Where Will the Bellbird Sing, if Not on the Harakeke? Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship, Custodianship, and Protection) in Te Ao Māori
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article considers the ancestral ties that bind the Māori, Tangata Whenua (the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand), to an emblematic plant, named harakeke in Te Reo Māori (the Māori language), also known as New Zealand Flax or Phormium tenax. Through the presentation of key concepts from the Māori world, such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship, custodianship, and protection) of taonga (Māori ancestral treasures) and whanaungatanga (Māori kinship ties and the art of relationships), we address the need for greater understanding, consideration and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and practices, particularly within the museum world. Behind this lies not only our gratitude to the harakeke and its many kaitiaki (guardians) – humans, birds, insects, plants, taonga, winds, rivers, and rain – both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas – but also the importance of the ancestral connections between Tangata Whenua (the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand) and harakeke. We also recognize the interconnected relationships that are fostered and sustained across generations, time, and places in alignment with the Hūtia waiata (song) at the heart of our article’s title. “Where will the Bellbird Sing? Kei hea te kōmako e kō?” is also an homage to the work of Dame Anne Salmond and refers to one of her Discussion Paper dated June 2022. Titled “Where Will the Bellbird Sing? Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ‘Race’,” this work aligns with our collective engagement with Toitū Te Tiriti. It calls on the New Zealand government to honor Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensure its endurance for future generations, in order to protect and nurture the many entities that make up Te Ao Māori (the Māori world), such as birds, plants, mountains, and rivers.
Source: Textures
Authors: Lisa Renard, Awhina Tamarapa
Language: French
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7155226320