Project Mauri Ora is a jointly held and developed programme between Ka Korokī Ka Maranga Māori, Music Industry Collective (MMIC) and SoundCheck Aotearoa. It is focused on strengthening safe and culturally grounded working environments for tangata whenua throughout the Aotearoa music community.

The programme began through a series of pilot wānanga delivered in partnership, creating dedicated space for tangata whenua to explore sexual harm prevention and response through a Te Ao Māori lens. This work underscored the importance of Māori-led and designed spaces, and identified the need to address not only sexual harm, but also bullying, racism, discrimination, and broader forms of harm in music workplaces and community settings, grounded in live experience.

Pilot Wānanga

In 2024, SoundCheck Aotearoa and Ka Korokī Ka Maranga, Māori Music Industry Collective (MMIC) delivered a pilot series of wānanga across Aotearoa. These were designed, led and delivered by an all‑Māori team, creating culturally safe spaces for tangata whenua across the music community in the rohe we visited.

Kanohi ki te kanohi, Māori artists, musicians, and industry professionals came together to share lived experiences.

Wānanga team

Joy Te Wiata (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) of Korowai Tūmanako

Matua Russell Smith (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu) of Korowai Tūmanako

Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau (Ngāti Maniapoto) of Māori Music Industry Collective and SoundCheck Aotearoa

Wairere Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe) of Māori Music Industry Collective and SoundCheck Aotearoa

Matutaera Herangi (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Mahanga) of Waananga Rangaranga

Sarah Owen (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata) of Māori Music Industry Collective

Anna Loveys (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) of SoundCheck Aotearoa

The future of Project Mauri Ora

Building on insights from the pilot, Project Mauri Ora is being developed as a long-term, Māori‑led body of work held between the Ka Korokī Ka Maranga, Māori Music Industry Collective and SoundCheck Aotearoa. The programme will expand to address a broader range of workplace and community harms, while supporting culturally grounded spaces for connection, learning, and leadership. Register your interest to receive updates and take part in consultation as the programme develops.