Wānanga Rau, Taumata Rau, Pūkenga Rau

The project Wānanga Rau, Taumata Rau, Pūkenga Rau seeks to strengthen Māori Performing Arts by developing an innovative conceptual toolkit and a series of research-informed publications.

Centred on kaupapa Māori methodologies, the project draws on keynote presentations and in-depth wānanga from Te Rautoki a Toi, bringing together experts such as Matatini judges, experienced kaihaka, Māori Performing Arts scholars, and emerging researchers. Their kōrero provides the foundation for analysing contemporary practice, theorising Indigenous performance, and exploring the evolving relationship between kapa haka, creativity, tikanga, and te reo Māori.

The collaborative wānanga process enables participants to reflect on and extend these ideas, generating insights that are thematically analysed and shaped into accessible outputs, including a monograph and short-form thought pieces. These publications aim to support kaihaka, educators, researchers, and Māori arts communities by grounding new knowledge in lived experience, and mātauranga Māori.

Early findings highlight kapa haka as a dynamic art form that advances cultural identity, innovation, and the revitalisation of te reo Māori. They also point to the need for strengthened mentorship, increased publication opportunities, and more dedicated spaces for Māori Performing Arts scholarship. The project’s outcomes have wider significance for teaching and learning, offering culturally grounded frameworks that deepen theoretical understanding while enriching practice across educational and community settings.

Looking ahead, the research opens pathways for further development, including potential multi-volume work on Māori Performing Arts theory, digital repositories of mātauranga, and the expansion of Te Rautoki a Toi into a national or international hub for Indigenous performing arts research. Together, these directions support the long-term flourishing of Māori Performing Arts and reinforce the vitality of Māori knowledge systems across Aotearoa and beyond.

This project received funding support from Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga through a Whakaaweawe Impact and Transformation Grant.