gourd) flowers using a fine paintbrush.
The Autumn Equinox is a significant time in Māori culture, marking the transition from the warmer months to the cooler months and signaling a time of change and transition in the natural world. Here are some stories and traditions associated with the Autumn Equinox in Māori culture and suggest ways to observe and celebrate this special time.
In this episode, Libby and Thomas discuss the use of Taonga Puoro in the hauora space, as a tool for aiding mental health and addiction recovery. They also discuss some exciting plans for future projects, such as a Taonga Puoro orchestra.