Activity B: Mahi toi for healing: creating the world we want for our mokopuna

He pitopito kōrero

Art can be a powerful vehicle for digesting pain, separation, and trauma. Here in Aotearoa, we are seeing many artists, both Māori and non-Māori, connect with the personal and collective stories of our lives and transform them into moments of solidarity, connection, and joy.

This movement can be seen across the visual arts, dance, drama, and the sound arts. These creative expressions enable us all to imagine ways of living with each other and te taiao that acknowledge our histories, honour tino rangatiratanga for hapū and iwi and respect the Mana whenua of Aotearoa.

Natalie Robertson (Ngāti Porou, Clann Dhònnchaidh is a contemporary photographer, recording the state of the Waiapu river and surrounding land to communicate tribal narratives to future generations.

“This body of work really began as a desire to think through how photography can assist with iwi aspirations…..I see a connecting point between how photography can lead back to real life action in the world? What I am aiming to do is elevate and amplify the voice of the taiao, the river, and the voice of the species that are at threat here.”

– Natalie Robertson

A photo of a tree on the side of a hill that is very dry and brown land.

Puna wai and pear tree (possibly Puna-a-Hinemahi), Kawenga Wahi a Te Aowhiua, 2020, by Natalie Robertson N(gāti Porou, Clann Dhònnchaidh). Purchased 2022. Te Papa (O.049744)

Natalie Robertson talks about recording the shape of the land now, for those in Ngāti Porou who come after her. In Puna wai and pear tree, Robertson used keen observation skills to notice where the green grass ended and yellow grass began. This difference alerted her to the existence of a freshwater spring.

Using this as an idea, take a camera and observe your local community and landscape closely. What can you see today that might be of interest to generations to come? What features of the landscape around you in 2024, are in a state of flux or change?

Takapau, by the Mataaho collective, was a commissioned installation at Te Papa that celebrated the whariki takapau, or finely woven mats that elevate and add mana to special events. The collective, is made up of four wāhine Māori, Dr Terri Te Tau (Rangitāne ki Wairarapa), Bridget Reweti (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rang), Sarah Hudson (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Pūkeko), and Erena Arapere-Baker (Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangātira). Return to any of the activites that you have completed as an individual and work as a group with friends on the same task, What happens when we work collaboratively?

Together the Mataaho Collective investigated takapau within Te Papa’s collection alongside the whāriki designed by Kura Te Waru Rewiri that can be seen on the floor in Rongomaraeroa, the marae at Te Papa. Watch the video below summarising the way in which this magnificent installation came to be.

Wharenui Harikoa is a brilliant example of connection and joy from Lissy Robinson-Cole (Ngāti Hineamaru, Ngāti Kahu) and Rudi Robinson Cole (Waikato, Ngāti Pāua, Ngāruahine). It is a full scale wharenui, or meeting house featuring vibrant poupou and tekoteko. It is crocheted by hand out of neon wool. It combines traditional art forms with a truly exuberant joy and aroha for what it means to be Māori.

Spend time watching videos of Wharenui Harikoa. How does it make you feel? Can you imagine walking in it? Write a simple poem for how it might feel to experience walking into the whare. What is the sensations under your feet, and hands? What might a big deep breath in smell like? What might it look like under UV light?

Consider what artistic tools and practices you could use to communicate optimism and joy about our shared futures. Could you knit a rainbow guerilla knit jersey about rainbow identities? A tissue-paper stained glass window about increasing biodiversity? Collage a picture of your school grounds regenerated with ngahere?

Stan Walker (Tūhoe, Ngāi TeRangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngai Tahu) is a leading musician who has recently provided a moving example of Tuhoetanga, through his waiata Māori ki te ao.

“This waiata, Māori ki te ao is the knowing of who we are, and where we come from. It is who I am. This is my love letter to Tūhoe & my to my Tūhoetanga.

This song and video is a representation of just a small portion of who we are as Tūhoe. This is where we come from & who we have become. My heart's desire for our kaupapa is that no matter where we come from or who we come from, that we continue to know we are incredible, that we are more than good enough. That we are powerful. That we can just be.”

Watch the official music video and see how many examples you can notice of the relationship to whenua, to awa, to landscape. What emotions does the waiata incite in you?

In this official lyric video, you are able to engage with the lyrics, even if you are not yet fluent in te reo Māori. Sing along with the waiata and consider the ways in which the landscape and the elements of te taiao are used as ways for describing te reo Māori and what it is to be Tūhoe.

There are many, many other singers who whakapapa Māori who are smashing it. We recommend you also check out the incredible Maisey Rika, Ria Hall, Troy Kingi, Maimoa, and Rob Ruha to name a few. Make you own playlist of songs that speak about what it is truly know yourself, your people, and te taiao.