An Indigenous embodiment of Conduction: Collective composition for traditional Māori instruments and beyond.

This article examines the indigenization of Butch Morris's Conduction methodology—a system of collective composition using hand gestures to direct improvising musicians—by adapting it for ngā taonga pūoro, traditional Māori musical instruments. It explores the transition of Conduction from Western ensembles to a Māori instrumental orchestra, highlighting how the conducting vocabulary was altered to accommodate the unique sonic and cultural characteristics of ngā taonga pūoro within a Māori worldview. Through performances, recordings, and wānanga (seminars), the practice evolved into a collaborative, inclusive process that integrates Māori pedagogical principles such as tino rangatiratanga (autonomy) and the tuakana/teina (big sibling/little sibling) model. The article emphasizes how this adaptation offers an alternative compositional approach that respects Indigenous musical identity while fostering collective creativity and cultural continuity.