Mō / About

Empowering your vision / Whakamana i tō wawata

Taonga Media brings stories to life across Aotearoa through stunning documentary, collection digitisation, and educational media. Working alongside businesses, government, museums, iwi, and whānau, we capture the people, places, and moments that matter, always with authenticity and a strong commitment to cultural responsiveness.

Taonga Media partners with business owners, government agencies, and organisations, iwi, hapū and whānau to deliver photography and videography that brings stories to life. With specialised experience in documentary, museum collection digitisation and educational media, we are committed to authentic representation, cultural responsiveness, and helping clients realise their vision.

Norm Heke

Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahu, Welsh

Norm Heke brings extensive expertise in photography and videography to Taonga Media, specialising in the documentation of museum collections, taonga Māori, and cultural projects across Aotearoa and internationally. His technical proficiency spans all aspects of photography, film production, digital archiving, and project management, including the creation of high quality visual content for national institutions and community groups. His work features in numerous exhibitions and award winning publications.

Norm is renowned for his collaborative approach and his ability to deliver outstanding imagery within tight timeframes and budgets. From major digitisation projects at Te Papa and regional museums to films for Creative New Zealand and international exhibitions, he is trusted for his professionalism, cultural insight, and ethical practice.

Norm Heke - Photographer and Videographer for Taonga Media

Julie Noanoa - Creative Director and Project Manager for Taonga Media

Julie Noanoa

Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Pāhauwera, Celtic

Julie Noanoa supports creative direction and project management at Taonga Media, guiding clients from concept to delivery through strategic visioning and expert storytelling for both public and private sector projects. Her background encompasses museum education, resource development, exhibition curation, and professional development.

Julie’s collaborative approach, and outcomes-focused leadership make her a valued partner for clients seeking impactful photography and videography with a bicultural perspective. Julie brings extensive experience developing content for mainstream audiences across a wide range of subject areas, with specialist knowledge in kaupapa Māori.

Image Credits

Landscapes

Ōtaki Gorge Road, Ōtaki. Hokitika Laundromat. Franz Josef Glacier. Wellington Harbour. Lake Wānaka. Wairarapa Farm. Maze Field, Tolaga Bay. Mount Ruapehu from Ohakune. Marokopa. Kāwhia. Te Awakairangi, Kaitoke. Kaikōura. Hikurangi from Tikitiki. Te Mata Peak, Hastings. Dunedin Railway Station. Highway 43, Tahora Saddle. Chatham Islands. Auckland Harbour. Marokopa Falls. Lake Tutira, East Coast. Tāne Mahuta Kauri Tree, Waipoua Forest. Taranaki Coastline. Putangirua Pinnacles, Lake Palliser. Riverton. Ōtaki Gorge Road, Ōtaki. Hokitika Laundromat. Franz Josef Glacier. Wellington Harbour. Lake Wānaka. Wairarapa Farm.Maze Field, Tolaga Bay. Mount Ruapehu from Ohakune. Marokopa. Kāwhia. Te Awakairangi, Kaitoke. Kaikōura, Hikurangi from Tikitiki, Te Mata Peak, Hastings, Dunedin Railway Station, Highway 43, Tahora Saddle, Chatham Islands. Auckland Harbour. Marokopa Falls. Lake Tutira, East Coast. Tāne Mahuta Kauri Tree, Waipoua Forest. Taranaki Coastline. Putangirua Pinnacles, Lake Palliser. Riverton

Artworks

Artwork by Wi Taepa. Hauiti Marae, Tairāwhiti.Artwork by Robert Jahnke. Southland Museum Silver Cup. Māori Select Committee Room, Parliament (Māui Tikitiki-a Taranga, carved by Rangi Hetet). Artwork (Mokau Bone Carving - Stacy Gordine). Ruakapanga Whare Whakairo/ Poutokomanawa - Ruakapanga whare whakairo. Sculpture by Niki Tupara. Feather Kete, maker unknown. Pounamu Sculpture - Lewis Tamihana Gardiner. Cast Glass Sculptures by Anne Robinson. Crown Lynn Swan. Pounamu Pekapeka. Te Wehenga O Rangi Rāua Ko Papa, by Cliff Whiting, National Library. Uku sculpture by Carla Ruka. Whale Bone Carving, artist unknown. Kahu Kurī. Te Papa collection. Poupou by Lyonel Grant. (Detail). Silver earrings by Rina Kerekere.Uku Toa by Baye Riddle.

Portraits

Rangi Kipa. Matiu Bartlett, Mana Kai exhibition, 2025. Kay Baxter, Kōanga Institute. Mana Kai exhibition. Taonga Puoro Group wānanga at Hongoeka Marae. L-R: Warren Warbrick, James Webster, Brian Flintoff, Richard Nunns, Alister Fraser. Front: Horomona Horo. Circa 2010. Sean Mallon. Senior Curator, Pacific Cultures. Te Papa. Artist Portrait. Pacific Music Exhibition. Te Papa.Luamanuvao Dame Winifred Alexandra Laban (DNZM QSO). Former Politician.Maureen Robin Lander (MNZM). Master Weaver. Matariki Advertising. Te Papa. Dante Bonica. Master craftsman. Carolyn Roberts Thompson Whānau. Bill Couper. Mana Kai exhibition, 2025. Ann Revington. Mana Kai exhibition 2025. Ngā Kaihanga Uku Group (Manos Nathan, Colleen Waata Urlich, Paerau Corneal, Baye Riddell, Wi Taepa). Cultural Performance, Te Papa. Denby Fawcett. Tahitian tattoo artist. Te Wānanga o Raukawa marketing image. Sir Stephen Gerard Tipene O'Regan (ONZ CRSNZ). Sonia Snowden Māori tōhunga raranga. Rob Ruha. Musician. Gavin Bishop. Children’s book author and illustrator. National Weavers Hui, Roma Marae, Ahipara. Nick Tupara Artist. Promo image for Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Wedding. Manos Nathan. Kaihanga Uku Artist. Robert Jahnke (ONZM FRSNZ). Artist, educator (graphic, sculptural artwork). Portraits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Promo image for Kahu Ora, Living Cloak exhibition (Te Papa 2012). Tina Wirihana (Christina Hurihia Wirihana). Contemporary Māori weaving artist. John Pule (ONZM). Sofia Tekela-Smith, artist, novelist, poet.