Māpuna

Whaea Nan Walden Moeung recently won the Prime Minister's Science Teacher prize for 2025. She started her career in fashion design - skills she carried over into her teaching career, now at Wellington East Girls' College. Her classes include 3D printing, laser cutting, and digital modeling with traditional textiles.

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The continued theft of pounamu in the South Island has prompted two Ngai Tahu hapu to speak out about the scale of the problem. Earlier this month two people caught trying to illegally export almost 18 kilograms of the precious greenstone were sentenced and fined. Poutini Ngai Tahu Runanga Co-Chairs Francois Tumahai and Paul Madgwick say more staff are needed to stop pounamu theft over such a vast geographic area and it's a 'wakeup' call.

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The historic Kororipo Pa in Keriker has returned to Ngāpuhi after almost 190 years. In the 1820s it was a base for the rangatira, Hongi Hika, before his war parties travelled south but also a place of learning and a vital hub for Ngāpuhi chiefs. Kipa Munro is the chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia and Aroha Herewini is one of its board trustees. They talk about the significance of Kororipo and its future.

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Witi Ihimaera is a trailblazing award-winning writer and his books have enriched us for the past 50 years. Now in his 80s he's released Te Kaikaukau, The Swimmer: I te Ao o te Reo which explores his recent full immersion in Te Reo Māori. Witi Ihimaera says when he was a student the rangatahi around him 'had his back' while learning the language.

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Comedians Kipling DC and Mo Munn will join forces at the NZ International Comedy Festival next month with their show 'Skux Cowboys get lonely sometimes too.' Kipling also is nominated for the Billy T comedy award.

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Stretching back to the 1980s with Ardijah Betty Anne has been one of the most prominent voices in Aotearoa's music scene with hits such as 'Watching You.' Now she's releasing her debut solo album Slow Burn. She talks to Julian Wilcox about her long musical odyssey and sings a song from her new album along with her sons Kaitapu and Jesse.

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The Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship awards were established in 1945 to assist Māori achievers to succeed in education and to contribute as leaders. Dr Kahurangi Waititi is on the organisation's board and her father, Major John Waititi, was a commanding officer in the battalion. This year's scholarships were awarded last Thursday. Uenuku Jefferies was one of the winners.

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Former Te Karere reporters Baily Mackey and Mapuna's own Julian Wilcox pay tribute to Moari Stafford who died this week aged 74. And Hirini Matunga is the Professor of Maori and Indigenous Environmental Management at Lincoln University who will retire next month after nearly 50 years. He says colonial era statutes in our public spaces should be removed and possibly placed in a museum or statue park.

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Dr Donna Morrison is a niece of Sergeant Haane Manahi who served in the 28th Maori Battalion during the Second World War. She's also produced the new film, Sergeant Haane, which focuses on the battle for the hilltop fortress of Takrouna in Tunisia in 1943. During the battle Sergeant Manahi led a small force of men to secure the summit. Later he was recommended for a Victoria Cross which was never awarded but Dr Morrison says it could be something for King Charles to reconsider.

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For the past two years the general manager of Auckland City FC, Gordon Watson, has won Māori Sports Administrator of the Year. In the past he also worked for FIFA at three World Cups and with superstar footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

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