Cultural Activity - Toi Tākaro - The Art of Indigenous Play
| Monday, October 12, 2026 |
| 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM |
Overview
Start the conference with connection, movement and play through Toi Tākaro. Experience traditional Māori games.
Everyone is welcome, it’s free to join and no bookings are required. Drop in, have a go and connect with fellow delegates before the conference sessions begin.
Key Learnings
Toi Tākaro: He Tomokanga ki te Hauora - Tākaro Māori as a Portal to Hauora (Wellness)
Tākaro Māori is more than play. It is a portal into whakapapa (genealogy), mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge), te reo (language), connection, identity and ultimately hauora.
This interactive workshop explores Tākaro Māori as a practical pathway into hauora through traditional and contemporary forms of play. Participants will experience kaupapa including mahi whai (string games), tākaro ā-ringa (hand games), pōtaka (Māori spinning tops) and mū tōrere, exploring not only how these games are played, but the mātauranga, kōrero and values that sit behind them.
Through play, we can open conversations about whakapapa, whenua, whanaungatanga, creativity, problem-solving, leadership and identity. A simple game can become a culturally safe entry point for whānau who may not initially engage with traditional health services or conventional approaches to physical activity.
Drawing on the mahi of Toi Tangata and our experience supporting the revitalisation and growth of Tākaro Māori across Aotearoa (NZ), this workshop challenges deficit-based understandings of Indigenous health promotion. Rather than asking, “How do we get our people active?”, we ask, “What happens when we create the conditions for our people to move, play and connect as Māori?”
Participants will leave with practical experiences they can take back to their own communities, alongside a broader understanding of how Indigenous games and movement practices can act as powerful portals into holistic wellbeing.
Presenter
Miss Chelsea Cunningham
Kaiārahi -Design Innovation, Research lead
Toi Tangata
Cultural Activity - Toi Tākaro - The Art of Indigenous Play
Presentation Overview
Biography
Chelsea Cunningham is a Māori researcher whose work centres on whānau (family) wellbeing, whakapapa (genealogy) engagement, and kaupapa Māori approaches to health and physical activity. Born and raised in Kahungunu, her passion for whānau wellbeing and movement was shaped through her studies at the University of Otago and further developed through postgraduate research exploring connections between whakapapa, whenua (land), and wellbeing. Chelsea is currently Kaiārahi - Design, Innovation and Research lead at Toi Tangata, supporting Māori-led research that strengthens identity, cultural connection, and community wellbeing.
Mr Darrio Penetito-Hemara
Kaiwhakahaere Matua - CEO
Toi Tangata
Cultural Activity - Toi Tākaro - The Art of Indigenous Play
Presentation Overview
Biography
Darrio Penetito-Hemara has considerable knowledge and experience in the Māori, education, sport, recreation, and health sectors, having worked in the space for over 13 years. With leadership roles and experience belying his years, he is currently the CEO of Toi Tangata, a director of Kori Collab, holds governance roles in groups such as Orotokare and Kī o Rahi Tāmaki Makaurau, and sits on a number of advisory groups. A product of Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori, Darrio has a passion for whanaungatanga, connectedness, hauora, and kaupapa that improve the well-being of whānau, hapū, and iwi. Thriving in a range of environments and utilising his lived experiences and knowledge of Te Ao Māori, Darrio brings an extensive list of pūkenga to the Indigenous Well-being Conference committee.
