Puanga Taumaha Wānanga

Attendees of the wānanga recite a karakī while holding kopi rākau they crafted during the previous day’s workshop, while a .breakfast of Rēkohu blue cod and shellfish steam on the open fire.

In July, we hosted a two-day Puanga Taumaha wānanga in Ashburton, where attendees learned about the Moriori New Year and its significance within tikane Moriori. Participants were encouraged to plan their own meaningful New Year celebrations with their hūnau, weaving in these values alongside supporting rongo and karakī.

Jessica Ashton (left) and Lisa Donaldson (right) carve tuwhatu from pungatei (pumice).

After a restful night, guests gathered at dawn to prepare a delicious kei ata (breakfast), cooked over an open fire as the stars faded. Alongside this, they unveiled pumice tuwhatu (carved figures) created during the previous day’s session. Traditionally, these figures represented etchu (deities) such as Pou and Tangaroa, who presided over fish. Participants also crafted kopi rakau — sticks to which kopi seeds were traditionally bound — an ancient practice described by Johann Friedrich Engst, who wrote: “Each person points the stick to Puanga and pronounces his speech of worship or supplication for a blessed fruitfulness of this tree.”

As part of our agreement with Te Mātāwai, who kindly funded this tchipangă, we will be delivering further taumaha wānanga before the end of the current financial year. We have also developed a series of Puanga resources, which will be shared with hūnau ahead of next year’s celebrations. Planning for these wānanga is underway, and we look forward to sharing details soon.

Taumaha to Tiriana Smith and Deborah Goomes for leading this kaupapa.

Supported by Te Mātāwai – Kia ūkaipō anō te reo.

Rongo Puanga Taumaha

Written by Tiriana Smith

Hokomenetai Puanga taumaha!
Ta hunau o ta rangi
Kioranga!
Puanga
Tautoru
Matariki
Ka whetu nawenewene
Wanui
Tukepipi
Ta hunau o ta rangi
Kioranga!
Hokomenetai Puanga taumaha!

In unity Puanga thanksgiving
The family of the heavens
Greetings!
Puanga
Tautoru
Matariki
Forgotten stars
Wanui
Tukepipi
The family of the heavens
Greetings!
In unity Puanga thanksgiving

You can listen to Puanga Taumaha here.