In this paper we consider how recent taonga puoro noho marae wananga, in the Far North district of Aotearoa New Zealand, have much to offer the growth and development of bicultural relational engagement in arts education. The nga toi Maori authors highlight their aspirations, as leaders of recent hui wananga initiatives in Te Hiku o Te Ika (the region of the "tail of the fish" at the top of the North Island). This includes aspirations to recognise noho marae wananga as important self-determining spaces that support the evolution of indigenous paradigms and the growth of music education from a distinctly Maori ontological foundation. Together we advocate for what Moana Jackson calls an "ethic of restoration" and argue that when priority is given to the recognition and support of Maori led educational initiatives, such as noho marae wananga, generative and mutually beneficial bicultural relationships are better enabled. The authors revisit Te Mauri Pakeaka, an arts education marae wananga initiative which ran through the 1980s, and consider hui wananga for their potential to support new forms of bicultural relational engagement in arts education in the future.