Summary

The videos on this page offer insight into the holistic care of taonga tūturu and the experiences of those involved. The videos will be of interest to iwi, hapū, marae, hapori whānui and conservation specialists. They explore topics such as:

• cultural considerations around relocation
• regional histories
• taonga tuku iho education
• standard museum practice methods
• the complexities and opportunities that arise in preserving taonga tūturu.

Where possible, subtitles are available in te reo Māori or te reo Pākehā. Go to the settings menu on the video to switch between languages.

Te Awakairangi Waka relocation

He hononga Tiriti – E mihi ana ki ngā rangatira o Te Āti Awa, Muaūpoko, Rangitāne, Ngāti Wai o Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa me

Ngāti Toa i arahi i ngā āhuatanga hei whakatau i te Awakairangi Waka.

In 2006, the 650-kilogram Awakairangi Waka was discovered in Te Awakairangi riverbed during a water pumping station project in Lower Hutt. After the conservation of the centuries-old waka was completed in central Wellington, six lower North Island iwi led the return of the waka hull to Te Awakairangi ki Tai.

This video records the morning of the relocation in March 2022.

Whenua histories

He hononga tangata – he hononga tēnei taonga ki ngā tīpuna, ki ngā āhuatanga o ngā wā o mua, mā tātou anō hei kai.

Kaumātua Kura Moeahu (Te Āti Awa), tohunga whakairo Warren Warbrick (Rangitāne) and kaitiaki taonga Shane James (Muaūpoko) explain in this video that before colonisation, the Awakairangi River was a central part of a vibrant Māori eco and social system where many waka traversed its waters. This video shows what taonga tūturu such as the Awakairangi Waka can tell us about the past.

Rohe-based conservation

He hononga Tiriti – Ka mahi ngātahi a Te Manatū Taonga ki te taha o te iwi me te hapū hei manaaki hei tiaki i ngā taonga tuku iho.

When taonga such as the Anaweka Waka (2011) and the Taranaki taonga assemblage (2020) are found, iwi may desire they undergo ongoing ‘museum standard’ conservation treatment. This involves careful collaboration between iwi and conservators.

This video features Chris Hill (Manawhenua ki Mohua) in Golden Bay, and Rae Hinerau-Wetere (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tama) and conservator Susanne Rawson in Taranaki, discussing how they conserve taonga in the rohe where they were found.

Te Kauwhata Waka relocation

E mihi ana ki ngaa rangatira o Waikare Marae me Waikato-Tainui i arahi i ngaa aahuatanga hei whakatau i Te Kauwhata Waka.

In 2018, large waka segments were found in Te Kauwhata wetlands, north of Waikato. After several years of conservation treatment in Auckland, the waka was moved back to its rohe in 2023 to complete its restoration at the Hopuhopu Innovation Hub. This is a place that speaks uniquely of Waikato-Tainui — connecting the past, present and future. In partnership with Waikato-Tainui, we have supported the care of this waka and its relocation.

Credit: this video was made by, and kindly shared with permission of, Waikato Tainui and its Heritage Identity team.

Waikato Tainui