Community Engagement
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata. He tangata, He tangata!
What is the most important thing in this world? It is people. It is people. It is people!

Te Raranga Putiputi Wananga: The Flax Flower Weaving Workshop 2023
The author provided the students of Briar Road Public School with a Maori cultural weaving workshop, as a koha (gift); to support their school's indigenous learning program.
Click on the link to view the school article:
https://briarrd-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/news/2023/4/maori-cultural-class.html
​
Follow this link to a video created by BRPS staff.
https://www.facebook.com/briarroadpublicschool/videos/206403348760424?locale=ro_RO
​
​

Hongi's Hikoi: A Trio of Travellers Presentation Series 2022
This was a series of bicentennial commemorative presentations delivered in museums, schools, and marae across Aotearoa New Zealand.
​
These presentations included lectures, a short film, published books (journal article and bilingual children's storybooks), and a display of replica taonga.
​
This $250,000 project was a koha (gift) from Purakau Productions to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, especially the secondary students; it was to coincide with the new History curriculum being implemented in New Zealand schools.

Inaugural Matariki Festival 2022
This was the inaugural Matariki public holiday (Aotearoa New Zealand).
Purakau Productions provided an information and activity stall surrounding the cultural practice relating to Matariki, at the inaugural Matariki Festival at Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside (Blacktown).
​
Our stall provided colouring-in, and find-a-word activities for children, as well as raranga (weaving) lessons for all ages.
​
This was a koha (gift) for the people.

Murama Aboriginal Program 2022
Humbled to be invited to join the Murama Conference again in 2022, where we facilitated activities as part of an Aboriginal student leadership program.
Cultural leaders from various mobs, as well as from the Ojibway / Mohawk (of the Six Nations) in the US also attended.
​
We regularly support Murama, as koha (a gift) when they facilitate any events.

Va'a Blessing 2022
We are humbled to have been invited to bless a new va'a (Polynesian double-hulled canoe) for the Koa Kai Outrigger Canoe Club, delivering karakia and incantations for their vessel to safely navigate across the waves of Te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa.
​
We acknowledge and thank Tangaroa for allowing us to do this on his behalf.
​
We wish Koa Kai OCC all the best with their fleet of va'a in the future.

Waitangi Day History Stand 2022
Purakau Productions provided a history stand at the 2022 Waitangi Festival at Parklea Markets.
Over the years, we had observed that although Waitangi Day events in Ahitereiria (Australia) have been well-attended and provide opportunities for entertainment, food and merchandise sales - they did not provide much context around the history and significance of the day itself - so we created a collection of historical documents and images to enable those who were interested, to learn more.
​
Our stand included copies of documents, and images relating to Aotearoa New Zealand history from 1820 through to 1840. Historian Brent Kerehona delivered presentations every hour (on the hour) over the two days of the festival.
​
This stand and its associated presentations was a koha (gift) to the people.

Waitangi Day History Stand 2021
Purakau Productions provided a history stand at the 2021 Waitangi Festival at Blacktown Pools.
Over the years, we had observed that although Waitangi Day events in Ahitereiria (Australia) have been well-attended and provide opportunities for entertainment, food and merchandise sales - they did not provide much context around the history and significance of the day itself - so we created a collection of historical documents and images to enable those who were interested, to learn more.
​
Our stand included copies of documents, and images relating to Aotearoa New Zealand history from 1820 through to 1840. Historian Brent Kerehona delivered presentations every hour (on the hour) over the course of the day.
​
This stand and its associated presentations was a koha (gift) to the people.

Hongi, Waikato and the King of England 2019
We delivered a public presentation focussing on Hongi Hika's 1820 journey to England, at Raven Row, in Spitalfields, London.
​
This was at the invitation of the In*ter*is*land Collective, to be held after the New Zealand Studies Network Annual AGM.
​
This was a koha (gift) to the peoples of England.

Waitangi Day History Stand 2018
Purakau Productions provided a history stand at the 2018 Waitangi Festival at Blacktown Showgrounds.
Over the years, we had observed that although Waitangi Day events in Ahitereiria (Australia) have been well-attended and provide opportunities for entertainment, food and merchandise sales - they did not provide much context around the history and significance of the day itself - so we created a collection of historical documents and images to enable those who were interested, to learn more.
​
Our stand included copies of documents, and images relating to Aotearoa New Zealand history from 1820 through to 1840. Historian Brent Kerehona delivered presentations every hour (on the hour) on the day.
​
This stand and its associated presentations was a koha (gift) to the people.