Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te pānui o Tārake mō te Rātapu, te tekau mā ono o Ākuhata, rua mano rua tekau mā ono. Here are today's positive stories from across Aotearoa.
Story 1. In international. Indigenous Leaders Honoured at 2026 National NAIDOC Week Awards in Mparntwe. Indigenous trailblazers Pat Turner and the late Rhoda Roberts have been celebrated for their lifelong contributions to culture and leadership at the 2026 National NAIDOC Week Awards in Alice Springs.. On Saturday, 15 August 2026, the National NAIDOC Week Awards took place in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence. The ceremony, held on Arrernte Country, served as a powerful reminder of the nation’s 65,000-year-old history and recognised the enduring impact of Indigenous leadership across Australia. Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO was posthumously honoured with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Widjabul Wieybal woman, who passed away earlier this year, was celebrated as a visionary cultural leader who transformed Australia’s artistic landscape. National NAIDOC committee co-chair Professor Lynette Riley described Roberts as a "fearless, brilliant" force who was deeply committed to community. This story comes to us from the ABC.
Story 2. In international. Canada reports progress on climate adaptation strategy as communities build resilience. A federal progress report highlights increased climate risk awareness and resilience across Canada three years after the launch of the national climate adaptation strategy.. OTTAWA — The federal government has reported significant progress in its national climate adaptation strategy, claiming that Canadians are becoming increasingly resilient to the threats of flooding, wildfires, and major storms. Released three years after the strategy was formally launched, the new progress report suggests that short-term targets are being met, including a milestone where 92 per cent of Canadians are now aware of the climate risks facing their specific households. The strategy, which was finalized in 2023, provides a framework for preparing communities for extreme weather events.
Story 3. In community. Green Party Proposes $2.4 Billion Permanent Infrastructure Fund for Marae. The Green Party has unveiled a landmark $2.44 billion proposal for Election 2026 to establish an enduring, iwi-governed investment fund for marae infrastructure and climate resilience.. The Green Party has announced one of the most significant Māori infrastructure proposals for the upcoming Election 2026, pledging a $2. 4 billion permanent fund to support marae across Aotearoa. As reported by Waatea News on 15 August 2026, the 'Te Waonui a Tāne: Thriving Marae and Thriving Communities' policy seeks to move marae away from a reliance on temporary government grants toward a model of self-sustaining financial independence. The proposal is structured around two distinct pools of capital. The first, known as the Te Rākau Whakarauora Restoration Fund, is designed to address immediate needs such as building upgrades, emergency preparedness, and the protection of wāhi tapu. This story comes to us from Waatea News.
Story 4. In leadership. Māori Butcher Mya Wilson Hiraka Wins Emerging Talent Award at 2026 National Butchery Awards. Twenty-four-year-old Mya Wilson Hiraka has secured the emerging talent award at the 2026 National Butchery Awards, aiming to inspire the next generation of Māori in the trade.. Professionalism and innovation were on full display as 24 of Aotearoa New Zealand’s top butchers gathered for the 2026 National Butchery Awards on Thursday, 13 August 2026. Among the night’s big winners was 24-year-old Mya Wilson Hiraka, who took home the emerging talent award after a rigorous two-hour competition. The event, hosted by Retail Meat New Zealand, required participants to demonstrate elite craftsmanship in boning, trimming, and presentation. Hiraka, who recently completed her three-year apprenticeship to become a qualified butcher, produced 21 distinct products from a selection of raw meat including pork shoulder, lamb leg, chicken, and beef rump. This story comes to us from RNZ.
Story 5. In leadership. Professor Tom Roa Honoured with Hamilton Kirikiriroa Medal for Decades of Service. Renowned scholar Professor Tom Roa has been awarded the Hamilton Kirikiriroa Medal, one of the city's highest civic honours, for his 50-year commitment to te reo Māori and cultural scholarship.. Professor Tom Roa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato, Ngāti Apakura) has been awarded the prestigious Hamilton Kirikiriroa Medal during a civic awards ceremony held this week. The accolade, presented by the Hamilton City Council, recognises Roa’s significant leadership in Māori language revitalisation, education, and public service spanning more than five decades. Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe, who presented the award alongside Roa’s wife Robyn Roa, described the professor’s recognition as a "fitting and richly deserved" tribute to a lifetime of humble leadership. The medal is among the highest civic honours in the city, reserved for individuals who have raised Hamilton’s profile through excellence in their chosen fields. This story comes to us from the New Zealand Herald.
Story 6. In community. Ngāti Awa Housing Development Named Finalist for Building Nations Social Impact Award. Tūkōkeke Kāinga Māori, a Whakatāne social housing village, is a finalist for Infrastructure New Zealand's 2026 Social Impact award for its innovative approach to Māori-led housing.. A Whakatāne social housing development that provides a supportive village environment for whānau is being recognised on the national stage. Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa, the social and health service for Ngāti Awa, has been named a finalist for the Social Impact award at Infrastructure New Zealand's Building Nations 2026 Impact Awards. The nomination celebrates Tūkōkeke Kāinga Māori, a Golf Links Road development that has introduced a new model for housing on Māori land. According to reporting by RNZ and Local Democracy Reporter Diane McCarthy on 14 August 2026, the award acknowledges projects that achieve outstanding outcomes through collaboration with Māori and local communities. This story comes to us from RNZ.
That's the pānui for today. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa — thank you for listening to Tārake. Haere rā.