Haimona Brown

Through his kaupapa Ngā Niao o te Kaituna, Haimona will work to reconnect rangatahi with wai and moana.

Haimona’s moemoeā…

Ko Haimona Brown tōku ingoa. He uri ahau nō Te Arawa, Te Āti Awa, Tainui me Te Aupōuri. I was raised in Te Kao at the tail of Te Ika-a-Māui, where the moana shaped my identity. My father was a fisherman, and the Kaumatua and Kuia of Te Kao were my first teachers, showing me that the moana is a tūpuna — a living ancestor who sustains us.

Today I carry that connection as both an ocean explorer onboard Te Aurere waka and a waka builder, following the teachings of Sir Hekenukumai Busby. My mahi weaves mātauranga tuku iho with contemporary practice, ensuring the voices of our tūpuna remain alive while addressing the needs of our people and environment.

Through Ngā Niao o te Kaituna, I work to reconnect rangatahi with wai and moana. With the support of this scholarship, our kaupapa will:
– Refurbish a 16-man waka tētē, involving rangatahi in every stage of the work.
– Record the kōrero of Kaumatua, preserving stories and wisdom of Kaituna, Tapuika, and Te Arawa.
– Strengthen iwi relationships, recognising the century-long ties between Ngāti Rangiwewehi and Tapuika in caring for our waterways.

The outcomes will be both practical and visionary. A waka will be restored as a living vessel of learning, rangatahi will gain skills and confidence as kaitiaki, and Kaumatua wisdom will be protected for future generations. This kaupapa reflects the principle that if the river is healthy, the people are healthy.

Ngā Niao o te Kaituna also contributes to the wider oceans sector. Through waka, rangatahi learn to read tides, winds, and rhythms of the moana, while developing a deep understanding of kaitiakitanga. This equips them to lead with integrity in both cultural and environmental spaces.

The Tonganui Scholarship will provide the resources to bring this dream forward. By supporting waka, rangatahi, and Kaumatua, it will help ensure our culture and our environment remain strong together, leaving a legacy for generations to come.