Tapatapa ki te Papa

Tapatapa ki te papa

Whakatangi ki te rangi

Manahua te manawa

Tau mai te mauri e

Hā ki roto hā ki waho

Ihi wehi wanawana 

Whēoro, pūoro, ihirangaranga e!

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Ko Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Kōtirana, Tiamana ōku tūpuna.
Ko Kelly Kahukiwa tōku ingoa.

Warm greetings to all. The rhythms beneath our feet, amplified through the trees, the insects, the birds, the flow of cascading rivers, speak 

I have worked for many years in rhythm investigation and the role of taonga pūoro (Māori instruments)  in te ao Māori. I am a maker, sound artist, cultural practitioner, and father of 3.  

I want to leave a taonga for future generations and I am asking for your help.

Tapatapa ki te Papa is a kaupapa grounded in te ao Māori focused on the research and development of a structured pathway for drum-making with rangatahi and kaiako.

For many years, I have explored the idea of a Māori drum language — recognising that while many Pacific cultures hold strong drum traditions, this is an area we are still actively reawakening within our own contexts through taonga pūoro, performing arts, and making practices.

This project is part of that wider collective movement.

This phase is about building foundations — researching drum-making methods, testing materials, identifying suppliers, and working alongside taonga pūoro practitioners to develop a clear, repeatable workshop model.

At its core, the work will:

• test materials and construction methods
• explore recycled native timber and natural skins
• develop accessible building processes
• document a structured wānanga model for rangatahi and kaiako

The outcome is not a single workshop, but a framework that can be shared, taught, and carried forward.

Rangatahi will learn alongside experienced practitioners, creating their own drums and engaging directly with sound, material, and identity.

This is about restoring a pathway where making, rhythm, and cultural expression sit together again — and ensuring this knowledge can be passed on to future generations.

This campaign builds the foundation for that future.