Waatea News: Māori Radio Station

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I whakawhiwhia te tohu Ahuwhenua 2026 ki a Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective o Te Puke.

Ahakoa kāore a Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust i riro i te tohu matua, i whakanuia tō rātou ekenga ki te whiringa toa. Ko rātou te rōpū tuatahi nō Te Tai Tokerau kua tohua hei whiringa toa mō tēnei wāhanga o ngā Tohu Ahuwhenua, ā, nā rātou i whakatuwhera te huarahi mō ētahi atu pakihi Māori o Te Tai Tokerau.

Neke atu i te 700 ngā tāngata i tae atu ki te hui whakawhiwhi tohu ki Whangārei. E whai ake nei ko ngā whakamārama a Huhana Lyndon o te Pāti Kākāriki.

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Kua tīmata te Wiki Hauora Tāne, he kaupapa hei whakatenatena i ngā tāne kia aro nui ake ki tō rātou hauora.

E ai ki ngā tatauranga, he poto ake te oranga o ngā tāne i ngā wāhine, ā, he nui ake hoki te tūpono ka pāngia rātou e ngā mate pērā i te mate manawa me te mate huka.

Hei tā te Minita Whanaketanga Māori, hei tā Tama Potaka, he mea nui kia kori tōna tinana ia rā hei whakatau i te wairua me te hinengaro. Hei tāna anō, ko te tae ā-tinana atu ki ngā kaupapa tētahi atu āhuatanga e whāngai ana i te mauri.

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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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Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka is being pressed on what more the Government is doing to improve health outcomes for Māori men and respond to growing homelessness across Aotearoa.

The discussion comes amid concern that too many Māori men continue to be diagnosed late with cancer, reducing treatment options and survival chances.

Health agencies have identified cancer screening uptake, early diagnosis and timely treatment as key measures for improving Māori health outcomes. New Zealand’s Cancer Action Plan also calls for better cancer prevention, earlier detection, faster diagnosis and improved support for whānau affected by cancer.

The interview also comes as the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness warns more than 33,000 children and young people in Aotearoa are experiencing severe housing deprivation, including living without shelter, in temporary accommodation, in overcrowded homes or in uninhabitable housing.

Advocates say the figures point to a deepening housing crisis affecting tamariki, rangatahi, whānau and a growing number of older people.

As Associate Housing Minister, Potaka has previously defended the Government’s housing changes, including initiatives aimed at emergency housing, social housing delivery and support for people at risk of homelessness.

But community groups and opposition voices say more urgent action is needed, particularly as Māori remain heavily affected by housing insecurity and poor health outcomes.

Potaka is also expected to reflect on this year’s Fieldays, where rural communities, Māori agribusiness and regional economic development were among the issues in focus.

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Health experts are renewing calls for a national lung cancer screening programme, warning that too many New Zealanders — particularly Māori — are being diagnosed only after the disease has reached an advanced stage.

Lung cancer remains the country’s deadliest cancer, claiming around 1,800 lives every year. Despite those figures, New Zealand has yet to introduce a nationwide screening programme, leaving it behind countries such as Australia and England, where screening initiatives are already helping to identify the disease earlier and improve survival rates.

Medical oncologist and lung cancer specialist Dr Rajiv Kumar says early detection remains one of the most effective ways to save lives, particularly among communities facing the highest burden of disease.

For many whānau, the first sign of lung cancer is often a persistent cough that refuses to go away. By the time symptoms become severe enough to seek medical attention, the cancer may already have spread, reducing treatment options and survival chances.

Māori continue to be disproportionately affected by lung cancer, with rates of diagnosis and mortality significantly higher than those experienced by non-Māori. Health advocates say a national screening programme could help address longstanding inequities in cancer outcomes.

Low-dose CT scanning has become the international standard for lung cancer screening among people considered to be at high risk. Research overseas has shown screening can significantly reduce deaths by detecting cancers before symptoms appear.

Despite growing support from clinicians, researchers and advocacy groups, progress towards a national screening programme has been slow. Funding pressures, health system capacity and competing priorities have all been cited as barriers to implementation.

Dr Kumar says screening programmes must be designed in a way that reaches those most at risk, including Māori communities, rural populations and people who may face barriers accessing healthcare services.

Health advocates also stress the importance of raising awareness among tāne Māori, who are among the groups most affected by lung cancer. They say recognising symptoms early and seeking medical advice promptly can make a critical difference.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation and other health organisations continue to advocate for a nationally coordinated approach, arguing that lives are being lost while New Zealand waits to catch up with international best practice.

As calls for action grow louder, supporters say the question is no longer whether lung cancer screening works, but how much longer New Zealand can afford to wait before making it available nationwide.

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Workplace health and safety experts are warning proposed changes to New Zealand’s safety laws could make workplaces more dangerous, particularly for workers in small businesses.

Mike Cosman, law reform spokesperson for the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management, says the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill risks creating confusion for employers while weakening protections for workers.

The Bill is the biggest proposed overhaul of New Zealand’s workplace health and safety system since the Health and Safety at Work Act was introduced in 2015. The Government says the changes are aimed at reducing unnecessary compliance costs, improving clarity for businesses and focusing the system on preventing serious harm.

However, NZISM says the proposed changes could add confusion and cost for small businesses rather than making the system easier to understand. Cosman says health and safety professionals work with businesses every day to make workplaces safer, but the Bill in its current form will not help achieve that goal.

A coalition of peak health and safety organisations, including NZISM, the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and HASANZ, has called on Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden and the Education and Workforce Committee to rethink parts of the Bill.

Critics say MPs must listen to the concerns raised by safety experts, worker representatives and industry groups before the legislation moves further through Parliament.

New Zealand already has a poor workplace safety record compared with similar countries. NZISM has previously said 50 to 70 people die each year in workplace accidents, with the rate around double Australia and four times that of the United Kingdom. Hundreds more die from work-related disease.

Cosman is expected to argue that reforms should focus on reducing serious harm, improving enforcement and giving businesses practical support, rather than weakening duties or creating new uncertainty.

The Bill was introduced in February and sent to the Education and Workforce Committee, with submissions closing in March and the committee due to report back in June.

Health and safety advocates say MPs still have time to amend the legislation and prevent changes they believe could increase risks for workers, especially those in small and high-risk workplaces.

#WorkplaceSafety #HealthAndSafety #NZISM #MikeCosman #WorkerSafety #SmallBusinessNZ #WorkSafeNZ #BrookeVanVelden #HealthAndSafetyAtWork #NZPolitics #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews

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Questions are being raised about the future of Māori housing delivery as iwi and Māori organisations take on an increasingly significant role in addressing Aotearoa’s housing challenges.

Ali Hamlin-Paenga, Chief Executive of Te Matapihi, says Māori housing providers continue to play a critical role in delivering housing solutions grounded in kaupapa Māori, whānau wellbeing and long-term community development.

Te Matapihi is the national body representing Māori housing interests and works alongside whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori housing providers to advocate for equitable and sustainable housing outcomes across the country.

The discussion comes amid ongoing concerns about housing affordability, homelessness and access to secure housing for Māori communities, who continue to be disproportionately affected by housing deprivation.

A key issue facing the sector is whether government housing policy is increasingly relying on iwi and Māori organisations to deliver housing solutions that were once seen as primarily the responsibility of the state.

Advocates argue Māori providers are often best placed to understand local needs and deliver culturally appropriate housing developments that strengthen communities. However, concerns remain that responsibility is being transferred without the long-term investment and infrastructure needed to ensure success.

Housing experts say Māori-led housing developments can provide opportunities to build homes that reflect tikanga Māori, strengthen connections to whenua and support intergenerational wellbeing.

At the same time, there are concerns that without sufficient funding, policy certainty and access to land and infrastructure, Māori organisations could be left carrying significant risks while attempting to meet growing demand.

Te Matapihi continues to advocate for stronger partnerships between government agencies and Māori housing providers, with a focus on ensuring decision-making reflects tino rangatiratanga while maintaining accountability for public investment.

The organisation says long-term funding arrangements, streamlined planning processes, infrastructure support and greater flexibility within housing programmes are all necessary to enable Māori housing initiatives to succeed.

As housing pressures continue to affect whānau across Aotearoa, Māori housing leaders are calling for a renewed partnership approach that recognises the expertise, capability and aspirations of iwi and Māori providers while ensuring government remains accountable for delivering housing outcomes.

The conversation comes at a time when housing affordability and homelessness remain among the most pressing social and economic challenges facing New Zealand.

#TeMatapihi #AliHamlinPaenga #MaoriHousing #HousingCrisis #WhanauOra #IwiHousing #Papakainga #KaupapaMaori #TinoRangatiratanga #HousingAffordability #Homelessness #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #HauoraWhanau

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Former Auckland councillor, mayoral candidate and Labour Party Tāmaki Makaurau candidate Kerrin Leoni says addressing homelessness, improving men’s health outcomes and strengthening rural healthcare must remain national priorities as communities across Aotearoa face mounting pressures.

Leoni’s comments come amid growing concern over rising homelessness, with increasing numbers of rangatahi and kaumātua experiencing housing insecurity and severe housing deprivation.

Housing advocates say homelessness is no longer confined to a single demographic, with young people, whānau and older New Zealanders all facing unique challenges in accessing safe, stable and affordable housing.

Leoni says solutions must recognise the different needs of each group, with tailored approaches required for young people transitioning to independence, as well as older people facing isolation, rising living costs and limited housing options.

She is also expected to highlight the importance of stronger partnerships between central government, local councils, iwi, housing providers and community organisations to deliver long-term housing outcomes rather than short-term crisis responses.

The discussion comes as Māori housing providers continue to call for greater investment in kaupapa Māori housing initiatives that allow whānau to remain connected to whenua, whakapapa and community support networks.

As Men’s Health Week is marked across the country, Leoni is also raising concerns about persistent health inequities affecting Māori and Pasifika men.

Health experts continue to report higher rates of preventable illness, chronic disease and late-stage diagnoses among Māori men, contributing to poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancy compared with the wider population.

Leoni says improving access to preventative healthcare, increasing screening participation and investing in culturally responsive health services are key steps towards closing those gaps.

The challenges facing rural healthcare are also expected to feature prominently in the discussion.

Communities in regional and rural areas continue to experience difficulties accessing specialist services, primary healthcare and timely treatment, with workforce shortages placing additional pressure on existing services.

Leoni says attracting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural communities requires a long-term commitment to workforce development, professional support, housing availability and investment in healthcare infrastructure.

Advocates argue that without sustained action on housing, health equity and rural healthcare, existing disparities will continue to widen, particularly for Māori communities already facing significant social and economic barriers.

The issues are expected to remain central to political debate as parties prepare for the 2026 General Election and voters look for practical solutions to some of the country’s most persistent challenges.

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