This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Official Information request 'Te Reo Maori Culture and Heritage'.







 Offi
  ces of Manatū Taonga, Wellington


Manatū Taonga is a small ministry with  the special relationship we have 
a broad mandate, wide reach and a big  with iwi. We support iwi/Māori 
heart. 
cultural priorities through our work 
Our work is diverse – we support 
programme. We’re also an agency of 
many of Aotearoa’s art, media, 
the Crown, which means we work in 
Ko wai mātou
heritage and sports organisations; we 
partnership with Māori and are guided 
Who we are 
also advise government on cultural 
by the principles of the Treaty of 
A small ministry 
matters and provide historical and 
Waitangi. 
heritage resources for everyone to 
We’re a public sector agency. We 
with a broad 
access. The organisations we fund 
provide advice to the government of 
deliver a range of cultural experiences  the day on a range of arts, cultural 
mandate, wide 
for all of us to learn from, appreciate 
and heritage policy. We work with 
reach and a big 
and enjoy.
our public sector partners to deliver 
We have a leadership role across 
nationally signifi cant programmes 
heart
the cultural sector. We work with our 
that speak to the heart of our national 
funded agencies and partners to help 
identity.   
shape national conversation about 
New Zealand’s culture and heritage. 
We tell the stories shaping our history, 
we help to preserve and care for our 
taonga and support others to do the 
same. We provide a broad range of 
resources for many audiences.
We’re a Treaty partner. We value 


Developed collaboratively across our 
organisation, the common purpose 
is our shared understanding of what 
Manatū Taonga does, and how we 
contribute to New Zealand’s wellbeing 
Tō tatou aronga
and prosperity.
Our purpose
Promoting the importance of culture 
He ngākau titikaha, 
and heritage for all New Zealanders; 
our role within the sector, and the 
he hononga tangata
breadth and depth of our work.
Confi dent in what we do, as 
Promoting a confi dent and
individuals and as an organisation; as a 
connected culture
nation we are confi dent in our unique 
place in the world. 
Connected across our organisation 
and across sectors; connecting 
communities through culture and 
heritage; connecting the past, present 
and future.


Māori fl ags at Waitangi Day, 2008, New Zealand Herald/newspix.co.nz

Culture refl ects, connects and inspires us, telling the story 
of who we are.
It’s vital to our wellbeing and resilience, creates thriving 
and connected communities, and defi nes our individual 
and shared sense of what it means to be a New Zealander.
Ō tātou mahinga
Cultural experiences help connect us with our stories, 
What we do
heritage and history, and our unique place in the world. 
These experiences also give us the opportunity to share in 
Policy advice to the 
the stories and cultures of other New Zealanders, and the 
diverse communities we live in. 
government of the day, 
We celebrate our many perspectives and backgrounds, 
funding of sector agencies,  and treasure our indigenous culture. Māori culture has a 
special place at the heart of Aotearoa’s cultural identity, 
agency board governance,  and belongs to all New Zealanders. 
Our diverse cultural sector is integral to our everyday 
research and publications,  life. It makes a major contribution to New Zealand’s 
commemorations, online 
economic growth and sustainable prosperity. Every year, 
our sector contributes billions of dollars to the economy 
resources, heritage 
and supports thousands of jobs across the country. Our 
creative industries nuture talent and build skills in people 
programmes
who showcase who we are on the international stage. 

Tō tātou arotahi
Te hono i te iwi nui tonu ki te ahurea o Aotearoa
Our direction
We will connect more people with New Zealand’s culture
Tō tātou kaupapa matua 
Creating opportunities for New Zealanders to engage with Māori culture – 
What matters to us
creating an inclusive New Zealand whakapapa
We are competent and 
We work with our partners 
We assist all New Zelanders 
effective at engaging with 
to support Iwi/Māori 
to appreciate, understand 
Iwi/Māori as customers 
aspirations
and engage with Māori 
and partners
culture 
Valuing Aotearoa’s cultural diversity 
We promote the diversity of New Zealand society in the cultural sector, so all 
New Zealanders can connect to and see themselves in it 
Investing in culture for the wellbeing and prosperity of New Zealanders
We shape government thinking about investing in culture, leveraging impact and 
encouraging the pursuit of excellence and innovation across the sector
Caring for the nation’s taonga and identity
We connect people with New Zealand’s 
We act as a responsible guardian to the 
culture and heritage by sharing stories
tangible and intangible cultural heritage 
under our care as it continues to evolve

Manawanui
Matakite
He toa taumata rau.
Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia 
Ō tātou wāriu me ngā whanonga
Bravery has many resting 
tata, ko te pae tata, 
Our values and behaviours 
places.
whakamaua kia tina.
Seek out distant horizons, 
Our values and behaviours are a cross-
and cherish those you attain.
ministry collaboration to describe how 
we do things here. These are what 
make Manatū Taonga a great place to 
work, illustrate how we will operate at 
our collective best, and support our 
common purpose and direction. 
Act courageously
See ahead
We step up and act with 
We are deliberate about 
integrity.
where we are going and 
We speak the truth, even 
make the hard choices to 
when it’s hard.
lead the way.
We find out what’s going on 
around us and grab 
opportunities to make the 
difference.

Mana tāngata
Mahara
Manaaki
He taonga rongonui te 
I orea te tuatara ka puta ki 
Kia akiaki te mana o te 
aroha ki te tāngata.
waho.
tāngata.
Goodwill towards others is a 
A problem is solved by 
To uplift the mana of people.
precious treasure.
continuing to find solutions.
Care together
Think, be curious
Serve with pride
We respect our individual 
We question conventional 
We take pride in our work 
differences and knowledge.
wisdom and ask ‘how could 
and the value culture brings 
We take care of each other. 
it be better?’
to New Zealanders.
Together we are stronger.
We go beyond the familiar 
We put communities at the 
to design creative solutions.
heart of what we do.


Case study
An important part of our role is to 
Heritage buildings
care for New Zealand’s unique and 
irreplaceable heritage. One of the 
ways in which we do this is to help to 
protect our heritage buildings. They’re 
part of our shared history, and give 
communities a sense of continuity 
with the past. They contribute to 
the quality of life in towns and cities, 
creating rich vibrant places enjoyed by 
residents and visitors alike. We help 
to make sure our special places are 
recognised for their cultural heritage 
values, and that they can be retained 
for communities to enjoy now and in 
ith
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the future.   
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It’s also our job is to ensure that 
ie Lo
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government policies don’t have 
ela
unintended consequences for such 
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places. For example, following 
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the Canterbury earthquakes of 
2010/2011 the Ministry of Business, 
all, p
Innovation and Employment reviewed 
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the earthquake-prone building 




Hurunui Hotel in the 1940s, Alexander Turnbull Library
Hurunui Hotel today
requirements under the Building Act 2004, which led to a new system for 
managing earthquake-prone buildings. 
Part of this was the establishment of Heritage EQUIP, a national programme 
administered by Manatū Taonga which provides advice and funding to private 
owners of heritage buildings that are earthquake-prone. Since its establishment 
in 2016, the programme has supported the strengthening of iconic rural 
buildings such as the Hurunui Hotel in Canterbury, several art deco buildings in 
Napier and buildings in iconic cityscapes such as Wellington’s Cuba Street.
Find out more about the upgrade projects we have supported at: 
HeritageEquip.govt.nz/case-studies
National Tobacco Company Ltd, Napier


Case study
Tuia – Encounters 250
Concept drawing of waka and ships in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau



2019 is an important milestone for 
in progressing Crown/Māori relations 
New Zealanders. It marks 250 years 
and help build a more confi dent and 
since the fi rst onshore meetings 
connected culture. 
between Māori and Europeans in 
Commemoration activities will be held 
Aotearoa New Zealand, during the 
across the country, and preparations 
1769 voyage of James Cook and the 
are already under way in the four 
Endeavour.
regions of Aotearoa where Europeans 
A national commemoration, Tuia – 
and Māori fi rst met – Tairāwhiti, 
Encounters 250, will acknowledge 
Coromandel, the Bay of Islands and 
this pivotal moment in our nation’s 
Marlborough. 
Joseph Banks bartering with a Māori for a lobster, 
history, as well as the extraordinary 
Our role alongside our agency 
1769 ,watercolour and pencil by Tupaia, 
feats of the Pacifi c voyagers who 
partners is to help coordinate 
British Library
reached and settled in Aotearoa 
this activity, as well as deliver 
centuries earlier.
the national components of the 
Tuia means ‘to weave or bind 
commemoration. We want to extend 
together’ and is drawn from a 
the commemoration’s reach as far as 
whakataukī (proverb) and karakia 
possible though a national voyaging 
(ritual chant) that refers to the 
event, the Tuia experience trail and 
intangible bonds established 
educational resources.
between people when they work 
We’ve been working hard to ensure the 
together.
commemoration takes a broad and 
Tuia 250 is an opportunity to bring 
inclusive view that refl ects who we are 
forth our national identity, play a role  as a nation and who we want to be.


We envisage a future for Aotearoa 
New Zealand in which…
All New Zealanders have access to 
cultural experiences that inspire them. 
Young New Zealanders have access 
What success looks like
to the many stories and perspectives 
from our history. 
A future for 
Education at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior
The audience, and the venues for 
Aotearoa
cultural experiences, refl ect the 
diversity of our communities. 
New Zealand
New Zealand is a top international 
destination for its cultural landscape. 
Our cultural diversity is refl ected in 
everyday local life, and celebrated on 
the global stage. 
The value, wellbeing and resilience 
the cultural sector brings to our 
communities is recognised, and seen 
as central to New Zealand’s prosperity. 
Our national taonga are preserved for 
future generations. 




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Unveiling of the Belgian Memorial at Pukeahu
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Cover art: ‘Te wehenga o Rangi rāua ko Papa’, Cliff  Whiting, National 
Library; Edinburgh Tattoo performance, Te Matatini; Dawn service on Anzac 
Day, 2015, photo by Colin McLellan; National anthem, Auckland City Librar-

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra 2017 Season
ies - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero.