Dante Bonica's recent passing has sparked a wave of tributes across New Zealand's academic community, particularly at the University of Auckland where he dedicated over three decades to teaching and preserving Māori material culture. As a tohunga, or master craftsman, Bonica bridged ancient practices with contemporary education, ensuring that ancestral knowledge in stone tools, fibre work, bone carving, wood shaping, and shell technologies lived on through hands-on university workshops. His legacy underscores the vital role of New Zealand universities in revitalizing mātauranga Māori, the Māori knowledge system, amid growing calls for deeper integration in higher education curricula.

Born in Gisborne on 20 February 1951 to Sicilian immigrant parents, Bonica's fascination with Māori artefacts began in childhood. Raised partly in Ahuriri, he explored local archaeological sites and assisted at Napier Museum during his time at Napier Boys’ High School. This early immersion laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment, despite lacking Māori whakapapa by blood. His non-Māori background did not hinder recognition; instead, it highlighted his deep respect and skill, earning endorsements from Māori elders and scholars who saw in him a dedicated ally to cultural revitalization.

🌿 Entering the World of Māori Material Culture

Bonica's professional journey started in the 1970s with significant projects like adzing the wakatau Taheretikitiki II at Tuurangawaewae marae under the blessing of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. He also contributed to the wharenui Hui Te Rangiora in Kirikiriroa. These experiences honed his expertise in pre-contact technologies, particularly toki kōhatu—stone adzes essential for woodworking, canoe building, and sculpture. By the 1980s, he was replicating ancient tools with precision, collaborating with museums such as Te Papa Tongarewa and Auckland War Memorial Museum, where he received a Companion medal in 2018 for his public service.

His methods involved sourcing argillite, basalt, and other stones, napping flakes, hammer-dressing edges, and sharpening to mirror tūpuna techniques. This practical knowledge extended to fibre processing for tukutuku panels and fishing nets, bone fluting for pūoro instruments, and shell working—skills nearly lost post-European contact due to metal tool adoption.

Joining University of Auckland's Māori Studies

In 1991, at the invitation of Emeritus Professor Dr Ranginui Walker, Bonica joined the Department of Māori Studies at what was then the University of Auckland, now Waipapa Taumata Rau. He established Te Ruawhaihanga, the Māori Material Culture Workshop, on campus—a space described by students as 'like a Hawaiki,' evoking ancestral realms. Here, over 30 years, he taught generations of tauira (students) through immersive demonstrations, from carving waka hulls with stone adzes to voicing pūtōrino flutes that 'sang' in the wind.

Bonica's teaching philosophy emphasized accessibility. As Dr Tiopira McDowell, Associate Head of Teaching and Learning in Māori Studies, recalled: 'Watching Dante carve a waka with stone tools gave me goosebumps... Suddenly the pūtōrino began to sing of its own accord. These are the magical ancestral spaces Dante transported us to in our everyday lives.' He cautioned against over-sanctifying taonga: 'If we call everything taonga and make them tapu, they will never become everyday objects... That's why they died out.'

Revitalizing Lost Technologies Through Higher Education

Bonica's contributions were pivotal in reviving pre-steel Māori technologies. He manufactured adzes for major projects, including waka construction, and led workshops for artists, archaeologists, and iwi groups. His influence reached beyond academia; collaborations with Te Whare Taonga o MTG Hawkes Bay and Heritage New Zealand supported exhibitions and wānanga on mahi kōhatu (stone work). Students like Mokonuiarangi Smith credited him with inspiring 'courage... to take the extra step to making how our tūpuna did.'

In the context of New Zealand higher education, Bonica exemplified the practical integration of mātauranga Māori. Universities like Auckland prioritize experiential learning in Māori Studies programs, offering courses in language, history, performing arts, and material culture. This approach aligns with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, fostering bicultural competence essential for graduates entering policy, museums, and cultural sectors.

For deeper insights into his techniques, explore Te Papa's demonstrations of pounamu shaping, where Bonica showcased stone tool efficacy.

Impact on Students and Academic Careers

Hundreds of tauira passed through Te Ruawhaihanga, many pursuing careers in archaeology, museum curation, and iwi development. Professor Te Kawehau Hoskins, Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, noted: 'His contribution to Māori material knowledge and cultural revitalisation was extraordinary... He leaves behind an enduring legacy in the knowledge he upheld.' Bonica's retirement celebration at Waipapa Marae last year drew widespread attendance, reflecting his mana.

• Hands-on skill transmission: Students replicated ethnographic textiles, adzes, and instruments.
• Cultural confidence: Encouraged viewing taonga as living, usable items.
• Interdisciplinary links: Collaborations with Anthropology and Archaeology departments.

His approach influenced curricula, emphasizing tikanga (customs) alongside theory, preparing graduates for roles in University of Auckland's Māori Studies pathways.

Broader Role of NZ Universities in Preserving Mātauranga Māori

Bonica's work fits into a national push for mātauranga Māori integration. The University of Waikato offers TERTL501: Integrating Kaupapa Māori across Programmes 2026, examining indigenous frameworks. University of Canterbury's Māori and Indigenous Studies explores culture and philosophies, while Otago emphasizes tikanga in societal lore.

Massey University's Foundation Māori Culture introduces biculturalism and Te Tiriti implications. Victoria University of Wellington weaves environmental knowledge into wharenui designs. These programs, like Auckland's, blend ancestral lore with modern research, addressing calls for decolonizing curricula post-2020s reforms.

Statistics highlight impact: Enrolments in Māori Studies rose 15% across NZ universities from 2020-2025, per Universities NZ data, driven by experiential courses. Challenges persist, including funding for workshops amid 2026 budget pressures.

Challenges in Embedding Ancestral Knowledge in Higher Ed

Preserving Māori material culture faces hurdles: Declining traditional material access, urbanization eroding practical skills, and balancing tapu with everyday use. Universities counter this via partnerships; e.g., Auckland's collaborations with iwi ensure authentic transmission.

Recent developments include 2026 strategies like Waikato's Curriculum Māori paper, promoting te reo and tikanga integration. Government initiatives, such as He Mātauranga Māori Strategy 2026-2030, mandate normalization of Māori worldviews in teaching.

Student Perspectives and Real-World Applications

Tauira testimonials reveal transformative impacts. One artist, guided by Bonica, explored fishing nets as contemporary art, exhibited at MTG Hawkes Bay. Archaeologists credit his debitage analysis for Wairau Bar studies at Otago. Graduates staff museums, iwi trusts, and policy roles, applying skills to repatriation projects like Waikāretu Collection.

In 2026, amid fuel crises and economic shifts, universities like Auckland emphasize resilient ancestral practices—sustainable crafting reducing reliance on imports.

Future Outlook: Sustaining the Legacy

Bonica's pūtea—knowledge fund—ensures continuity. Universities plan expansions: Auckland eyes digital archives of Te Ruawhaihanga techniques; Waikato advances kaupapa Māori majors. Emerging tauira, trained by Bonica, lead wānanga, embodying 'Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi'—as elders cast aside nets, youth fish on.

This model positions NZ higher education as global leaders in indigenous knowledge preservation, attracting international students to bicultural programs. Actionable insights for academics: Prioritize workshops, iwi partnerships, and curriculum audits for mātauranga balance.

Honouring Bonica reminds us: Ancestral legacies thrive when universities make them accessible, practical, and alive.

Photo by Rendy Novantino on Unsplash