Season 1
Brief 3 - Papers Past
Brief 2 - Hauora and Wellbeing
Brief 1: What is a Taonga?
In this brief we explore the valuable resource of Papers Past, and why this is a must for our research kete. Papers Past Niupepa Māori Trove Library of Congress British Newspaper Archive Glossary Aotearoa: New Zealand Niupepa Māori: Māori Newspapers Te reo Māori: The Māori language Tupuna: Ancestor Waiata: Song Koroua/Koro; Elderly man, grandfather Whakapapa: Genealogy Whanaunga: Relative
In this ‘brief’, Migoto Eria and Amber Aranui lay the foundations for exploring how taonga shape, and are shaped by, hauora (wellbeing). Grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā, they reveal taonga not as static museum objects but as living presences that speak, travel, and maintain unbroken lines of whakapapa. The kōrero moves through the emotional and spiritual weight of caring for taonga, the protective force of tikanga like karakia, and the responsibility museums hold to uphold Māori identity and safety, Māori first, employee second. Reflecting on the legacy of Te Māori, they show how reconnecting people and taonga continues to transform hauora across generations. Links: Te Whare Tapa Whā Glossary: Hauora - be fit, well, healthy, vigorous, in good spirits. Karanga - formal call, ceremonial call, welcome call, call Kōiwi - bone, human bone, corpse Kōrero - to tell, say, speak, read, talk, address. Kupu - word, vocabulary, saying, talk, message, statement, utterance, lyric Mahi - to work, do, perform, make, accomplish. Mauri - life principle, life force, vital essence, a material symbol of a life principle. Taha Māori - Māori identity, Māori character, Māori side, Māori heritage. Tikanga - correct procedure, custom, habit, lore, method, manner, rule. Tūpuna - ancestors. Wāhine - female, women, feminine. Waiata - song, chant. Whakapapa - genealogy, genealogical table, lineage, descent Whakaaro - thought, opinion, plan, understanding, idea.
In this Brief, we dig into the meaning of ‘taonga’ from our perspective — what the term holds, how it’s been used, what it means to us, and why it matters for the mahi we do. We also touch on its appearance in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, where Māori were promised tino rangatiratanga over ‘o ratou taonga katoa’ (check out the NZ History link below for a more in-depth look at this). That commitment sits at the heart of our responsibilities today. This Brief sets the foundation for everything else we’ll explore this season. Links Te Aka Māori Dictionary Te Tiriti o Waitangi Glossary Kōrero - to tell, say, speak, read, talk. Kupu - word, vocabulary, saying, talk, message, statement. Pākehā - English, foreign, European, exotic - introduced from or originating in a foreign country. Taha Māori - Māori identity, Māori character, Māori side, Māori heritage, Māori ancestry, Māori descent. Taonga - possession, object, treasured possession, something prized. Whakapapa - genealogy, lineage, descent. Te ao Māori - the Māori world. Te reo Māori - the Māori language. Wāhi tapu - sacred place, sacred site. Whakaaro - thought, opinion, plan, understanding, idea, intention.
The Taonga Files is a podcast about provenance research — the detective work of uncovering the histories of taonga Māori held in museum collections. Each episode explores how research reveals not only what sits on museum shelves, but how those taonga arrived there, and the stories they carry. This show demonstrates that provenance research is far from dry or technical. It is exciting, meaningful, and deeply human. By tracing the journeys of taonga, we reconnect communities in the present with the voices of the past. Unlike other museum-focused podcasts, The Taonga Files centres on reconnection. It highlights how uncovering provenance restores whakapapa, returns mana to taonga, and strengthens the bonds between museums and the communities whose heritage they hold.