Te Rau Titapu

Te Rau Tītapu is a community‐based wānanga initiative which is being conducted in the community of Waipoua, north of Dargaville in Northland. It has set out to investigate how the process of wānanga (the tribally based teaching of important traditional, cultural, religious, historical, genealogical and philosophical knowledge) contributes to knowledge sharing, knowledge creation and the fostering of community identity and cohesion. To do this Te Rau Tītapu is examining wānanga processes and events within Waipoua, with the intention of developing a model of wānanga that is both meaningful and effective to the community. The project is also seeking to determine what role wānanga can play in the positive transformation of a hapū/iwi community. Ultimately, the research seeks to address whether wānanga act as a process or contribute to community transformation and positive change, thereby yielding the creative potential of a Māori community? And if they do achieve this, then how? The study also asks how we can increase the quality of knowledge sharing and knowledge creation and the fostering of community cohesion and identity through wānanga processes and events? All iwi and hapū communities are different, with a variety of opportunities and issues impacting upon them. This study does not purport to produce a full and final model of wānanga suitable for all tribal communities, rather its intention is to capture and analyse the experiences of one community, so as to provide an example in which other communities and groups might find merit in assisting them in their wānanga endeavours. This documentary outlines the relevance of these wānanga to the community. It documents the ideas, sets the scene and captures the initial phase of the project journey. At its core it gives voice to the Waipoua community, who have experienced their own learning’s, challenges and successes and most of all captures a living narrative in the making. Our thanks go to Daniel Nathan of Netana Productions who produced this documentary - Te Pito o te Rohe.

For more information on this project, please contact Eamon Nathan