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I a mātou e whakarongo ana ki ngā whakaaro rerekē e pā ana ki ngā panonitanga ki ngā whakaateanga Mana Whakahono ā Rohe, e ai ki a Hūhana Lyndon kāore te Kāwanatanga i whai i te tohutohu a te Komiti Taiao kia mau tonu aua whakaritenga.

E ai ki a ia, ko ngā māharahara a ngā rōpū pēnei i a Federated Farmers mō te whai wāhi o ngā iwi tētahi o ngā take i puta ai tēnei whakatau.

Kei te kaha ake rānei te aweawe o ngā reo o waho i ngā whakatau a te Kāwanatanga?

E whai ake nei ko te whānuitanga o ngā kōrero nā Huhana Lyndon.

The post Huhana Lyndon | Kei te kaha ake rānei te aweawe o ngā reo o waho i ngā whakatau a te Kāwanatanga? appeared first on Waatea News: Māori Radio Station.

Latest Kōreo from the rohe and motu. Ngā kaupapa nui, ngā reo o te hapori. Listen Live or Online on Waatea Digital

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As athletes chase medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, another significant milestone is unfolding away from the competition arena, with te reo Māori gaining international visibility through the launch of the Te Reo Māori ki Karahiko 2026 glossary. 5122e632-102c-40fa-b4d1-c93bba9df1aa

The initiative marks an important moment for Aotearoa, bringing te reo Māori into one of the world’s largest multi-sport events and providing Māori language terminology associated with the Games. It reflects the growing recognition of Indigenous languages on the international stage and reinforces te reo Māori as a living language with a place in global sporting events.

Broadcaster and Māori language advocate Rapaera Tawhai, who is in Glasgow for the Games, says seeing te reo Māori represented alongside athletes and visitors from across the Commonwealth has been a powerful experience. The glossary ensures Māori language and culture are visible beyond New Zealand’s sporting contingent, offering athletes, officials and spectators an opportunity to engage with the language throughout the event.

The Commonwealth Games bring together competitors from more than 70 nations and territories, creating a unique platform to showcase the cultural identity of participating countries. For Aotearoa, the inclusion of te reo Māori highlights the language’s status as an official language of New Zealand and reflects its increasing presence across international diplomacy, broadcasting and sport.

The milestone comes as New Zealand athletes continue their Glasgow campaign. The Games have already produced standout performances in the pool and across several sporting codes, while some athletes have also faced setbacks through injury and scheduling challenges. High jumper Hamish Kerr has withdrawn from competition after managing fatigue following a demanding international season, while other members of the New Zealand team continue their pursuit of medals across the programme.

Beyond competition results, organisers have increasingly recognised that international sporting events provide opportunities to celebrate language, identity and culture. The Te Reo Māori ki Karahiko 2026 glossary sits alongside wider efforts to promote Indigenous languages in global forums and reflects the growing confidence with which Aotearoa presents its bicultural identity to the world.

For Māori communities, the glossary represents more than a translation resource. It demonstrates that te reo Māori continues to expand into new domains, from technology and science through to international sport, ensuring the language remains relevant for future generations while strengthening its global profile.

As Glasgow hosts thousands of athletes and millions of viewers around the world, te reo Māori is not only travelling with Team New Zealand—it is taking its place on the world stage as a language of culture, identity and belonging.

#TeKaupapa #TeReoMāori #Karahiko2026 #CommonwealthGames #Glasgow2026 #Māori #TeAoMāori #Hakinakina #TeamNZ #LanguageRevitalisation #IndigenousLanguages #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews

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Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says the 2026 General Election presents an opportunity for New Zealanders to choose a future built on environmental protection, social justice and stronger partnerships with Māori, as the party launches its election manifesto ahead of the campaign.

Speaking at a packed Green Party Annual General Meeting in Auckland, Davidson joined co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick in unveiling the party’s policy platform, setting out a vision centred on tackling climate change, reducing inequality, protecting biodiversity and strengthening the place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in public policy.

Davidson has long been one of Parliament’s strongest advocates for Māori representation and Indigenous rights, consistently arguing that decisions affecting Māori should be made in partnership with Māori communities. Throughout her parliamentary career, she has championed policies aimed at improving housing, health, education and economic outcomes while addressing systemic inequities experienced by many whānau.

Environmental protection remains a cornerstone of Davidson’s political agenda. She has repeatedly called for stronger action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, restore native ecosystems, safeguard freshwater and ensure development occurs in a way that protects future generations. The Greens also continue to advocate for greater investment in renewable energy, sustainable transport and climate resilience as extreme weather events become more frequent across Aotearoa.

The party’s manifesto places significant emphasis on reducing poverty and improving living standards, proposing policies designed to strengthen public services, improve housing affordability and provide greater support for low-income households. The Greens argue that addressing inequality is inseparable from achieving environmental sustainability, maintaining that social and environmental wellbeing must be pursued together.

For Māori, Davidson has consistently argued that meaningful progress requires honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through shared decision-making and greater recognition of Māori rights and aspirations. Her advocacy has included support for Māori-led environmental management, protection of whenua and wai, and ensuring Māori perspectives are reflected across government policy.

As the election campaign gathers momentum, Davidson and Swarbrick are positioning the Greens as a party focused on long-term solutions rather than short-term political cycles. Their campaign seeks to appeal to voters concerned about climate change, the cost of living, housing, public services and the future relationship between the Crown and Māori.

The Greens enter the 2026 campaign facing a competitive political landscape, with climate policy, economic management, infrastructure and Māori-Crown relations expected to be among the defining issues for voters. The party says its platform offers an alternative centred on fairness, sustainability and intergenerational responsibility.

With campaigning now underway, Marama Davidson’s message remains consistent: protecting the environment, upholding Te Tiriti, reducing inequality and empowering communities are essential to shaping the future of Aotearoa.

#TeKaupapa #MaramaDavidson #GreenParty #Election2026 #TeTiriti #Māori #ClimateAction #SocialJustice #Kaitiakitanga #Politics #Aotearoa #Environment #WaateaNews #RadioWaatea

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A renewed campaign to reform New Zealand’s citizenship laws is gathering momentum after Ngāpuhi father John Ruddock successfully secured New Zealand citizenship for himself and his three children, with advocates now calling for a permanent tikanga-based citizenship pathway for overseas-born Māori.

Ruddock’s case has become a catalyst for wider discussion about how New Zealand law recognises whakapapa and the relationship between Māori and the Crown. While his family’s successful application marked a significant personal milestone, supporters say many Māori born overseas continue to face complex legal barriers when seeking citizenship despite their ancestral connections to Aotearoa.

The issue has already been examined by the Waitangi Tribunal, which found the current Citizenship Act does not adequately recognise the unique status of Māori as tangata whenua. The Tribunal recommended amendments to establish a citizenship pathway grounded in tikanga Māori, while also extending citizenship by descent provisions for Māori to two generations.

Advocates argue that whakapapa should carry greater weight in citizenship decisions, particularly for descendants of Māori who have lived overseas through migration, military service, employment or family circumstances. They say existing citizenship rules were designed around conventional nationality principles and do not fully reflect the constitutional relationship established through Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The proposed reforms would provide greater certainty for Māori families living abroad who wish to reconnect with their whenua, iwi and whānau. Supporters believe a dedicated pathway would strengthen cultural identity, encourage reconnection with te ao Māori and acknowledge that Māori identity is inherited through whakapapa rather than determined solely by place of birth.

The debate also raises broader questions about indigeneity and citizenship in the modern world. Many Indigenous peoples maintain enduring cultural and ancestral ties that cross modern national borders, prompting increasing international discussion about how citizenship laws can better reflect Indigenous identity and belonging.

For Māori, the issue extends beyond immigration policy. It touches on mana, whakapapa, tino rangatiratanga and the Crown’s obligations under Te Tiriti. Advocates argue that recognising Māori descendants through a distinct citizenship process would acknowledge that their connection to Aotearoa is fundamentally different from that of migrants seeking citizenship through residence or naturalisation.

Ruddock’s successful journey has already reunited his immediate family with their legal status in Aotearoa, but he says the campaign is far from over. The goal now is to ensure future generations of overseas-born Māori do not face the same legal uncertainty when seeking recognition of the whakapapa that has always connected them to this country.

The Waitangi Tribunal’s recommendations now place the issue squarely before the Government, with campaigners urging Parliament to modernise the Citizenship Act in a way that reflects both New Zealand’s constitutional framework and the enduring importance of whakapapa.

#TeKaupapa #Ngāpuhi #Whakapapa #Citizenship #TeTiriti #WaitangiTribunal #Māori #TangataWhenua #Tikanga #Aotearoa #IndigenousRights #JohnRuddock #WaateaNews #RadioWaatea

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It was another action-packed weekend across the sporting world, with veteran sports commentator Ken Laban joining Dale Husband on Radio Waatea to reflect on the biggest performances from New Zealand athletes at home and abroad.

Leading the discussion was New Zealand’s strong showing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where Kiwi athletes continued to add to the medal tally across several sports. The Games have delivered standout performances in the pool, on the track and in the field, reinforcing New Zealand’s reputation as one of the Commonwealth’s strongest sporting nations.

However, the campaign also suffered a setback with Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr withdrawing from competition. After an intensive international season, Kerr made the decision to step aside from the Games to manage fatigue and prioritise his long-term recovery, highlighting the physical demands placed on elite athletes competing year-round.

On the netball court, attention turned to the Silver Ferns, who faced a crucial pool match against Jamaica. The encounter carried significant implications for New Zealand’s hopes of progressing deep into the tournament, with every result becoming increasingly important as the competition enters its decisive stages.

Closer to home, the New Zealand Warriors once again demonstrated resilience in the NRL, overcoming injuries and maintaining their push towards the finals. Their ability to grind out victories despite key players being sidelined has become one of the defining features of their 2026 campaign, with depth across the squad continuing to prove invaluable.

Rugby also featured prominently in the weekend review, with the Blues continuing to invest in the future through player retention and development. The franchise’s commitment to building around homegrown talent was highlighted as a key ingredient for sustained success in Super Rugby over the coming seasons.

In football, Auckland welcomed one of the world’s biggest clubs as Tottenham Hotspur defeated Auckland FC 2–0 in a pre-season friendly. The match attracted a strong crowd and provided local supporters with the opportunity to see Premier League talent on New Zealand soil while offering valuable experience for Auckland FC ahead of its domestic campaign.

Formula One also delivered excitement, with Lando Norris claiming victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. For New Zealand fans, there was further reason to celebrate as Liam Lawson finished inside the points, continuing to strengthen his credentials in one of the world’s most competitive motorsport championships.

Laban told listeners the weekend reflected the growing breadth of New Zealand sport, with athletes performing on the biggest international stages while domestic teams continue to build for future success. From Glasgow to Budapest and from the NRL to Super Rugby, New Zealand competitors continue to make their presence felt.

With the Commonwealth Games entering another busy week and domestic competitions approaching their business end, sports fans can expect plenty more drama in the days ahead.

#TeKaupapa #WeekendSports #KenLaban #DaleHusband #CommonwealthGames #Glasgow2026 #SilverFerns #Warriors #NRL #Blues #Formula1 #LiamLawson #LandoNorris #Football #AucklandFC #TottenhamHotspur #Hakinakina #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews

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Te Pāti Māori has intensified its campaign ahead of the 2026 General Election, unveiling a new candidate for Te Tai Tonga, renewing calls for greater Crown action to protect Māori overseas, and accusing the Government of systematically dismantling Treaty-based partnerships.

The announcements come as Māori electoral participation continues to evolve, with more than half of enrolled Māori voters now choosing the Māori electoral roll, reflecting growing engagement with Māori political representation in Aotearoa.

Te Pāti Māori has confirmed Lisa Marie Murch as its candidate for the Te Tai Tonga electorate.

Born and raised in Murihiku, Murch brings experience across education, kaupapa Māori teaching and community leadership. The party says her campaign will focus on strengthening Māori representation, improving outcomes for whānau and advancing mana motuhake across Te Waipounamu.

The announcement forms part of Te Pāti Māori’s wider election strategy as it seeks to retain and expand its parliamentary presence ahead of polling later this year.

The party has also strongly criticised the Government’s proposal to remove Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements as part of its replacement of the Resource Management Act.

Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements provide a statutory framework for councils and iwi to work together on decisions affecting whenua and wai through agreed processes for engagement, planning and dispute resolution. Te Pāti Māori argues their removal weakens practical Treaty partnerships and reduces Māori participation in environmental decision-making.

The Government maintains its wider planning reforms are intended to simplify resource management processes while continuing to provide opportunities for iwi participation under the new framework.

The party’s campaign is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing Māori political participation and ongoing economic challenges.

Electoral data has previously shown that a majority of enrolled Māori voters are now registered on the Māori electoral roll, reflecting continued growth in Māori electoral engagement.

At the same time, rising living costs, wage pressures and economic inequality remain key election issues. Recent international comparisons have highlighted weak wage growth in New Zealand relative to other developed economies, placing additional pressure on many households already facing high housing and everyday living costs.

With the election campaign now underway, Te Pāti Māori is positioning itself around a platform centred on mana motuhake, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, environmental protection, justice reform and stronger Māori representation.

The party says the coming election will determine not only the direction of economic and social policy but also the future relationship between the Crown and tangata whenua, making constitutional issues, environmental governance and Māori participation central themes of the campaign.

#TeKaupapa #TePātiMāori #Election2026 #TeTaiTonga #LisaMarieMurch #ManaMotuhake #TeTiriti #MāoriPolitics #EverleeWihongi #MFAT #ManaWhakahonoĀRohe #Whenua #MāoriRoll #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews

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As Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad prepares to conclude her term this week, she is making a final call for political leaders to place child poverty at the centre of New Zealand’s national agenda, warning that too many tamariki continue to grow up without life’s basic necessities.

A newly released child poverty report paints a concerning picture, showing around 170,000 children are living in material hardship, with many families unable to consistently afford essentials such as nutritious food, warm clothing, healthcare, and household bills. The latest figures indicate hardship has increased compared with recent years, despite long-standing commitments to reduce child poverty.

The report estimates around 170,000 children are experiencing material hardship, equivalent to roughly one in seven children across Aotearoa. The statistics also show Māori and Pacific children continue to be disproportionately affected, highlighting persistent inequities that have remained despite successive governments promising action.

Dr Achmad has described the findings as a national failure, saying New Zealand has both the resources and capability to ensure every child has access to the essentials required for a healthy start in life. As her tenure comes to an end, she has urged all political parties to make child wellbeing a central election issue rather than a peripheral policy discussion.

The report arrives as debate continues over the future leadership of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. Supporters have launched a public petition calling for Dr Achmad to remain in the role after she was not reappointed, arguing her advocacy has provided an independent voice for vulnerable children during a period of increasing economic pressure.

The latest data reinforces concerns raised earlier this year that progress towards reducing child poverty has stalled. While the Government has outlined initiatives through Budget 2026 aimed at improving household incomes and supporting families, the latest figures suggest many children continue to miss out on the basics needed to thrive.

For Māori communities, the figures are particularly significant, with tamariki Māori continuing to experience higher rates of hardship than the national average. Child advocates say addressing poverty requires long-term investment in housing, health, education, employment and income support, alongside policies developed in partnership with Māori communities.

With a general election approaching, child poverty is expected to remain a major social policy issue, with advocates calling on all parties to commit to measurable actions that will reduce hardship and improve outcomes for future generations.

#TeKaupapa #ChildPoverty #Tamariki #Māori #Children #Poverty #CostOfLiving #Aotearoa #Politics #Election2026 #ClaireAchmad #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews

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As debate intensifies over a proposed $3.5 billion AI data centre in Makarewa, attention is increasingly turning beyond the technology itself to a broader question: what will it take for New Zealanders to trust major AI infrastructure projects?

That question is at the heart of research being led by Dr Kerry McInerney (Ngāti Ruanui), a University of Auckland lecturer specialising in artificial intelligence whose work focuses on AI ethics, governance, social justice and public trust. Her research explores how communities view AI infrastructure and what conditions are needed for projects to earn the social licence required to operate successfully.

The discussion comes as the Green Party calls for a one-year moratorium on consenting new large-scale AI data centres, arguing New Zealand needs a national conversation and stronger regulatory safeguards before more projects proceed. The party says current planning processes do not adequately involve communities and fail to address broader questions around environmental impacts, energy use, water resources and who ultimately benefits from the developments.

The Makarewa project, proposed by Singapore-based Datagrid, has become the focal point of that debate. The hyperscale facility is expected to become New Zealand’s second-largest electricity user, requiring around 280 megawatts of power, while creating an estimated 1,200 construction jobs and around 50 permanent positions once operational. Supporters say the project could position New Zealand as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and cloud computing, while attracting significant overseas investment.

However, community concern continues to grow. Hundreds of Southlanders recently attended a public meeting seeking answers about the development, raising questions over electricity demand, groundwater use, noise, environmental impacts and whether the wider public should have had greater input before resource consent was granted. Organisers say the issue is not opposition to technology itself but a desire for greater transparency and meaningful engagement.

Dr McInerney’s research reflects a growing international discussion about the concept of social licence—the idea that major infrastructure projects require ongoing public confidence and acceptance, not simply regulatory approval. Researchers increasingly argue that trust depends on early engagement, transparency, accountability and clear evidence that communities will share in the long-term benefits rather than simply bear the environmental and infrastructure costs.

For Māori, the debate carries additional significance. Large-scale developments intersect with issues of kaitiakitanga, environmental stewardship, Treaty relationships and community decision-making. AI infrastructure raises questions not only about digital innovation but also about energy security, freshwater, whenua, data sovereignty and whether Māori voices are meaningfully included in decisions that could shape future generations.

The Makarewa proposal has become one of the country’s first major tests of how New Zealand balances ambitions to become an AI and digital infrastructure hub with public expectations around environmental responsibility, transparency and community participation.

As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important part of the economy, experts suggest the success of future AI projects may depend as much on public trust as technological capability.

#TeKaupapa #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #DataCentres #Makarewa #Southland #Kaitiakitanga #DigitalSovereignty #AIEthics #Māori #Technology #Infrastructure #PublicTrust #WaateaNews #RadioWaatea

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