Celebrating the mauri of taonga at Tūhonohono 2026
Iwi from around the motu will gather in Taradale, Napier this April to share experiences of Kaitiaki Taonga, Mana Taonga, Whare Taonga and discuss the future of taonga care.
Tūhonohono i ngā Taonga ā‑Iwi 2026 will explore the theme of Celebrating sovereignty: He hangana whare taonga during a three day wānanga from 8–10 April. Kōrero centres on recognising taonga as living ancestors and affirming iwi sovereignty in decisions that affect these tīpuna.
Speakers include Jade Hadfield (curator and conservator), Jim Schuster (Māori arts and heritage preservation), Whina Te Whiu (whare taonga development and community engagement) along with international guest speaker Caine Muir, Curator South-East Australia First Peoples Collections for Museums Victoria and Te Papa Kaihautū Arapata Hakiwai.
Tūhonohono 2026 is delivered by Te Papa’s National Services Te Paerangi, in collaboration with Te Kura i Awarua Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and Waiohiki Marae.
Museums Victoria’s Curator South-East Australia First Peoples Collections Caine Muir will share an Australian perspective through the lens of Object Holding Spaces.
Melbourne based curator and conservator, Jade Hadfield (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara), will be coming home to Waiohiki to speak to the conservation work required to enable four pou tīpuna from Napier’s MTG to move into the whare Hau Te Ananui.
Museum and documentary heritage specialist Whina Te Whiu (Te Rarawa) has led major taonga care and community-led heritage projects in Northland. Speaking at Tūhonohono she will share the decade long journey guiding the development of Raiātea, the Whare Taonga of Motuti, North Hokianga. Whina’s kōrero will outline the kaupapa behind its development, the relationships and tikanga that sustain it.
Tūhonohono 2026 is delivered by Te Papa’s National Services Te Paerangi who provide support for taonga care for iwi, hapu and whanau alongside their museum and gallery sector support role.
Event details
Dates: 8–10 April 2026
Location: EIT Campus, Taradale, Napier and Waiohike Marae (Thursday AM session only) Event website and programme: https://tepapa.nz/Tūhonohono
Media contact: Emma Philpott | 021 878 215 | emma.philpott@tepapa.govt.nz
Event link: Tūhonohono i ngā Taonga ā-Iwi 2026
Images
Speaker credits: Jade Hadfield, Caine Muir, and Whina Te Whiu. Photos courtesy of the speakers
About Tūhonohono
Tūhonohono i ngā Taonga ā‑Iwi is a long‑standing, Māori‑led national wānanga that strengthens Māori capability to care for taonga in ways that uphold mana, whakapapa, and tikanga. Since 2001, it has provided a trusted forum for iwi, hapū, whānau kaitiaki and Māori and museum sector professionals to share knowledge, build capability, and advance iwi Māori‑led approaches to taonga care.
Participation in Tūhonohono 2026 supports iwi, hapū, kaitiaki to:
Exercise mana motuhake in the care, protection, and future development of taonga tuku iho;
Strengthen kaitiakitanga, ensuring taonga are cared for in accordance with tikanga and values;
Build intergenerational capability, supporting kaitiaki, uri, practitioners and rangatahi pathways into cultural heritage practice;
Learn alongside other iwi and indigenous leaders through iwi‑to‑iwi knowledge exchange grounded in mātauranga Māori.