Waatea News: Māori Radio Station

Te Matatini has once again demonstrated the power of kapa haka to unite, inspire and strengthen Māori identity, with thousands gathering to celebrate the pinnacle of Māori performing arts in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Tāmaki Makaurau delegate Reikura Kahi says this year’s festival reflected both the scale and growing professionalism of Te Matatini, with large crowds, strong organisation and outstanding manaaki helping create an unforgettable experience for performers and supporters alike.

Hundreds of performers from across Aotearoa took to the stage during the national kapa haka festival, representing iwi, hapū, urban Māori groups and community organisations in what has become one of the largest indigenous cultural events in the world.

Attendance numbers again highlighted the enormous popularity of kapa haka, with thousands travelling from around the motu to support whānau and rōpū competing on the national stage.

Kahi says one of the standout features of the event was the strong sense of organisation and care shown throughout the festival, particularly the manaakitanga provided by mana whenua Ngāti Whātua, including dedicated spaces and support for kaumātua attending the event.

Alongside elite kapa haka performances, the festival also showcased the diversity of Māori communities and stories being represented on stage. Groups such as Aroha Atu from the Grace Foundation drew attention for bringing unique perspectives and experiences into the kaupapa of kapa haka.

Observers say the performances reflected not only artistic excellence, but also deep emotional storytelling grounded in whakapapa, te reo Māori, politics, social issues and cultural identity.

For many performers, participation requires months of intensive preparation, sacrifice and commitment, with whānau dedicating countless hours to rehearsals, fundraising and travel.

Kahi says kapa haka remains critically important because it strengthens te reo Māori, preserves tikanga and provides a powerful platform for Māori identity and intergenerational connection.

Te Matatini continues to play a major role in the revitalisation of Māori culture and language, while also creating spaces where Māori excellence is celebrated on a national and international stage.

The festival’s growing popularity has also reinforced kapa haka as both a cultural movement and a source of pride for Māori communities throughout Aotearoa and overseas.

#RadioWaatea #TeMatatini #KapaHaka #MāoriCulture #TeReoMāori #TāmakiMakaurau #NgātiWhātua #Aotearoa #Manaaki #Whakapapa #MāoriNews #IndigenousVoices

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Nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants represented by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation have voted to accept a new collective agreement with Te Whatu Ora, bringing an end to nearly two years of tense bargaining and industrial action across the health sector.

The settlement follows prolonged negotiations marked by nationwide strikes, staffing concerns and mounting pressure over workforce shortages affecting hospitals and healthcare services throughout Aotearoa.

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says members faced a difficult decision but ultimately accepted the agreement after weighing the immediate gains against the exhaustion and uncertainty many healthcare workers had experienced during the prolonged dispute.

The new agreement includes pay increases, changes to allowances and commitments around safer staffing measures aimed at reducing pressure on frontline healthcare workers.

Staffing shortages and patient safety remained major issues throughout bargaining, with nurses repeatedly warning the health system was under severe strain due to chronic understaffing, burnout and difficulties retaining experienced workers.

Healthcare unions say the agreement contains progress on staffing commitments and workload management, although concerns remain about how quickly improvements can be delivered in practice.

The deal comes at a time when Te Whatu Ora continues facing workforce shortages across hospitals, maternity services and aged care facilities, with many regions struggling to recruit and retain enough nurses to meet demand.

Health sector advocates say while the agreement will provide some relief, deeper structural challenges within the public health system remain unresolved, including workforce retention, growing patient demand and pressure on emergency departments.

For patients, the settlement is expected to help stabilise staffing levels and reduce disruption caused by industrial action, although healthcare leaders caution it may take time before frontline pressures noticeably ease.

The agreement also signals a temporary easing of tensions between Te Whatu Ora and one of the country’s largest healthcare unions after months of public debate over staffing ratios, pay equity and working conditions.

NZNO says members remain committed to continuing pressure for long-term investment in the health workforce to ensure safe care for patients and sustainable conditions for healthcare workers.

#RadioWaatea #NZNO #Nurses #TeWhatuOra #Healthcare #Aotearoa #HealthSystem #PatientSafety #Midwives #HealthcareWorkers #MāoriHealth #NZPolitics

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Wairoa District Council is partnering with local iwi on a groundbreaking environmental initiative aimed at preventing mortuary waste from entering rivers and the ocean, in a move being described as a major step forward for cultural and environmental protection.

Mayor Craig Little says the project was sparked by long-standing concerns from iwi about the handling of waste generated during embalming and funeral preparation processes, particularly the risk of contaminants flowing into waterways connected to whakapapa, mahinga kai and community wellbeing.

The council has been working alongside iwi leaders, funeral sector representatives and environmental experts to design a new waste management system that removes mortuary waste from standard wastewater networks and instead treats it separately through controlled containment and disposal methods.

The new system is expected to significantly reduce the risk of chemicals and biological contaminants entering natural waterways, helping protect the mauri of local rivers, estuaries and coastal environments.

For many iwi, the issue has carried deep cultural significance for generations. Concerns have centred not only on environmental impacts but also on tikanga surrounding wai Māori and the respectful treatment of human remains and associated waste.

Mayor Little says iwi partnership has been central to the project from the beginning, with local hapū helping guide both the cultural and environmental direction of the initiative.

The project is being viewed as one of the first of its kind in Aotearoa, with growing interest from other councils and regional authorities monitoring Wairoa’s approach.

Environmental advocates say the initiative reflects a wider movement toward integrating mātauranga Māori and tikanga into local government infrastructure planning and water management systems.

The work also aligns with broader national conversations around freshwater protection, wastewater reform and recognising the cultural significance of waterways to Māori communities.

If successful, the Wairoa model could help shape future standards for mortuary waste management across New Zealand, particularly in regions where waterways hold strong cultural, spiritual and ecological importance.

#RadioWaatea #Wairoa #Iwi #Waterways #MāoriNews #Environment #Tikanga #Freshwater #Aotearoa #LocalGovernment #MātaurangaMāori #WaiMāori

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Te Whānau o Waipareira chief executive and longtime Māori political figure John Tamihere says Te Pāti Māori has the leadership, courage and kaupapa needed to genuinely represent Māori aspirations at a time of growing political tension across Aotearoa.

Tamihere says the party’s strength comes from its unapologetic focus on tino rangatiratanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advancing Māori rights in the face of what many Māori leaders see as increasing attacks on Māori institutions, language and co-governance arrangements.

The comments come as political debate intensifies over issues including Treaty principles, Māori wards, freshwater rights, health reforms and the future role of Māori decision-making within Government policy.

Tamihere argues Te Pāti Māori has positioned itself as a direct response to frustration felt by many Māori communities who believe mainstream political parties have failed to protect Māori interests or honour Treaty commitments.

He says the party’s growing support reflects a wider movement among younger Māori voters, whānau and grassroots communities seeking stronger political representation grounded in kaupapa Māori values and collective wellbeing.

Te Pāti Māori has increasingly focused its messaging on Māori sovereignty, economic independence, housing, health equity and constitutional transformation, while also challenging what it describes as systemic racism within political and state institutions.

Tamihere says Māori representation cannot simply be symbolic, arguing Māori political leadership must be prepared to confront difficult national conversations around inequality, colonisation and indigenous rights.

The party has gained significant momentum in recent election cycles, particularly among younger voters and urban Māori communities, while also drawing criticism from political opponents who accuse it of being divisive or separatist.

Supporters argue Te Pāti Māori’s rise reflects growing confidence in independent Māori political movements and frustration with decades of social and economic disparities affecting Māori communities.

Tamihere says the current political climate has made Māori unity and self-determination more important than ever, particularly as debates continue around Government reforms impacting Māori health, education, freshwater and Treaty-based policies.

Political analysts say Te Pāti Māori’s influence is likely to remain a major force in New Zealand politics as discussions continue over constitutional reform, indigenous rights and the future relationship between Crown and Māori.

#RadioWaatea #TePātiMāori #JohnTamihere #TinoRangatiratanga #TeTiritiOWaitangi #MāoriPolitics #Aotearoa #MāoriNews #Whakapapa #IndigenousRights #NZPolitics

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E māharahara ana ngā kainoho o Whirinaki i te whakaaro inā anga whakamua te mahere a te kaunihera ki te hikipapa i te hapori o whirinaki ki whenua teitei ake, ka ahatia te whenua, ka riro i a wai te mana whakahaere i aua whenua hoki.

E mirimiri tonu ana te kaunihera rātou ko ngā kainoho o te takiwā i tērā whakaaro, ā, he nui nō ngā waipuke nō ngā tau ka hipa ki mohoa, e whai ake nei ko ngā whakaaro nā te Minita whakawhanake i ngā rohe nā Minita Shane Jones.

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#TāmeIti #AucklandWritersFestival #TeAoMāori #Mana #MāoriArt #MāoriActivism #IndigenousVoices #Storytelling #RadioWaatea #Aotearoa

Activist, artist, writer and performer Tāme Iti is taking his lifelong advocacy for Māori rights and identity to the Auckland Writers Festival, bringing a powerful mix of storytelling, politics, art and kaupapa Māori to audiences from across the country.

Known as one of Aotearoa’s most recognisable and influential Māori activists, Iti’s appearance at the festival marks another chapter in a career dedicated to challenging injustice, uplifting indigenous identity and pushing difficult conversations into the public spotlight.

Iti says appearing at the Auckland Writers Festival provides an important opportunity to engage directly with people through kōrero, creativity and shared reflection. His sessions are expected to explore themes of mana, resistance, identity and the ongoing struggle for Māori self-determination.

Through decades of activism and artistic expression, Iti has consistently used storytelling as a way to challenge dominant narratives and create space for te ao Māori perspectives within mainstream institutions.

His work spans visual art, performance, public speaking and writing, often blending political commentary with deeply personal reflections grounded in whakapapa, whenua and indigenous experience.

Iti says forums like the Writers Festival play a significant role in advancing te ao Māori by creating opportunities for dialogue and understanding, particularly at a time when debates around Te Tiriti o Waitangi, indigenous rights and Māori identity remain highly visible across Aotearoa.

One of the key themes in his session “Mana” is expected to centre on the enduring strength of Māori identity and the importance of remembering the histories, struggles and sacrifices that continue to shape Māori communities today.

Iti has long been associated with movements advocating for tino rangatiratanga and Māori sovereignty, becoming both a celebrated and controversial figure throughout his decades of activism.

His festival appearances are likely to draw strong interest from audiences seeking insight into the intersections between art, protest, culture and political resistance.

Looking ahead, Iti says a major focus remains inspiring the next generation of Māori voices, artists and leaders to speak confidently from a place of identity and purpose.

He believes younger generations must continue to tell their own stories, protect their culture and challenge systems that marginalise indigenous knowledge and perspectives.

The Auckland Writers Festival continues this week, featuring leading writers, thinkers, artists and public figures from Aotearoa and around the world.

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#HoneHarawira #TeTaiTokerau #TePātiMāori #TinoRangatiratanga #MāoriPolitics #Election2026 #TeAoMāori #Northland #RadioWaatea #Aotearoa

Veteran Māori politician Hone Harawira is signalling a possible return to Parliament, confirming he is seeking selection as Te Pāti Māori’s candidate for Te Tai Tokerau — the electorate he represented for nearly a decade.

Harawira’s potential comeback adds another high-profile dimension to what is shaping as an increasingly competitive political contest across the Māori seats ahead of the next election.

The former MP and Mana Movement founder says the decision to re-enter frontline politics comes at a time when many whānau are struggling with rising living costs, housing pressures, inequality and concerns over the direction of government policy affecting Māori communities.

Harawira first entered Parliament with the Māori Party in 2005 before later establishing the Mana Movement. Known for his outspoken advocacy on Māori rights, poverty and tino rangatiratanga, he held Te Tai Tokerau until 2014.

Now, more than a decade later, he says the political environment has shifted significantly, with growing public debate around Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori representation and constitutional change.

Te Tai Tokerau remains one of the country’s most politically symbolic Māori electorates, covering communities throughout Northland and carrying a long history of influential Māori leadership.

Harawira says his experience both inside and outside Parliament gives him a strong understanding of the challenges facing the electorate and the realities confronting whānau across the region.

Among the key issues he identifies are housing shortages, unemployment, access to healthcare, poverty and the lack of infrastructure and investment in many northern communities.

He says Māori communities need stronger advocacy and practical solutions that focus on whānau wellbeing, economic opportunity and local empowerment.

Harawira also believes the broader Māori political movement has evolved, with Te Pāti Māori now playing a more prominent role in national debates around indigenous rights, constitutional reform and self-determination.

If selected as the party’s candidate, Harawira says he sees his role as helping strengthen the movement for tino rangatiratanga while supporting the next generation of Māori political leadership.

His possible return is likely to generate strong interest both within Te Tai Tokerau and nationally, given his long-standing profile and reputation as one of the country’s most recognisable Māori political figures.

Te Pāti Māori has yet to formally confirm its final candidate selection for the electorate.

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Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says a series of recent government decisions risk widening inequality and weakening outcomes for Māori communities, as debate intensifies over Treaty protections, rising living costs and access to education.

Davidson has continued to speak out against the Government’s policy direction, warning that Māori are likely to be disproportionately impacted by changes affecting constitutional rights, household affordability and opportunities for rangatahi.

One of the key flashpoints remains the proposed Treaty Principles Bill, which critics argue could significantly alter how Te Tiriti o Waitangi is interpreted in law and public policy.

Davidson says any move to narrow or redefine Treaty principles risks undermining Māori rights and weakening Crown obligations that have developed through decades of legal decisions, Tribunal findings and constitutional practice.

She argues the changes could have far-reaching implications across areas such as health, housing, resource management and social services, where Treaty-based approaches have increasingly shaped government responsibilities toward Māori communities.

At the same time, Davidson says rising electricity prices are placing additional pressure on whānau already struggling with the cost of living crisis.

The Greens are calling for power companies to cap price increases at the rate of inflation, saying urgent intervention is needed as energy hardship continues to grow.

Davidson says Māori households are disproportionately affected because many are already dealing with lower incomes, overcrowded housing and higher levels of financial stress. She says power insecurity can directly affect health, wellbeing and educational outcomes, particularly for tamariki living in cold or under-heated homes.

Under the Green Party proposal, Davidson says limiting electricity price increases could provide immediate relief for vulnerable households while forcing greater accountability from the energy sector.

Davidson has also criticised the Government’s decision to scrap fees-free tertiary education, warning it could create new barriers for Māori students seeking higher education and training opportunities.

She says removing financial support risks discouraging rangatahi Māori from entering tertiary study at a time when improving education participation remains critical to lifting long-term employment, income and wellbeing outcomes.

Davidson argues there is a common thread running through current government policy decisions — one she says places economic restraint ahead of equity and disproportionately affects Māori communities already experiencing entrenched disadvantage.

She says urgent change is needed to ensure policies are grounded in fairness, Te Tiriti obligations and long-term investment in people, rather than short-term cost-cutting measures.

The Government has defended its approach, saying its policies are designed to benefit all New Zealanders equally while improving efficiency and reducing public spending pressures.

However, Davidson says Māori communities are increasingly feeling the impact of decisions that risk widening social and economic gaps across Aotearoa.

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Labour’s newly announced candidate for Te Tai Hauāuru, Te Pūoho Katene, says he wants to bring renewed hope and transformational thinking to politics as competition for the Māori seats begins to intensify ahead of the next election.

A Fulbright scholar with a background in governance and Māori development, Katene says his decision to stand comes from a desire to help create long-term opportunities for whānau and strengthen Māori aspirations across the electorate.

Te Tai Hauāuru stretches across a large section of the North Island, covering diverse iwi and communities from Taranaki through Whanganui, Rangitīkei, Manawatū and into Wellington. Katene says the electorate represents both deep responsibility and opportunity, describing it as a rohe rich in whakapapa, resilience and leadership.

He says restoring hope in politics means delivering practical outcomes that people can see in their everyday lives — including secure housing, meaningful employment, accessible healthcare and pathways for rangatahi to succeed.

Katene believes Māori-led economic development will play a key role in improving social outcomes. Drawing on his governance experience, he says Māori economic growth should not only generate wealth, but also strengthen whānau wellbeing, cultural identity and intergenerational opportunity.

He says stronger investment in Māori enterprise, innovation, education and regional development can help communities become more self-determining while addressing persistent inequities.

Katene also points to the importance of building policies that reflect the realities facing Māori communities, particularly as many whānau continue to navigate rising living costs, housing pressures and gaps in health services.

His long-term vision for Māori development includes growing the Māori economy, increasing Māori representation in leadership and decision-making, and ensuring future generations can thrive both culturally and economically.

If elected, Katene says he wants to contribute to a politics focused on transformation rather than division, with greater emphasis on collaboration, long-term planning and empowering Māori communities to lead their own solutions.

His candidacy adds another high-profile name to what is shaping as a closely watched contest for Te Tai Hauāuru and the wider Māori political landscape.

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Lady Tureiti Moxon has taken her fight for tamariki Māori to the international stage, filing a 17-page complaint with multiple United Nations human rights bodies alleging ongoing and systemic breaches of indigenous and children’s rights by the New Zealand Government.

The complaint has been submitted to several UN mechanisms focused on racial discrimination, indigenous rights, children’s rights, poverty, health and violence against women. Lady Moxon says the move reflects growing concern about what she describes as escalating harm toward Māori children under current government policies and decisions.

The submission outlines concerns including worsening inequities in health, housing, education and child welfare outcomes for Māori, alongside the dismantling or weakening of Māori-led initiatives and institutions designed to address those disparities.

Lady Moxon argues the complaint builds on momentum created by last year’s submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which contributed to criticism of New Zealand’s treatment of Māori in the committee’s final report.

This latest action expands the scope of the concerns raised internationally, focusing specifically on the impacts government policy is having on tamariki Māori and whānau. The complaint reportedly calls for urgent scrutiny from the UN and stronger international pressure on the Crown to uphold its obligations under indigenous and human rights conventions.

Lady Moxon says domestic avenues have repeatedly failed to deliver meaningful protection for Māori communities, despite years of advocacy, evidence and Waitangi Tribunal findings. She believes international intervention is necessary because Māori concerns continue to be ignored or overridden within New Zealand’s political system.

The complaint also challenges recent policy directions from the coalition government, including moves affecting Māori health structures, social services and Treaty-based frameworks.

Lady Moxon says international attention can place reputational pressure on the Government and force greater accountability over decisions affecting Māori children and whānau.

The Government has previously maintained that its policies are intended to improve outcomes for all New Zealanders regardless of ethnicity, while critics argue the removal of targeted Māori approaches risks deepening existing inequities.

The UN bodies receiving the complaint are expected to review the submission over coming months.

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