Artist Workshops & Talks
Ruri Raranga
Hinemoana Baker
About the work
Ruri Raranga is a gentle wānanga where community, creativity, identity, and healing meet through the power of poetry. Through the use of voice and body as warp and weft, Ruri Raranga creates a collective, spoken poem from the experiences and reflections of each participant. A kaupapa Māori initiative, Ruri Raranga unfolds primarily in English, with te reo Māori woven throughout and translated when appropriate. The name itself reflects the intention: ruri is a short poem or ditty, while raranga speaks to weaving.
Each hui offers a calm and connected rhythm. With no preparation or prior experience required, the sessions provide a low-pressure, supportive environment of appreciation, expression, and subtle repair, a poetic oasis that honours the power of sound, voice and poetry.
About the artist
Hinemoana Baker
(Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Āti Awa, Kāi Tahu, Germany, England)
Pōneke, Aotearoa
Hinemoana Baker is a celebrated poet, musician, performer, and editor based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, raised in Nelson and Whakatāne.
Known for her evocative language, wry humour, and deep sense of cultural and personal inquiry, Baker’s work spans poetry, performance, sound, and song. She has published multiple acclaimed collections, performed widely in Aotearoa and internationally, and contributes to creative communities as a mentor, collaborator, and facilitator.
Hinemoana's practice is grounded in the belief that poems strengthen us: mind, heart, body, and spirit. Through Ruri Raranga and her wider creative work, Hinemoana continues to champion the transformative, communal, and restorative force of poetry.