ABSTRACT
In 1994, Mason Durie constructed an alignment of parameters of health for Maori in terms of a metaphor of a four-sided health construct, a four-sided house or whare tapawha. This chapter highlights the first of the Cultural Anchors, an overarching perspective—he taonga, he rerenga arorangi —translated by the Mana Tamariki team as “Where there are treasured objects, the spirit will be nurtured and creativity will be inspired”. At the outset of visits to the museum, the Mana Tamariki whanau gathered to hear a panel of tribal experts who are connected to the taonga talk about their aspirations for the relationship they themselves and visitors might grow and maintain with the objects. The creative capacity building was shared by the tamariki, kaiako, and taonga. Together, and in different ways, this combination was treasuring the knowledge, nurturing the spirit, and inspiring the creativity.
