The first Te Hā o te Ora wānanga was an inspiring start to the series, as participants connected through kōrero, te ao Māori, and taonga pūoro.
Held at Te Kuirau Marae under the theme, Whakahokia te mana ki te tangata – Restoring dignity through breath, the wānanga brought together whānau, hauora providers and practitioners to explore how traditional knowledge and taonga pūoro can strengthen wellbeing and support smoking and vaping cessation.
Healthy Families Rotorua systems innovator Teteira Ormsby said the energy from participants was immediate, with many engaging confidently in the wānanga and with the instruments.
“Seeing the excitement from whānau in the community connecting to ancestral knowledge and learning how the application of this can improve health really stood out,” he says.
“Taonga pūoro can take people on a journey that has many healing aspects. When someone wants to address a health issue and applies taonga pūoro as a tool, they’ll often find other areas of their health improve as well.”
Teteira said the openness and enthusiasm from participants were supported by skilled facilitation that created a safe space for learning and exploration.
“What surprised me the most was how comfortable whānau were with handling and giving taonga pūoro a go. This is a testament to the great facilitators we had who provided them with plenty of confidence.
“I’m excited about the potential of this innovation to see taonga pūoro practice being recognised as a key prevention strategy to reduce whānau harm through smoking and vaping. Equally exciting is the opportunity to place power back in the hands of whānau to help themselves,” says Teteira.
The day also included kōrero from kaupapa champion Sam Runga, who shared what oranga means to him and his whānau, inviting participants to consider their own pathways to wellbeing.
Taonga pūoro facilitator Mikaere Berryman-Kamp introduced participants to the world of traditional Māori instruments, their whakapapa, sound and role in wellbeing. He demonstrated a range of taonga pūoro and guided participants to make and play their own instruments to take home.
Mikaere says taonga pūoro is the embodiment of his whakapapa, something he emphasises when teaching and sharing with others.
“We’re fortunate to have a strong connection to Tūtānekai here in Te Rotorua Nui a Kahumatamomoe, but I’m always attempting to show our whānau that their own hapū and iwi have a unique sound that should be explored and celebrated.”
He says the connection between taonga pūoro and the breath is central to both the practice and the healing process.
“Most of our taonga pūoro have an element of breath involved, some more so than others. Through the relationship you develop with taonga pūoro, you begin to understand more about breath, something that we take for granted and often do completely subconsciously. Once you establish a baseline, you can track your progress with your taonga, both in terms of playing and breathing ability.”
He said this connection makes taonga pūoro a natural fit for a kaupapa focused on respiratory health and cessation.
“One of our whanaunga once said that whānau often become addicted to breathing before they become addicted to the smoke. The little ritual of taking a puff on something can be a way for people to settle their nerves, take five minutes and ground themselves. By shifting away from a harmful substance and replacing that action with one of our Māori taonga, we can better ourselves while connecting to our world and histories.”
The highlight of Mikaere’s day was watching participants discover the sound of their own instruments for the first time.
“My favourite part of our wānanga was watching the hīnātore each participant experienced when they finally find the oro. Taonga pūoro can and should be accessible for everyone, and it was powerful to see in real time our whānau connecting with a taonga that they can take with them wherever they go and adorn how they see fit,” he says.
At the next Te Hā o te Ora wānanga, participants will explore the cultural, spiritual and physical importance of clean air and breath, and its connection to the taiao. The wānanga will include a haerenga to the awa to collect uku (clay), followed by a workshop where they will make personal ukutangi.
Te Hā o te Ora is a prototype developed through collaboration between Healthy Families Rotorua, Te Arawa Whānau Ora, Manaaki Ora, Tangata Ora (Ranolf Medical Centre) and Sam Runga.
