As part of the Government’s Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku funding package, $24.5m has been invested into the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector over a period of three years. Te Awe Kōtuku funding has supported iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori Māori to protect mātauranga Māori from the impact and on-going threat of Covid-19.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga received $2.795 million to support the revitalisation of vulnerable mātauranga Māori within two areas: ancestral landscapes and Māori built heritage.

Māori built heritage places are unique taonga in their construction and artwork expression. These grants supported wānanga and/or hīkoi associated with traditional building practices, especially the architectural heritage of our marae.

Caring for these taonga can be a challenge requiring specialist knowledge in both traditional and modern preservation techniques. We recognise the importance of revitalisation and retention of vulnerable mātauranga Māori within these two areas.

We are excited to be able to support and assist whānau, marae, hapū, iwi, and hāpori Māori across the motu with projects that ensure the sustainability of mātauranga Māori.

Place-based wānanga may be developed for varied kaupapa which includes:

• the mātauranga surrounding traditional arts and whare construction
• mahinga kai 
• māra kai 
• tārai waka

Māori ancestral landscapes are a vital part of Te Ao Māori. We understand the importance of kōrero tuku iho and its place within iwi Māori.

These grants supported wānanga and/or hīkoi focused on the retention and transmission of korero tuku iho associated with ngā tapuwae o ngā tūpuna, wāhi tapu and wāhi tūpuna.

The grants support retention and transmission of kōrero tuku iho as well as traditional practices within ancestral places in:

• cultural mapping
• maramataka
• waka haerenga, and
• kohatu