Waatea News: Māori Radio Station

A groundbreaking Māori-led research project is set to investigate whether one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated cultural practices could also become a powerful tool for improving cardiovascular health.

Associate Professor Karen Brewer, Co-Director Māori at Pūtahi Manawa – Centre for Heart Research, says a new research initiative will examine the potential heart health benefits of kapa haka, combining Western medical science with mātauranga Māori to better understand how cultural participation contributes to wellbeing.

The study reflects growing evidence that health is influenced by much more than clinical treatment alone.

Researchers will investigate how regular participation in kapa haka affects cardiovascular fitness, physical activity, stress levels, mental wellbeing and social connectedness, while exploring how cultural identity itself contributes to positive health outcomes.

For Māori, kapa haka has long been recognised as far more than performance.

It is a living expression of whakapapa, te reo Māori, tikanga and collective identity, bringing whānau and communities together through waiata, haka, mōteatea and haka pōwhiri. It demands physical endurance, disciplined training and teamwork while strengthening cultural confidence and intergenerational connections.

According to Te Matatini, participation in kapa haka promotes physical fitness, enhances mental health and emotional resilience, strengthens cultural identity and creates a strong sense of belonging through collective participation. Those wider wellbeing benefits have prompted researchers to ask whether measurable improvements in heart health may also be occurring.

Pūtahi Manawa says the project represents a significant shift towards research that recognises Māori models of health alongside biomedical science.

Rather than viewing culture as separate from healthcare, the initiative considers whether cultural participation itself can be a protective health factor.

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and premature death in Aotearoa, with Māori experiencing significantly higher rates of heart disease, heart failure and related complications than non-Māori.

Health experts have long argued that reducing those inequities requires approaches that move beyond hospitals and clinics, supporting prevention through whānau, communities and culturally meaningful activities.

Researchers believe kapa haka may offer several potential cardiovascular benefits.

Regular rehearsals involve sustained aerobic activity, strength, coordination and balance. The discipline required for performance also encourages consistent physical activity, while the social connections developed within kapa haka groups can reduce isolation and improve mental wellbeing—both recognised contributors to better cardiovascular outcomes.

The research will also explore how participation influences stress, resilience and overall hauora, reflecting Te Whare Tapa Whā, where physical, mental, spiritual and whānau wellbeing are understood as interconnected rather than separate aspects of health.

The project is another example of Māori researchers leading investigations into solutions grounded in te ao Māori.

Increasingly, health researchers are examining how cultural practices—including kapa haka, marae-based programmes and language revitalisation—can contribute to healthier communities while strengthening identity and connection.

For Associate Professor Brewer and the research team, the study is about more than measuring heart rates or fitness levels.

It is about recognising that Māori cultural practices may hold important answers to some of the country’s biggest health challenges, while ensuring future health policy is informed by evidence that reflects Māori experiences and Māori ways of knowing.

If successful, the findings could help reshape how preventative healthcare is delivered, demonstrating that culture is not simply an important part of Māori identity—it may also be a powerful contributor to healthier hearts and healthier communities.

#KapaHaka #HeartHealth #Hauora #PūtahiManawa #KarenBrewer #MāoriHealth #CardiovascularHealth #TeMatatini #TeWhareTapaWhā #MātaurangaMāori #HealthResearch #WhānauOra #Prevention #Wellbeing #TeAoMāori #HealthEquity #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #MāoriResearch

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A new University of Otago study is calling for fundamental changes to New Zealand’s health system after finding that systemic barriers are preventing many pēpi from being enrolled in primary healthcare early enough to receive timely immunisations.

The research, led by Dr Amber Young, Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of Otago, highlights how gaps in the healthcare system are disproportionately affecting Māori and Pacific infants, contributing to lower enrolment rates with primary care providers and delayed childhood vaccinations.

Speaking to Radio Waatea, Dr Young said improving immunisation rates requires more than encouraging parents to vaccinate. She says the health system itself must make it easier for whānau to access services from the very beginning of a child’s life.

The study found that many of the barriers occur well before a child is due for their first vaccination.

Delays in enrolling newborns with a general practice, inconsistent information-sharing between maternity and primary care services, workforce shortages and difficulties navigating the health system can all contribute to missed or delayed immunisations.

Researchers say these challenges are often greatest for Māori and Pacific whānau, who continue to experience longstanding inequities in access to healthcare.

Enrolment with a primary healthcare provider shortly after birth is a critical step in ensuring pēpi receive routine health checks, developmental assessments and vaccinations according to the National Immunisation Schedule.

When enrolment is delayed, opportunities to build relationships with healthcare providers and deliver preventative care can also be delayed.

The study suggests that strengthening links between maternity services, hospitals, Well Child/Tamariki Ora providers and general practice could significantly improve continuity of care during a child’s earliest months.

Researchers argue that system-wide coordination, rather than expecting whānau to navigate multiple services independently, is essential to improving outcomes.

Although childhood immunisation rates have improved in some areas, inequities remain.

Māori infants continue to experience lower on-time vaccination rates than many other population groups, despite strong evidence that immunisation protects against serious infectious diseases and reduces hospital admissions.

Health experts say these differences are not the result of lower levels of care for tamariki, but are driven by structural barriers including access to primary care, transport, workforce shortages, poverty, housing instability and the ongoing effects of institutional inequity.

Researchers say addressing those barriers is central to achieving equitable health outcomes.

The study reinforces the importance of viewing immunisation as part of a broader system of preventative healthcare.

Early engagement with health services allows healthcare professionals to provide breastfeeding support, monitor child development, offer health education and identify issues before they become more serious.

Dr Young says improving enrolment processes could deliver benefits extending well beyond immunisation rates by strengthening the relationship between whānau and primary healthcare providers throughout a child’s early years.

The researchers argue that future improvements will require a more coordinated and whānau-centred approach.

This includes simplifying enrolment processes, improving information-sharing between health services, ensuring families are connected with primary care before or immediately after birth, and supporting Māori-led health providers to deliver culturally responsive care.

For Māori, healthcare is increasingly recognised as being most effective when services are built around whānau, recognising that the wellbeing of pēpi is closely connected to the health and wellbeing of parents, caregivers and wider family networks.

Health advocates say investing in early childhood healthcare is one of the most effective ways to improve lifelong health outcomes and reduce inequities across generations.

As Aotearoa continues working to improve childhood immunisation coverage, the University of Otago research suggests the solution lies not only in encouraging vaccination but in building a health system that ensures every pēpi has an equal opportunity to access care from the very beginning.

#Immunisation #Pēpi #MāoriHealth #PacificHealth #AmberYoung #UniversityOfOtago #PublicHealth #PrimaryCare #Vaccination #HealthEquity #WhānauOra #Tamariki #PreventativeHealthcare #Healthcare #Hauora #TeAoMāori #HealthResearch #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews

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One of New Zealand’s leading psychiatrists is calling for a fundamental rethink of the country’s mental health system, warning that people with intellectual disabilities remain largely invisible in national mental health policy despite experiencing some of the highest levels of unmet need.

Professor Richard Porter and colleagues have highlighted what they describe as a significant gap in Aotearoa’s mental health planning and reporting, arguing that explicit recognition of people with intellectual disabilities is essential if the country is serious about achieving equitable mental healthcare.

The researchers say current policy frameworks often fail to distinguish the unique mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities, meaning many are overlooked in service planning, funding decisions and national reporting.

For Māori, those inequities are even more pronounced.

Data from Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People shows that approximately 32 percent of Māori adults live with a disability or daily impairment, a substantially higher proportion than among European New Zealanders. Those disparities intersect with longstanding inequities in health, housing, education and income, creating additional barriers to accessing appropriate mental health support.

Advocates say the result is a system where Māori with intellectual disabilities often experience multiple layers of disadvantage.

Children and young people are more likely to live in crowded or socioeconomically deprived households, while access to specialist assessments and ongoing support can vary significantly depending on where whānau live and the services available in their rohe.

Research has also identified differences in diagnosis.

While Māori are sometimes less likely to receive early identification for certain neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, those who do enter the system are more likely to receive formal intellectual disability diagnoses alongside high-needs funding allocations, suggesting many are being identified later and with more complex support requirements.

Professor Porter says recognising these realities requires more than simply increasing services.

It also means ensuring mental health policy reflects the lived experiences of people with intellectual disabilities and acknowledges that disability and mental illness are not the same, even though they frequently coexist.

Current mental health reporting often focuses on the general population, making it difficult to understand whether people with intellectual disabilities are receiving equitable care or achieving comparable health outcomes.

Without dedicated reporting, researchers argue, important gaps remain hidden.

For Māori communities, disability is also understood through a different cultural lens.

Rather than defining a person by a diagnosis, the preferred te reo Māori term whaikaha ā-hinengaro recognises that intellectual disability is only one aspect of a person’s identity and acknowledges their strengths, relationships and contribution to whānau.

The concept aligns closely with the Whānau Hauā framework, an Indigenous model of disability that places collective wellbeing at its centre.

Rather than viewing disability solely through an individual medical perspective, Whānau Hauā understands that the wellbeing of the individual is inseparable from the wellbeing of their whānau, hapū and community.

This holistic approach emphasises mana, belonging, relationships and cultural identity as essential components of health.

Specialist Māori disability providers have increasingly adopted Whānau Hauā principles, delivering culturally responsive services that integrate tikanga Māori alongside disability support and healthcare.

Advocates say these approaches often produce better outcomes because they recognise the importance of whānau participation in assessment, treatment and long-term support.

Mental health organisations are now being urged to ensure future strategies explicitly include people with intellectual disabilities rather than assuming existing policies automatically meet their needs.

Researchers argue this includes improving workforce capability, strengthening specialist services, collecting better national data and embedding disability equity measures into mental health planning.

For Māori, they say any future reforms must also recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and support Māori-led disability services that understand the cultural realities facing whānau.

As Aotearoa continues reforming its health and disability systems, Professor Porter and fellow researchers believe genuine equity will only be achieved when people with intellectual disabilities are no longer treated as an invisible population but are recognised as a priority within mental health policy, research and service delivery.

#MentalHealth #IntellectualDisability #Whaikaha #WhānauHauā #MāoriHealth #DisabilityEquity #HealthEquity #RichardPorter #MentalHealthPolicy #Hauora #DisabilitySupport #TeAoMāori #HealthResearch #WhānauOra #Inclusion #Accessibility #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #WhaikahaĀHinengaro

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For more than a decade, Australia’s controversial Section 501 deportation policy has reshaped lives on both sides of the Tasman, sending thousands of New Zealand citizens back to a country many barely know.

Now journalist and author Angus Gillies is shining a light on those experiences in his new book, 501s: The Reluctant Returnees, examining not only the personal stories behind the deportations but also the wider social consequences for Aotearoa.

Speaking to Radio Waatea, Gillies said the book seeks to move beyond headlines and stereotypes, exploring the complex realities facing people deported after serving prison sentences in Australia and the challenges they encounter as they attempt to rebuild their lives in New Zealand.

Australia’s Section 501 provisions allow the cancellation of visas held by non-citizens who fail the country’s character test, including those sentenced to significant prison terms.

Since the policy was strengthened in 2014, thousands of New Zealanders have been deported, many having spent most of their lives in Australia after moving there as children. For many returnees, New Zealand is unfamiliar, with limited family connections, employment opportunities or support networks.

Gillies’ book explores how these circumstances can create significant barriers to reintegration.

Many deportees arrive with few possessions, no stable housing and limited access to employment, while carrying the stigma attached to being labelled a “501”. Community organisations say these challenges can make successful reintegration difficult without targeted support.

The book also examines one of the most contentious claims surrounding the policy—that the large-scale deportation of offenders has contributed to the growth of organised crime and the expansion of the methamphetamine trade in New Zealand.

Law enforcement agencies have acknowledged that some deported individuals have established links with transnational organised crime groups, including outlaw motorcycle gangs, while others have become involved in methamphetamine distribution networks after arriving in New Zealand.

However, Gillies argues that focusing solely on criminal activity overlooks the broader picture.

His research found many former deportees are working to rebuild their lives through employment, education and reconnecting with whānau. Some have become mentors, community advocates and role models, demonstrating that a criminal conviction does not define a person’s future.

The book highlights examples of successful rehabilitation, showing that with stable housing, meaningful employment and strong community support, many returnees have been able to make positive contributions to society.

Research has consistently shown that access to work, whānau support and culturally appropriate services significantly reduces the likelihood of reoffending.

For Māori, the issue has particular significance.

Māori are disproportionately represented among New Zealanders imprisoned in Australia and among those subsequently deported under Section 501. Many return to communities already facing socioeconomic disadvantage, where access to housing, employment and health services can be limited.

Māori service providers have increasingly advocated for reintegration approaches grounded in tikanga Māori and whānau-centred support, arguing that successful rehabilitation requires more than surveillance or enforcement.

Gillies says the stories contained in 501s: The Reluctant Returnees challenge readers to reconsider assumptions about deportees and to recognise the diversity of experiences within the 501 community.

While some individuals continue to offend, many others are actively seeking redemption and a second chance.

The book also raises broader questions about the long-term effectiveness of Australia’s deportation policy and whether exporting offenders simply transfers social challenges across the Tasman rather than addressing their underlying causes.

As debate continues over crime, rehabilitation and public safety, Gillies hopes the stories in his book will encourage a more balanced conversation—one that acknowledges accountability while recognising the importance of reintegration, opportunity and hope.

For many of the people featured, returning to New Zealand was never a choice. What comes next, however, is a story still being written.

#501s #AngusGillies #TheReluctantReturnees #Australia #Deportation #Section501 #Crime #OrganisedCrime #Methamphetamine #Reintegration #Rehabilitation #Māori #Whānau #Justice #Corrections #Aotearoa #TransTasman #SocialPolicy #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews

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Kei te piki ake rānei te tokomaha o ngā rangatahi e kōwhiri ana i ngā mahi ā-ringa arā ngā trades hei ara matua, tēnā i te whare wānanga?

E ai ki a Minita Tama Potaka, kua whāia taua ara e ētahi o ana irāmutu, ā, ki a ia he huarahi pai tēnei kia tere uru atu ai ki te mahi, hai whakakori i te tinana, kia whakawhanake pūkenga, ā, kia tere ake hoki te āwhina i ngā utu me ngā hiahia o te whānau.

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Kua hīmata ake ngā tauira tekau mā rua nō ngā rohe katoa o Aotearoa ki te whakakoikoi i ō rātou pūkenga mahi toi i NZMACI. Kua 99 tau tēnei tukanga e haere ana, arā, te whakawhanake i ngā pūkenga whakairo me te raranga.

E ai ki te Upoko o NZMACI, a Ranginui Rikirangi-Thomas, nā te tokoiti o te tira ka āhei ngā tohunga ki te āta whāngai, ki te āta whakawhanake i ō rātou pūkenga, kia eke ai ki te paerewa tiketike o ngā mahi i NZMACI.

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NZ First senior minister Shane Jones has used a wide-ranging interview with Radio Waatea’s Dale Husband to defend the party’s direction ahead of the General Election, discussing everything from high-profile political recruits and mining policy to the naming of the Government’s new Cook Strait ferries.

The conversation touched on several of the Coalition Government’s most closely watched policy areas, with Jones arguing New Zealand needs stronger economic development, greater investment in regional communities and a renewed focus on projects that generate long-term prosperity.

A significant part of the discussion centred on the growing list of former politicians joining New Zealand First as the party prepares its election campaign.

Jones said the arrival of experienced political figures reflected confidence in the party’s direction and its ability to influence government policy. He argued experienced candidates bring institutional knowledge and practical governance experience at a time when many New Zealanders are seeking stability and decisive leadership.

The interview also focused heavily on mining and mineral exploration, an area where Jones has become one of the Government’s strongest advocates.

He defended the Coalition’s push to expand exploration for minerals considered critical to New Zealand’s economic future, arguing the country has significant untapped natural resources that can support regional employment, exports and economic growth.

Jones said responsible mining can coexist with strong environmental protections, maintaining that New Zealand should not unnecessarily limit opportunities to develop its mineral wealth while demand for critical minerals continues to increase internationally.

The Government has identified mining as a key pillar of its economic strategy, with particular interest in minerals used in renewable energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure development.

However, proposals to expand mining activity have attracted significant opposition from environmental organisations, iwi and conservation groups, who argue greater protection should be afforded to public conservation land and ecologically sensitive areas.

Jones has consistently rejected claims that the Government intends to weaken environmental standards, saying development can proceed while maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight.

The interview also covered the Government’s decision to name the replacement Cook Strait ferries Kupe and Cook.

Jones welcomed the names, saying they recognise two of the most significant navigators associated with the history of Aotearoa and the crossing of Te Moana-o-Raukawa. The naming has been promoted by the Government as reflecting both Māori and European maritime heritage while acknowledging the shared history of exploration and navigation.

Then came a lighter moment in the kōrero.

Discussing New Zealand exports and the country’s reputation overseas, Jones reflected on the remarkable rise of orange roughy as an international delicacy. Originally marketed under the less appetising name “slimehead,” the fish was rebranded by New Zealand’s fishing industry before finding an unlikely boost in popularity through American popular culture.

Jones recounted how the fish’s fortunes changed after J.R. Ewing, the wealthy and ruthless oil tycoon portrayed by Larry Hagman in the hit television series Dallas, famously ordered orange roughy during a restaurant scene. The appearance sparked a wave of consumer interest across the United States, with viewers eager to emulate the luxurious lifestyle associated with one of television’s most iconic characters. Almost overnight, orange roughy became established as a premium white fish on menus throughout North America.

Adding to the conversation, Radio Waatea Editor-in-Chief Matthew Tukaki laughed that the phenomenon was indeed “a thing,” recalling just how influential Dallas had become during its peak and how a single television moment helped transform a little-known New Zealand export into a household name overseas.

Beyond infrastructure and economic development, the discussion also reflected on the political landscape heading into the 2026 General Election.

Jones said New Zealand First intends to campaign strongly on regional development, resource management, infrastructure investment, law and order, and economic growth, while continuing to position itself as a party focused on practical outcomes rather than ideological debate.

The interview offered listeners insight into the Coalition’s priorities as Parliament continues debating issues ranging from conservation and resource management to transport infrastructure and regional investment.

With election campaigning beginning to intensify, Jones’ appearance on Radio Waatea highlighted the issues New Zealand First believes will define the months ahead while also providing a reminder that politics can occasionally be punctuated by stories from popular culture that have left a lasting mark on New Zealand’s economic history.

#ShaneJones #NZFirst #DaleHusband #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #Mining #Minerals #RegionalDevelopment #Economy #Infrastructure #CookStrait #Interislander #Kupe #OrangeRoughy #Dallas #JREwing #Politics #Election2026 #ResourceManagement #EconomicGrowth #Aotearoa #TeAoMāori

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Recovery efforts on Mauao (Mount Maunganui) are entering a critical new phase following a series of significant landslides, with Recovery Manager Charlie Rahiri saying the focus has shifted from immediate emergency response to ensuring the long-term safety of the maunga and the communities that surround it.

Rahiri, who also serves as Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ranginui, is coordinating the recovery alongside iwi, emergency management agencies, Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and geotechnical specialists after multiple slips forced the closure of Marine Parade and walking tracks around the iconic landmark.

The latest landslides followed prolonged periods of heavy rainfall that left parts of the hillside saturated and unstable. Geotechnical assessments have identified sections of the cliff face as highly mobile, with experts warning that additional rockfalls and slips remain possible until conditions stabilise.

Authorities have maintained cordons around affected areas while specialist engineers continue monitoring movement within the hillside. Public access to parts of Mauao remains restricted as assessments determine when it is safe to reopen walking tracks and surrounding roads.

Rahiri says recovery is about far more than repairing infrastructure.

For Ngāti Ranginui and other mana whenua, Mauao is a living ancestor whose cultural, spiritual and environmental significance extends well beyond its role as one of New Zealand’s most recognisable landmarks. Decisions about recovery therefore require close collaboration between iwi, local government, emergency services and technical experts to ensure both public safety and the protection of the maunga.

The recovery programme includes ongoing geological monitoring, slope stability assessments, environmental restoration and planning for future resilience. Engineers are examining options to reduce future risks while recognising the unique geological characteristics of Mauao, where natural weathering and erosion are an ongoing part of the landscape.

The slips have also highlighted the increasing challenges many communities face as severe weather events become more frequent and intense. Local authorities across New Zealand are being forced to consider how climate-related impacts, including prolonged rainfall, coastal erosion and unstable hillsides, affect public infrastructure and culturally significant sites.

Rahiri says iwi involvement has been central throughout the response, ensuring mātauranga Māori and local knowledge sit alongside scientific advice as recovery decisions are made.

Emergency services continue to urge the public to respect all closures and safety barriers, warning that unstable rock faces can remain dangerous even during periods of fine weather. Officials say movement within saturated slopes can continue long after rainfall has ended, making ongoing monitoring essential.

The response has demonstrated the importance of coordinated partnerships between central government, councils, iwi and emergency agencies in managing increasingly complex natural hazards.

While there is no confirmed timeline for the full reopening of all affected areas, authorities say public safety will remain the overriding priority as recovery work continues.

For the people of Tauranga Moana, the recovery represents not only the restoration of a treasured landmark but also a commitment to protecting one of Aotearoa’s most culturally significant maunga for future generations.

#Mauao #MountMaunganui #CharlieRahiri #NgātiRanginui #Tauranga #BayOfPlenty #Landslide #EmergencyManagement #Recovery #CivilDefence #Kaitiakitanga #ClimateResilience #Māori #TeAoMāori #NaturalHazards #Community #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #EnvironmentalRecovery

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Aotearoa’s premier festival of Māori and Pacific performing arts is set to return this spring with its most ambitious programme to date, showcasing a diverse mix of theatre, music, comedy, spoken word, visual arts and community events.

Kōanga Festival will celebrate its 12th year at Te Pou Theatre from 10–20 September, bringing together established artists and emerging creatives in an eleven-day celebration of Indigenous storytelling.

Named after the season of kōanga—a time of renewal and new growth—the festival continues its mission of nurturing new voices, developing original Māori and Pacific works, and providing a platform for Indigenous artists at a time when New Zealand’s arts sector faces increasing financial pressures.

Festival organisers say this year’s programme is the most varied in the event’s history, reflecting the richness and diversity of Māori and Pacific creative expression.

Since its inception, Kōanga Festival has become one of Aotearoa’s leading incubators for Māori theatre, supporting the creation of 45 new whakaari (plays) and 51 emerging playwrights, helping shape the next generation of Indigenous storytellers.

The festival has earned a reputation for presenting works in development alongside established productions, giving audiences a rare opportunity to experience stories at every stage of their creative journey.

Artistic Director Amber Curreen says the 2026 programme celebrates the depth of Māori and Pacific creativity through an exciting blend of traditional and contemporary performance.

This year’s programme spans everything from te reo Māori opera and taonga pūoro to haka theatre, comedy, spoken word, street dance and family-friendly performances.

The festival opens on 10 September with Tākiritia!, presented in partnership with the New Zealand Opera.

Hosted by Kawiti Waetford, the one-night-only event brings together opera, waiata, poetry and prose to celebrate the beauty and richness of te reo Māori, featuring leading singers, poets and performers in a unique fusion of music and storytelling.

One of the festival’s most popular events returns on 12 September with the free Whānau Day, transforming Te Pou Theatre and the Corban Estate Arts Centre into a vibrant hub of creativity.

Thousands of visitors are expected to enjoy storytelling, kapa haka, live music, theatre for tamariki, workshops, market stalls, kai vendors, street dance, cultural performances and interactive activities throughout the day.

The event has become a cornerstone of the festival, encouraging whānau of all ages to experience Māori and Pacific performing arts in an accessible and welcoming environment.

Among the highlights is Ihirangaranga on 13 September, an immersive multidisciplinary performance combining taonga pūoro, live music, spoken word and live speed painting.

The performance features renowned taonga pūoro practitioner Horomona Horo, alongside Dr Jeremy Mayall, Michael Moore and Regan Balzer, creating a unique artistic exploration grounded in Māori cultural concepts.

Later in the festival, audiences can enjoy the Auckland premiere of Grass Roots, a musical comedy by Raureti Ormond exploring identity, rugby culture and growing up as the queer son of a professional rugby player.

Coinciding with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, I Was Born To Speak takes the stage on 17 and 18 September.

Written and performed by Billy Reynolds McCarthy, the solo production blends spoken word, theatre and kapa haka to tell a deeply personal story about reclaiming te reo Māori, reconnecting with whakapapa and giving voice to stories that have often been overlooked.

Sharing the programme across the same evenings is Wai Tawhito, a new theatre work by Tūrongo Collective, exploring Oceanic identity, interconnected ecosystems and Indigenous understandings of time and existence.

At the heart of Kōanga Festival remains the Kōanga Playwrights Programme, returning with its popular SCRIPTS & SIPS play-reading brunches on 19 and 20 September.

Under the mentorship of acclaimed playwright Victor Rodger, alongside Amber Curreen and Tainui Tukiwaho, audiences will experience four brand-new works exploring themes including friendship, grief, Māori K-Pop and magical worlds.

The programme provides an invaluable opportunity for audiences to witness new Māori theatre in its earliest stages while supporting emerging writers.

Comedy also takes centre stage with AROHA-HA on 19 September, featuring leading Māori comedians including Kura Forrester, Timprovise, Hoani Hotene and Janaye Henry.

Created in honour of late writer and comedian Aroha Awarau, the evening celebrates the role of humour in bringing communities together while showcasing the strength of Māori comedy.

The festival concludes on 20 September with the acclaimed spoken-word production UPU, returning to Tāmaki Makaurau after several years away.

Featuring the work of 23 First Nations poets from across the Pacific, the production weaves together poetry, theatre and storytelling performed by a cast including Nathaniel Lees, Nicola Kāwana and Jarod Rāwiri, celebrating the diverse voices and experiences of Indigenous peoples across Oceania.

As Kōanga Festival enters its second decade, it continues to cement its place as one of New Zealand’s leading Indigenous arts festivals.

At a time when arts organisations face ongoing funding pressures, the festival remains committed to developing new Māori and Pacific work while creating opportunities for artists to tell stories grounded in whakapapa, language and identity.

For audiences, Kōanga Festival 2026 promises more than entertainment—it offers a celebration of Indigenous creativity, cultural resilience and the enduring power of storytelling to connect communities across generations.

#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #KōangaFestival #TePouTheatre #MāoriArts #PacificArts #TeAoMāori #Whakaari #Theatre #TeReoMāori #WhānauDay #UPU #TaongaPūoro #Comedy #SpokenWord #MāoriStorytelling #IndigenousArts #Aotearoa

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One of Aotearoa’s leading Māori public health leaders is warning that political ideology must never take precedence over scientific evidence, arguing that public confidence in the health system depends on experts being able to speak freely—even when their advice is uncomfortable for governments.

Speaking with Radio Waatea, Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen discussed a recent editorial published in the New Zealand Medical Journal that argues recent Government decisions risk undermining evidence-based healthcare and the independence of health professionals.

The editorial, co-authored by Dr Jansen alongside public health leaders Dr Belinda Loring, Professor Papaarangi Reid and Associate Professor Rhys Jones, contends that recent ministerial decisions affecting health sector leadership and regulation amount to more than ordinary policy change. The authors argue they represent a broader trend in which scientific evidence is increasingly characterised as “ideology” when it conflicts with political priorities.

The discussion follows controversy surrounding Health Minister Simeon Brown’s decision not to reappoint the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Medical Council of New Zealand after consultation on updated statements relating to cultural safety, cultural competence and Māori health. The decision prompted criticism from senior doctors, who argue political interference in independent professional bodies risks weakening patient safety and clinical standards.

Dr Jansen told Radio Waatea that evidence-based medicine has always evolved through research, peer review and open debate rather than political direction. He said health professionals have both an ethical obligation and a professional responsibility to advocate for patients using the best available evidence, regardless of whether that advice aligns with the Government of the day.

The editorial also raises concerns about a series of wider health policy decisions, including changes to Māori health initiatives, governance arrangements within professional regulatory bodies and proposals that would give ministers greater influence over health practitioner organisations. According to the authors, these developments collectively risk reducing the independence of institutions responsible for protecting public safety.

For Māori, Dr Jansen said the debate has particular significance.

He noted that decades of research consistently demonstrate Māori experience poorer health outcomes across a range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and life expectancy. Addressing those inequities, he said, requires evidence-informed approaches that acknowledge the different barriers Māori face when accessing healthcare rather than assuming identical treatment always produces equitable outcomes.

The editorial argues that research supporting targeted interventions to reduce inequities is well established both internationally and within New Zealand. It warns that dismissing such evidence as ideological risks reversing decades of progress towards improving health outcomes for Māori and other populations experiencing disadvantage.

The concerns expressed by Dr Jansen have been echoed by other senior clinicians. Doctors quoted by national media have accused the Government of creating an environment in which scientists and medical experts may feel reluctant to publicly challenge policy decisions for fear of political repercussions, arguing that robust public debate is essential to maintaining a safe and effective health system.

The Government has rejected suggestions that it is suppressing scientific opinion, maintaining that ministers have a mandate to set health policy while ensuring regulatory bodies remain focused on delivering effective services for all New Zealanders.

For Dr Jansen, however, the issue extends beyond politics.

He says healthcare must remain grounded in robust evidence, transparent scientific inquiry and the ability of clinicians to raise concerns without fear or favour. In his view, protecting those principles is essential not only for Māori health but for maintaining public trust in the entire health system.

As debate over health reform continues, questions about the relationship between science, politics and public policy are likely to remain at the forefront of discussions about the future of healthcare in Aotearoa.

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