He Kete Korero - Preserving the voices of our Kaumātua.

He Kete Kōrero is a community arts project dedicated to capturing and preserving the voices, experiences, and wisdom of our kaumātua.

Our Kaumātua hold invaluable knowledge about identity, whakapapa, whenua, resilience and cultural values. Much of this knowledge is shared through oral storytelling and lived experience, yet many of these stories are never formally recorded.

He Kete Korero aims to embrace and preserve the stories shared from a group of kaumātua from the Kaipatiki region of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland—their reflections on life, journey, hopes, aspirations, and a message for future generations.

They will also contribute a creative element that represents their korero. These may take many forms, including weaving, carving, written words, taonga, or symbolic objects. The individual pieces will be brought together to form a collective sculptural kete. Traditionally, a kete carries food or precious items. In this project, the kete will carry wisdom and stories.

The creative process will be documented as a digital film series, capturing both the stories shared by kaumatua and the creation of the sculptural kete.

When we have completed the project, we will present the sculpture and film through an exhibition and screenings, sharing this taonga with the wider community.

With support from this campaign, we will deliver this kaupapa and ensure these stories are captured and shared in ways that reach both current and future generations. 

Core team is Lofty Ned, Natanahira Pona, Grae Burton, Geoff Allen.

Kaitautoko: Tamihana Pomare, Lake House Arts, South Seas TV and Film graduates.

We are meeting with local board funders, ngā rōpū toi, creative communities, benefactors of LHA. We will conduct a boosted campaign,

He Kete Kōrero –Preserving the voices of our Kaumatua.

Our Kaumātua hold stories that cannot be found in books. They carry memories of whenua, whānau, struggle, resilience and aroha. Their experiences are taonga – gifts for future generations. But many of these stories are never recorded. If we do not capture them now, they may be lost. 

This project answers that urgency.

We will gather the voices from a group of kaumātua from the Kaipātiki area and transform their stories into a living work of art. We will also sit with our kaumātua and record their kōrero — their reflections on life, identity, culture and the future. 

The journey of creating the kete and gathering these stories will be filmed, creating a digital film series that preserves these voices for whānau, community and future generations.

At the completion of the project, we will host a public exhibition and screening, sharing the artwork and stories with the community.  

With support from this campaign, we can ensure these voices are captured before they are lost and shared with current and future generations. 

He Kete Kōrero is about more than recording stories — it is also about protecting identity, strengthening communities, and carrying wisdom forward into the future.

1. Preserving Knowledge That Would Otherwise Be Lost

Every kaumātua holds unique lived experiences, language, and cultural knowledge that often exists nowhere else.
By recording these voices, we ensure this knowledge is not lost, but safeguarded for future generations.

2. Strengthening Identity and Connection

Access to these stories helps whānau — especially rangatahi — understand who they are and where they come from.
This strengthens identity, belonging, and pride in culture.

3. Creating a Living Archive for Future Generations

The project builds a digital collection of stories that can be accessed, shared, and passed down — not just today, but for generations to come.

4. Amplifying Voices That Are Often Unheard

Many kaumātua have never had the opportunity to have their voices recorded or shared widely.
This project ensures their experiences, perspectives, and wisdom are seen and heard.

5. Providing Guidance for the Future

The insights shared by kaumātua are not just reflections of the past — they offer guidance on how to:

• care for each other
• strengthen communities
• protect our environment
• live with balance and purpose

6. Long-Term Impact

The long-term impact is intergenerational:

• Stories remain accessible long after they are recorded
• Knowledge continues to guide future generations
• Cultural identity is strengthened over time

When we record a story, we are not just preserving the past — we are shaping the future.