Waatea News: Māori Radio Station

A Māori-developed economic framework is challenging conventional thinking about how success is measured, arguing that the true value of investment cannot be captured by financial returns alone.

Developed by Dr Jay Whitehead, founder of Matatihi, Whakapapa Economics seeks to reshape economic evaluation by recognising the importance of whānau, relationships, culture, te taiao and future generations in creating long-term prosperity.

Rather than focusing solely on economic outputs or short-term gains, the framework asks decision-makers to consider how value flows through interconnected people, places and communities over time. It is built on the Māori principle of whakapapa, recognising that decisions made today have lasting impacts across generations.

Dr Whitehead says conventional economic models, including cost-benefit analyses and social return on investment (SROI) frameworks, often overlook the broader benefits generated through community initiatives. While they can measure direct financial outcomes, they frequently fail to account for the cascading effects that occur when whānau wellbeing improves.

Examples include healthcare services that extend beyond the clinic, such as a general practitioner visiting a family in their home, or community-led housing improvements that reduce stress, improve health outcomes and strengthen whānau resilience. While these initiatives may appear modest in isolation, their wider impacts often ripple through education, employment, housing stability and community wellbeing.

Whakapapa Economics was developed to make those interconnected benefits visible in a structured and evidence-based way.

The framework follows a six-stage process beginning with understanding the context of the kaupapa, including the people, place and relationships involved. It then maps the pathways through which value is created, identifies the specific changes being sought, looks for measurable signals that those changes are occurring, tests the strength of the available evidence and finally assesses the value that can be robustly demonstrated.

A key feature of the framework is that it deliberately avoids placing monetary values on sacred Māori concepts such as mana, mauri or whakapapa. Instead, it examines the practical outcomes these values help generate.

Those outcomes may include healthier homes, stronger educational participation, greater trust within communities, improved environmental stewardship and enhanced social cohesion. By measuring observable impacts rather than attempting to commodify cultural values, the framework aims to remain grounded in mātauranga Māori while maintaining analytical rigour.

The approach reflects a growing movement to broaden the way governments, iwi, community organisations and investors assess success. Increasingly, policymakers are looking beyond gross domestic product and traditional financial indicators towards measures that incorporate wellbeing, resilience and sustainability.

For Māori organisations, Whakapapa Economics provides a framework that aligns economic decision-making with tikanga Māori while remaining practical for use in planning, evaluation and investment.

As Māori economic development continues to expand across sectors including housing, health, education, environmental management and business, frameworks such as Whakapapa Economics may offer new ways to demonstrate the enduring value created by kaupapa Māori—value that extends well beyond balance sheets and into the wellbeing of future generations.

#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #WhakapapaEconomics #Matatihi #JayWhitehead #MātaurangaMāori #MāoriEconomy #Whānau #TeTaiao #WellbeingEconomy #IndigenousEconomics #Aotearoa #TikangaMāori #FutureGenerations

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Award-winning musician, filmmaker and Wahine Toa Award recipient Te KuraHuia has unveiled her latest music video, Ms. Divine, a powerful celebration of wāhine, weaving together music, storytelling and whakapapa in a tribute to the resilience and mana of Māori women.

The release continues Te KuraHuia’s long-standing commitment to using creative expression as a vehicle for cultural storytelling, drawing on te ao Māori values while speaking to contemporary audiences through music and visual art.

At the heart of Ms. Divine is the recognition that wāhine have always been central to the strength of whānau, hapū and iwi. The project explores themes of identity, ancestral connection and the enduring influence of Māori women across generations, reinforcing the idea that whakapapa is not simply a record of lineage but a living source of strength, belonging and purpose.

Through cinematic visuals and original music, the production reflects the many roles wāhine play as leaders, nurturers, protectors, artists and knowledge holders. Rather than focusing on a single narrative, the work embraces the diversity of Māori womanhood while acknowledging the shared experiences that connect generations.

Te KuraHuia has built a reputation for creating work that sits at the intersection of music, film and kaupapa Māori. Her productions often explore identity, language revitalisation and Indigenous storytelling, using contemporary media to preserve and celebrate mātauranga Māori while engaging younger audiences.

As both a filmmaker and musician, she has consistently sought to create space for authentic Māori voices, ensuring stories are told through a lens grounded in whakapapa and lived experience rather than external interpretation.

The release of Ms. Divine also reflects the growing influence of Māori creatives within Aotearoa’s arts sector, where music and visual storytelling are increasingly being used to strengthen cultural identity and encourage conversations about the place of wāhine in contemporary society.

For many Māori artists, creative works are more than entertainment—they are expressions of whakapapa, acts of cultural preservation and opportunities to inspire future generations to embrace their identity with confidence.

Te KuraHuia says Ms. Divine is ultimately a celebration of wāhine in all their forms, recognising their leadership, resilience and enduring contribution to whānau and communities throughout Aotearoa.

As Indigenous storytelling continues to gain international recognition, works such as Ms. Divine demonstrate how Māori artists are using creativity to honour the past while inspiring the future, ensuring the stories, strength and voices of wāhine continue to resonate for generations to come.

#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #TeKuraHuia #MsDivine #WāhineToa #MāoriMusic #MāoriArtists #Whakapapa #TeAoMāori #IndigenousMusic #MāoriStorytelling #ManaWāhine #NZMusic #Aotearoa #MāoriCreativity

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A leading advocate for ending sexual violence says New Zealand should move immediately to strengthen its sexual consent laws, arguing that delaying reform until after the election risks prolonging uncertainty for survivors and disproportionately affects Māori.

Russell Smith, of Te Ohaakii ā Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST), says the introduction of affirmative consent laws is long overdue and should be enacted by the current Parliament rather than becoming an election promise.

The call follows National’s announcement that, if re-elected, it would amend the Crimes Act to make it explicit that consent must be actively given through words or actions, rather than inferred from the absence of a refusal. Under the proposal, silence would not constitute consent, and consent given previously would not automatically apply to future sexual activity. The changes would not alter the burden of proof in criminal trials, which would remain with the prosecution.

Smith says TOAH-NNEST supports affirmative consent reform but believes there is no reason to postpone it until after voters head to the polls.

He argues there is already broad support across Parliament for modernising consent laws and that survivors should not have to wait for protections that many other comparable countries have already introduced.

The proposed reforms would provide, for the first time, a clear legal definition of consent in New Zealand law. Currently, the Crimes Act sets out circumstances where consent is not present but does not define what affirmative consent actually is. Advocates say that gap can create confusion both in legal proceedings and in public understanding of healthy sexual relationships.

For Māori, the issue carries particular significance.

Sexual violence continues to have a disproportionate impact on Māori communities, with Māori women, children and whānau experiencing higher rates of family violence and sexual harm than the wider population. Organisations working in prevention and survivor support have long argued that legal reform must sit alongside culturally grounded prevention, education and healing initiatives led by Māori.

Smith says strengthening consent laws is one important part of a broader response that must include investment in prevention, early intervention and support services designed by and for Māori communities.

The debate has also become increasingly political.

Labour says Parliament could pass an existing cross-party member’s bill now, arguing there is sufficient support across several parties to introduce an affirmative consent model without waiting for the election. The party has criticised the Government for turning the issue into a campaign commitment rather than progressing legislation immediately.

National, meanwhile, says its proposal forms part of a wider package of reforms aimed at improving protections for victims of sexual offending. The party says its approach would modernise the law while preserving the long-standing legal principle that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that consent was not given and that the accused did not reasonably believe consent existed.

The debate comes amid broader changes to New Zealand’s justice system. Earlier this year, new legislation strengthened protections for victims of sexual violence by extending automatic name suppression for complainants and giving victims a greater say over permanent name suppression for convicted offenders.

With Parliament entering the final stages before the election campaign intensifies, advocates say the question is no longer whether New Zealand should adopt affirmative consent laws, but whether lawmakers are prepared to act now or ask survivors to wait.

#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #TOAHNNEST #AffirmativeConsent #SexualViolence #Māori #Justice #Consent #FamilyViolence #Survivors #LawReform #TeAoMāori #Election2026 #Aotearoa

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With the 2026 General Election fast approaching, Māori leaders are encouraging whānau—particularly rangatahi—to enrol and vote, describing participation in democracy as one of the most powerful ways to influence the future of Aotearoa.

The message comes as Māori political participation reaches a significant milestone. For the first time, more than half of enrolled Māori voters are now registered on the Māori electoral roll, reflecting a long-term shift driven largely by younger Māori choosing to vote in Māori electorates.

The Electoral Commission says more than 302,000 Māori voters are enrolled on the Māori roll, compared with around 256,000 on the general roll, with almost 58 percent of Māori aged 18 to 24 choosing the Māori roll. Officials say the trend highlights growing engagement by younger generations with Māori political representation.

Māori voters who wish to change between the Māori and general rolls before the election must do so by 6 August, while those not yet enrolled are being urged to register as soon as possible to ensure they can cast their vote in November.

The renewed push for enrolment comes amid an election campaign where issues affecting Māori are expected to dominate debate, including housing, health, education, economic development, climate resilience, Treaty relationships and constitutional reform.

One issue already generating significant discussion is the Government’s decision to replace Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements between councils and iwi with new Iwi Participation Agreements as part of its wider resource management reforms.

Labour has argued the move risks reopening matters already settled through Treaty settlements by weakening formal mechanisms for iwi participation in local planning and environmental decision-making. Government ministers reject that criticism, saying Māori participation will continue under the new planning framework while reducing complexity in the system.

For many Māori organisations, the debate highlights why voting matters.

Decisions made in Parliament shape everything from environmental protections and freshwater management to housing, healthcare, education, employment opportunities and the future relationship between the Crown and tangata whenua.

The Electoral Commission says being enrolled is about ensuring every eligible New Zealander has the opportunity to choose who represents them in Parliament. Whether voters choose the Māori roll or the general roll, enrolling is the first step towards participating in the democratic process.

For rangatahi, many of whom will be voting for the first time, advocates say the election presents an opportunity to influence decisions that will affect their futures for decades to come.

Issues such as climate change, the cost of living, access to education, employment opportunities, mental health, digital innovation and the protection of te reo Māori are expected to be major priorities for younger voters.

Community leaders continue to emphasise that voting is not simply about supporting a political party. It is about ensuring Māori voices are present wherever decisions are made and recognising the generations who fought to secure that right.

As campaigning intensifies in the lead-up to polling day, the message to Māori and especially rangatahi remains consistent: enrol, learn about the issues, and make your voice count.

#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #Election2026 #MāoriRoll #Rangatahi #Vote2026 #Democracy #TeAoMāori #MāoriRepresentation #Whānau #Politics #Treaty #Aotearoa #YourVoteMatters

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A Māori-led tourism initiative born in the heart of Murupara has earned national recognition, with Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours founder Nadine Toe Toe named a finalist in the SkyCity Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award at the 2026 New Zealand Leadership Awards. The achievement places the Bay of Plenty tourism leader among more than 600 nominees representing Aotearoa’s business, education, health, government, community and not-for-profit sectors.

The recognition reflects more than a decade of work using Māori tourism as a vehicle to strengthen culture, create employment and reconnect people with their identity and whakapapa on Ngāti Manawa whenua. What began as a local tourism venture has grown into a network of initiatives focused on leadership, cultural revitalisation and sustainable regional development.

Central to that vision is Native Nations, an international Indigenous youth leadership exchange connecting rangatahi from Aotearoa, Australia, British Columbia in Canada and Vanuatu. The programme focuses on building confident young leaders by strengthening cultural identity and creating opportunities for international learning and collaboration.

Independent evaluations have highlighted significant gains among participants, including increased confidence, stronger cultural connection, greater willingness to travel and improved optimism about future aspirations.

The kaupapa has also led to the creation of Te Aka Trails, a trade-ready collective of Māori tourism operators that encourages visitors to explore authentic Indigenous experiences throughout Aotearoa while supporting whānau-owned businesses in regional communities.

Rather than concentrating tourism in traditional hotspots, the initiative promotes regional dispersal, ensuring economic opportunities are shared across Māori tourism operators while showcasing Indigenous culture through authentic experiences. Participating organisations include cultural attractions, adventure tourism businesses, accommodation providers and Māori-owned tourism ventures from around the country.

Complementing those initiatives is The Visitor Promise, an online cultural health and safety programme that introduces visitors to tikanga Māori before they arrive. The programme aims to improve cultural understanding, reduce unintended cultural misunderstandings and foster respectful relationships between visitors and host communities.

The leadership recognition also acknowledges a collaborative approach that has seen tourism operators, charitable trusts, educational organisations and international partners work together to expand opportunities for Indigenous youth while strengthening Māori tourism.

Although Kohutapu Lodge has previously received significant recognition within the tourism sector, including being named New Zealand’s Tourism Industry Champion in 2025, this latest acknowledgement reflects the wider social impact of its work beyond tourism alone.

Looking ahead, Native Nations is preparing to launch its 2026 Indigenous Youth Leadership Exchange, bringing together 20 rangatahi from Aotearoa and Australia for a 20-day journey through New Zealand and Australia’s Northern Territory. Participants will engage with Indigenous communities, cultural leaders and tourism operators in a programme designed to strengthen identity, leadership capability and international Indigenous relationships.

For Murupara, the national recognition highlights how innovation, collaboration and kaupapa Māori can create meaningful change from even the smallest communities, demonstrating that leadership is measured not by size, but by the positive impact it has on people and future generations.

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Diabetes continues to have a devastating impact on Māori communities across Aotearoa, but one Northland health provider is demonstrating that culturally grounded, whānau-centred care can make a real difference.

Speaking on Radio Waatea, Dr Mataroria Lyndon, Medical Advisor for Ngāti Hine Health Trust, outlined the Trust’s work to improve health outcomes by combining clinical expertise with kaupapa Māori approaches to health and wellbeing.

The Trust has become a leader in tackling diabetes in Te Tai Tokerau through prevention programmes, education initiatives and workforce development, recognising that reversing the growing burden of diabetes requires far more than simply prescribing medication.

Diabetes remains one of New Zealand’s most significant public health issues, with Māori developing Type 2 diabetes at younger ages and experiencing higher rates of serious complications than non-Māori.

The condition contributes to increased rates of kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, vision loss and lower limb amputations, placing enormous pressure on individuals, whānau and the health system.

Dr Lyndon says improving outcomes requires earlier diagnosis, better education and long-term support delivered in ways that reflect Māori values and lived experiences.

Rather than focusing solely on treating illness once it develops, Ngāti Hine Health Trust has invested heavily in prevention, community engagement and ensuring frontline healthcare workers have the skills needed to identify problems before they become life-threatening.

One of the Trust’s major initiatives has been training healthcare workers in diabetic foot assessment and care.

Foot complications remain one of the most preventable yet serious consequences of diabetes, often leading to infection, hospitalisation and amputation when not detected early.

By strengthening the capability of local clinicians and community health workers, the Trust hopes to reduce avoidable complications while keeping care closer to home.

This workforce development also supports broader efforts to build Māori-led health services capable of responding to the unique needs of local communities.

Central to the Trust’s approach is the belief that health cannot be separated from whānau, culture and community.

Rather than treating diabetes as an isolated medical condition, kaupapa Māori services consider the wider factors influencing health, including housing, nutrition, financial pressures, mental wellbeing, connection to culture and support networks.

This reflects Te Whare Tapa Whā, the Māori model of health developed by Sir Mason Durie, which recognises that wellbeing depends on balance across four interconnected dimensions: physical health, mental and emotional wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing and whānau relationships.

Many kaupapa Māori providers also incorporate services such as mirimiri, rongoā Māori, health coaching and community-based support alongside conventional medical care to improve engagement and long-term outcomes.

Despite ongoing efforts, Māori continue to experience significant health inequities across almost every major health indicator.

Current Ministry of Health data shows Māori life expectancy remains around six years lower than that of non-Māori, with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness among the major contributors to that gap.

Government health strategies increasingly emphasise Pae Ora – Healthy Futures, aiming to improve health outcomes across every stage of life, from maternal health through to care for kaumātua.

Health leaders say achieving equity will require sustained investment in Māori providers that understand local communities and deliver services grounded in tikanga and whanaungatanga.

Access to diabetes medicines has also become an important part of the national conversation.

Recent changes expanding funded access to newer diabetes medications have been welcomed by many clinicians, particularly where Māori and Pacific patients carry a disproportionate burden of disease.

Specialists have argued that prioritising medicines for Māori and Pacific communities is based on clinical need rather than ethnicity alone, reflecting the significantly higher rates of diabetes complications experienced by those populations.

The wider discussion about Māori health continues to include debate over how evidence-based medicine and mātauranga Māori work together within the health system.

A recently published article in the Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists argues that changes to psychology and health regulation should continue to be grounded in robust scientific evidence while carefully evaluating proposed reforms. The paper discusses ongoing debate around evidence, cultural competence and the role of mātauranga Māori in health professions.

For Dr Lyndon and Ngāti Hine Health Trust, however, the immediate priority remains ensuring whānau receive timely, culturally safe care that helps prevent diabetes before complications arise.

As diabetes rates continue to climb across Aotearoa, Māori health providers say the greatest gains will come from combining clinical excellence with strong relationships, local leadership and services that place whānau at the centre of every decision.

#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #Diabetes #Hauora #MāoriHealth #NgātiHine #TeTaiTokerau #WhānauOra #TeWhareTapaWhā #HealthEquity #PaeOra #RongoāMāori #Prevention #PublicHealth #Aotearoa

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A leading legal academic says New Zealand has an opportunity to modernise its sexual consent laws immediately, questioning why the Government is waiting until after the election when there appears to be enough parliamentary support for the reforms to pass now.

Associate Professor Carrie Leonetti from the University of Auckland Law School says there is broad political consensus around introducing an affirmative consent model, making the timing of the proposed changes a matter of political choice rather than legislative necessity.

The comments come as sexual consent has become a significant issue in the lead-up to the 2026 General Election, with major parties agreeing that the law should be strengthened but differing on when those changes should be enacted.

National has pledged that, if re-elected, it will amend the Crimes Act to include a positive definition of consent, making it explicit that consent must be actively communicated through words or actions. The party says the reforms would clarify the law while maintaining the existing burden of proof in criminal prosecutions.

Labour and the Green Party have welcomed the move toward affirmative consent but argue there is no need to wait until after the election. Labour says a Member’s Bill has already been drafted and could be progressed through Parliament immediately with cross-party support.

New Zealand’s sexual consent laws are governed by the Crimes Act 1961, with the legal age of consent set at 16 years.

At present, the law does not provide a positive definition of consent. Instead, Section 128A outlines circumstances where consent is not legally valid.

Under current legislation, consent is not established simply because someone fails to protest or physically resist. The law also states there is no legal consent where a person submits because of force, threats or intimidation, is unconscious or asleep, is so affected by alcohol or drugs that they cannot freely choose, or lacks the mental or physical capacity to make an informed decision.

Children under the age of 16 are also legally unable to consent to sexual activity.

Supporters of reform argue that while these provisions are important, the law does not clearly define what affirmative consent looks like, leaving room for misunderstanding about how consent should be communicated.

The proposed reforms would introduce an affirmative consent model into the Crimes Act, making it clear that consent must be positively expressed rather than assumed.

Legal experts say this reflects a growing international trend towards recognising that consent should be an active and ongoing agreement between participants.

Importantly, advocates emphasise the reforms would not reverse the burden of proof in criminal cases.

The prosecution would still be required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that consent was absent and that the accused did not have reasonable grounds to believe consent had been given. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify the legal framework rather than lower the threshold for conviction.

Associate Professor Leonetti says the real issue is no longer whether affirmative consent should become law, but why Parliament is delaying action.

With Labour, the Greens and National all indicating support for strengthening consent laws in principle, she argues there appears to be sufficient backing for legislation to be considered before voters head to the polls.

The debate follows similar calls from sexual violence prevention organisations, including Te Ohaakii ā Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST), which has argued survivors should not have to wait until after the election for reforms that enjoy widespread public and political support.

The debate carries particular significance for Māori communities, who continue to experience disproportionately high rates of sexual violence and family harm.

Advocates say legal reform is only one part of the response, alongside greater investment in prevention, education, culturally grounded support services and survivor-led healing initiatives.

Many organisations argue that improving the clarity of consent laws can help shape community understanding of respectful relationships while supporting broader efforts to reduce sexual violence.

As Parliament enters the final weeks before the election campaign intensifies, the question remains whether lawmakers will attempt to pass affirmative consent legislation now or leave the issue for whichever government forms after the election.

#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #AffirmativeConsent #ConsentLaw #CarrieLeonetti #Justice #SexualViolence #Māori #FamilyViolence #LawReform #Election2026 #TeAoMāori #Aotearoa #CrimesAct

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