Tūhonohono i ngā Taonga ā-Iwi 2026
Wed 8 Apr - Fri 10 Apr 2026
Te Ara a Tāwhaki, Eastern Institute of Technology | Taradale, Napier
Early bird registration | $250.00 (closes 7 February)
Student registration | $150.00 (limited number available)
General admission | $350.00
Join us in Taradale, Napier from 8 - 10 April 2026 for Tūhonohono i ngā Taonga ā-Iwi 2026.
More than 30 speakers will explore the theme of Celebrating sovereignty: He hangana whare taonga over three days of kōrero drawing on experiences of Kaitiaki Taonga, Mana Taonga and Whare Taonga.
We’re pleased to announce Caine Muir, Curator South-East Australia First Peoples Collections from Museums Victoria, will be joining our keynote line up of Jade Hadfield (curator and conservator), Jim Schuster (Māori arts and heritage preservation), and Whina Te Whiu (whare taonga development and community engagement).
You will also hear from conservators and kaitieki taonga from across Aotearoa, including: Rangi Te Kanawa, Vicki-Anne Heikell, Rose Evans, Kararaina Te Ira, Erina McCann, Ani Pahuru, Dean Whiting, Nick Tupara, Darran Kerei-Keepa, Te Awhina Arahanga, Amber Aranui, Hohepa Te Rito, Te Hira Henderson, Rawiri Tinirau, David Tipene-Leach.
If you are involved with the development of whare taonga (iwi/hapū/marae), a kaitieki of taonga, hapū and iwi development in relation to taonga, we hope to see you there!
Conference programme
The conference runs from Wednesday 8 April (10am) to Friday 10 April (ends 12:40pm).
| Wednesday 8 April | Te Poukaiāwhā | |
| 09:30 | Registration open | Eastern Institute of Technology |
| 10:00 | Pōwhiri | Te Ara a Tāwhaki Marae |
| 12:00 | Kai o te Rānui | |
|
Kaupapa: Kaitiaki Taonga | ||
| 13:00 | Keynote: Jim Schuster | Te Maru o Hinemihi - The Sheltering Embrace of Hinemihi. Māori arts and heritage preservation specialist Jim Schuster shares the story so far of the effort to bring the tupuna whare Hinemihi back home. |
| 13:50 | Rangi Te Kanawa & whānau from Te Karaka | He whāriki Rangatira, he whenu hou – Utilising modern textiles to repair whāriki |
| 14:15 | TBC | Taonga restoration project |
| 14:40 | Kai Paramanawa | |
| 15:10 | Erina McCann & whānau from Matakaoa | He rā whatiwhati kō! – Taonga Tūturu conservation in Matakaoa |
| 15:35 | Conservator panel discussion | Ka pēhea te tieki taonga hei āpōpō? What is the future of Taonga Conservation? |
| 16:25 | Reflections & Karakia | |
| 17:00-19:00 | Networking Event | TBC |
| Thursday 9 April | Te Poutokomanawa | |
Arrive by 08:00 at Waiohiki Marae | ||
| 8:30 | Pōhiri | Waiohiki Marae |
Kaupapa: Mana Taonga | Hau Te Ananui | |
| 9:00 | Keynote: Jade Hadfield | Te Hokinga Mai o ngā Pou Tīpuna. Melbourne-based curator and conservator Jade Hadfield Is an uri of Ngāti Paarau ki Waiohiki, who led the work on moving the 4 pou tīpuna from MTG Storage into Hau Te Ananui. |
| 9:50 | Zhane Tahau | Tareha Te Moananui painting |
| 10:15 | Kai Paramanawa | |
| 10:45 | Return to Te Ara a Tāwhaki (EIT) | |
| 11:00 | Joseph Te Rito | Te Reo Irirangi o Ngāti Kahungunu (reo Māori interview) |
| 11:25 | Natasha Hanara | He pukenga wai, ka puta he taonga |
| 11:50 | Te Hira Henderson | Taonga Storage |
| 12:25 | Kai o te Rānui | |
Kaupapa: Whare taonga | ||
| 13:00 | Keynote: Whina Te Whiu | Motutī-Raiātea Whare Taonga Raiātea, the whare taonga of Motuti, represents more than a building; it is the culmination of community vision, intergenerational labour, and deep cultural responsibility. Curator and kaiwhakawhanaunga Whina will outline the kaupapa behind its development, the relationships and tikanga that sustain it. |
| 13:50 | Darran Kerei-Keepa (Central Region Pouārahi, Heritage NZ) and writer, researcher and curator Te Awhina Arahanga | Te Whare Taonga o Takahanga Marae, Kaikoura |
| 14:15 | Rawiri Tinirau | Whakamana marae and hapū archiving on Rānana Marae, Whanganui (reo Māori presentation) |
| 14:40 | Kai Paramanawa | |
| 15:10 | Conference workshops (concurrent sessions) | Select ONE of 4 concurrent sessions on registration: A: Kaupapa Here | Policy B: Mahi Moni | Fundraising C: Te Waihanga Whakakitenga | Exhibition Dev 101 D: Hīkoi ki runga o Ōtātara Pā |
| 16:25 | Reflections & Karakia | |
| Friday 10 April | Te Poutūaronui | |
| Kaupapa: He aha kei tua i te paerangi? | ||
| 9:00 | Keynote: Caine Muir | Tangata Whenua Moemoeā – Keeping Places. Caine Muir is Curator South-East Australia First Peoples Collections from Museums Victoria. His kōrero will speak to the future for indigenous nations in Australia. |
| 9:50 | Māori and Indigenous Research Professor, David Tipene-Leach | Te Whare Kōrero o Henare Matua |
| 10:15 | Owner of Ihorei Art Gallery, Tumarangai Sciascia and Director of Pataka Museum Ana Sciascia | He Toi Whakairo, He Mana Tangata - Legacy of Te Maori |
| 10:35 | Kai Paramanawa | |
| 11:10 | Te Māori Manaaki Taonga Trustees | Te Māori Tū – The legacy of the Te Maori exhibition |
| 11:35 | Kaihautū for Te Papa Tongarewa, Arapata Hakiwai | What’s next for the big museums? |
| 12:00 | Poroporoākī me te Kai o te Rānui (Takeaway lunches are available) | |
Conference workshops
You'll be invited to select one of these concurrent sessions on registration:
A. Kaupapa Here | Policy
Whakaritea he kaupapa here hei arataki i te kaitiekitanga o ngā taonga tuku iho.
Explore and develop policies that support the care and protection of taonga on marae, with whānau, hapū or iwi.
B. Mahi Moni | Fundraising
Ka whati te tai, ka pao te tōrea!
Learn practical ways to secure funding for taonga initiatives or building a whare taonga. Connect with experts and get prepared for successful applications.
C. Te Waihanga Whakakitenga | Exhibition Dev 101
Whakaatuhia, whakakōrerohia, whakakaupapahia ngā taonga.
Discover how to create exhibitions for whānau or hapū - online, on your marae or in a whare taonga.
D. Hīkoi ki runga o Ōtātara | Guided Tour up Ōtātara Pā
Ko Hikurangi kei runga, ko Ōtātara kei raro.
Join a hīkoi up to Ōtātara Pā to take in the views, hear kōrero tuku iho and connect with the rich history of this whenua. Walking shoes required.
Tūhonohono i ngā Taonga ā-Iwi is hosted in partnership by National Services Te Paerangi, Te Papa and Te Kura i Awarua Rangahau Māori Research Centre, Eastern Institute of Technology.