Hou Rongo: Moriori, Music and Manawa, is a groundbreaking exhibition developed by Hokotehi Moriori Trust in partnership with the University of Otago. It offers visitors an immersive experience of the rich cultural heritage of Moriori, the indigenous people of Rekohu (Chatham Islands). Blending ancient knowledge with cutting-edge technology, the exhibition evokes the feeling of being on Rēkohu/Rangihaute, surrounded by the realms of the etchu (deities).

The result of a two-year collaborative project supported by an MBIE Smart Ideas Grant, Hou Rongo brings together scientists, musicians, and artists from Rēkohu and beyond. The exhibition was co-designed to support the cultural revitalisation of ta imi Moriori through Totohungatanga Moriori (Moriori ways of knowing and being), expressed through innovative digital and sensory media.

Visitors are transported to Rēkohu through large-scale videos, immersive soundscapes, and scent reconstructions that reflect the Moriori connection to the natural world. A physical representation of the pou at Kōpinga Marae features Moriori iconography and a video of the Karakii Rangitokona (the Moriori creation story spoken in ta rē Moriori).

Among the exhibition’s highlights are 3D-printed replicas of the only two known historic Moriori flutes, offering a rare opportunity to handle objects that would otherwise be inaccessible. Through film, photography, and interactive storytelling, Hou Rongo breathes life into Moriori songs, stories, and traditions.

Hou Rongo is now open at the Nelson Provincial Museum and runs until 1 March 2026.