The Taonga Files
History
About
The Taonga Files is a podcast about provenance research — the detective work of uncovering the histories of taonga Māori held in museum collections. Each episode explores how research reveals not only what sits on museum shelves, but how those taonga arrived there, and the stories they carry. This show demonstrates that provenance research is far from dry or technical. It is exciting, meaningful, and deeply human. By tracing the journeys of taonga, we reconnect communities in the present with the voices of the past. Unlike other museum-focused podcasts, The Taonga Files centres on reconnection. It highlights how uncovering provenance restores whakapapa, returns mana to taonga, and strengthens the bonds between museums and the communities whose heritage they hold.
Episodes
- #6 - The Williams Māori Dictionary
This episode of The Taonga Files explores a 1915 Williams Māori Dictionary, tracing the legacy of the Williams whānau, generations of Māori language scholars. The dictionary is noted to have belonged to Elsdon Best.
- Brief 6 - Building your Provenance Research Toolkit
This episode of The Taonga Files details the essential components of a provenance research toolkit, covering analytical tools, digital resources, community engagement, and ethical practices. It provides a framework for researchers to build…
- #5 - The A & P Show Archives
This episode of The Taonga Files delves into the A&P Show archives, uncovering hidden taonga Māori competitions. Hosts Amber and Migoto follow a paper trail through 30 years of entries to solve the mystery of the elusive piupiu tatangi.
- Brief 5 - Why Archives Matter
This episode discusses the importance of archives and national libraries as holders of historical evidence, such as manuscripts, photographs, and records, particularly for new researchers and curators.
- #4 - Te Wānanga Ledger
This episode delves into the Te Wānanga ledger, an 1878 artifact revealing insights into the Te Wananga newspaper and its subscribers. It highlights the central role of Te reo Māori in communication, land rights advocacy, and uniting iwi.
- Brief 4 - Museum Records
This episode of The Taonga Files breaks down museum records, explaining their nature, potential insights, and how early-career and community researchers can access them. It serves as a practical guide to navigating archives.
- # 3 - The Heist
Episode 3 of The Taonga Files revisits the 1865 Colonial Museum heist, detailing the theft of gold, gems, and taonga Māori. It explores the investigation, the recovery of some items, and the ongoing research into the missing treasures and…
- Brief 3 - Papers Past
This episode explores the research value of Papers Past, highlighting its importance for researchers. It touches upon related resources like Niupepa Māori and the British Newspaper Archive.
- #2 - The Forgotten Taonga
This episode of The Taonga Files details the forensic research behind uncovering the history of a tauihu (prow carving). The investigation involved examining museum records and historical photographs to understand how the taonga entered th…
- Brief 2 - Hauora and Wellbeing
In this episode, Migoto Eria and Amber Aranui discuss how taonga influence and are influenced by hauora, using the Te Whare Tapa Whā framework. They emphasize taonga as living entities vital to Māori identity and safety, reflecting on thei…
- #1 - Colonisation and the birth of a museum
This episode of The Taonga Files examines the colonial history of Aotearoa, focusing on the establishment of the first national museum and its early collecting of taonga Māori. Curators Amber Aranui and Migoto Eria discuss how these treasu…
- Brief 1: What is a Taonga?
This episode discusses the meaning of the term ‘taonga,’ its historical context, and its importance for contemporary work, including its mention in the Treaty of Waitangi concerning tino rangatiratanga.
- #0 - Welcome to The Taonga Files
In the inaugural episode of The Taonga Files, hosts Amber Aranui, Migoto Eria‑Rowell, and Monica Tromp introduce the podcast's mission. They discuss their diverse experiences in heritage, the significance of provenance research, and the em…
- Introducing 'The Taonga Files' Podcast
The Taonga Files podcast focuses on provenance research, the process of uncovering the histories of taonga Māori in museum collections. It highlights how this research is an exciting, meaningful, and human endeavor that reconnects communit…