Mai i Onamata, He Pūawai brings together Warren Warbrick, Matthew McIntyre Wilson and Purewa Hodge to explore taonga, mātauranga Māori and contemporary creative practice, sharing insights into how ancestral knowledge continues to shape design.

Warren Warbrick: Museums and Revivals. Since the mid-1980s, Warren Warbrick has made a close study of taonga Māori in museum collections in both Aotearoa and the UK. With a particular focus on stone tool technologies and ngā taonga pūoro, Māori musical instruments, Warren has been an early participant in artform revivals, as a member of Te Ao Kōhatu and Haumanu. Seeking the mātauranga inherent in physical taonga, Warren has applied his discoveries to the making of taonga pūoro. His mahi is recognised by Toi Iho. Hear Warren outline his forty-year practice in working with museum collections to support the revival of important artforms.

Matthew McIntyre Wilson: This talk offers an opportunity to hear about Matthew’s research during his Dundee residency, including time spent closely examining kākahu held in museum collections. He considers how contemporary Māori making can contribute to the revitalisation of mātauranga and create new relationships between ancestral knowledge and contemporary practice.

Purewa Hodge: Will share some of her journey with Māori patterning through images, stories, and conversation. She will explore how patterns carry meaning, identity, history, and a sense of place, and look at the ways different cultures have used pattern as a visual language. Drawing from her own background and artistic practice, she’ll reflect on the relationship between Māori patterning and patterns found within English and European traditions, exploring both the connections and differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous approaches to design. Through this conversation, she’ll share how these influences have shaped her understanding of pattern and informed the contemporary work she creates today.

Q&A Panel: The afternoon concludes with a conversation featuring Warren Warbrick, Matthew McIntyre Wilson and Purewa Hodge. The panel will provide an opportunity to further explore the themes raised throughout the day. Audience members are invited to join the discussion and hear reflections from the speakers on the ideas, questions and connections emerging from their work.