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Despite record numbers of New Zealanders donating plasma, health officials are warning that demand for lifesaving blood and plasma products is growing faster than supply, creating an urgent need for 4,000 new donors over the next 12 months.

As National Blood Donor Week gets underway, New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) Chief Executive Sam Cliffe says the country is facing a significant challenge in maintaining the blood and plasma reserves needed to support hospitals and patients across Aotearoa.

The warning comes at a time when plasma donations have reached their highest levels ever, reflecting growing awareness of the critical role plasma plays in modern healthcare. However, health experts say record donor numbers are still not enough to keep pace with increasing demand.

Plasma, the straw-coloured liquid component of blood, is used to create medicines and treatments for people living with immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders, cancer, trauma injuries and a range of chronic health conditions. Unlike whole blood, plasma can be collected more frequently and is essential in producing therapies relied upon by thousands of patients every year.

According to NZBS, advances in medicine and an ageing population are contributing to rising demand for blood and plasma products. More people are receiving treatments that depend on plasma-derived medicines, while hospitals continue to require reliable supplies for surgeries, emergency care and ongoing treatment programmes.

The growing demand places additional pressure on the health system, which relies entirely on voluntary donors to maintain supplies.

One of the key priorities for NZBS is increasing participation among Māori and Pacific communities.

Health leaders say greater donor diversity is essential, particularly for patients who require closely matched blood types. Māori and Pacific donors can provide rare blood groups that are often difficult to source and may be critical for treating people with complex medical needs.

The issue is particularly important given the higher rates of certain health conditions experienced by Māori and Pacific populations. Increasing participation in blood and plasma donation is seen as a practical way communities can directly contribute to improving health outcomes for whānau across the motu.

NZBS has been working alongside iwi, Pacific organisations and community leaders to raise awareness about donation and encourage more people to become regular donors. Outreach programmes, education initiatives and culturally responsive engagement strategies are being used to break down barriers and build stronger participation.

Despite the importance of blood and plasma donation, only around four percent of eligible New Zealanders currently donate.

Health officials say many people incorrectly assume they are unable to donate or simply have not considered becoming donors. Others cite time constraints, uncertainty about the process or concerns about needles as reasons for not participating.

National Blood Donor Week is designed to challenge those perceptions and highlight the impact every donation can have.

A single donation can help multiple patients, while regular plasma donors contribute to treatments that sustain people living with lifelong medical conditions. Health advocates say many New Zealanders are unaware of just how significant their contribution can be.

The campaign also serves as a reminder that the country’s blood supply relies entirely on community generosity.

Unlike some countries, New Zealand does not pay donors. Every blood and plasma donation is given freely by people choosing to help strangers they will likely never meet.

As demand continues to climb, NZBS says attracting new donors will be essential to ensuring hospitals can continue delivering safe and effective care.

For Māori and Pacific communities in particular, the call is being framed as an opportunity to strengthen collective wellbeing through an act of manaakitanga that can directly save lives.

The message from health officials during National Blood Donor Week is simple: while record donor numbers are encouraging, the need has never been greater.

With 4,000 new donors required over the next year, every new donor has the potential to make a life-changing difference for patients and whānau throughout Aotearoa.

#NationalBloodDonorWeek #GiveBlood #GivePlasma #NZBloodService #MāoriHealth #PacificHealth #WhānauOra #BloodDonation #PlasmaDonation #RadioWaatea #AotearoaHealth

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The Eastern Bay of Plenty is celebrating national success after SunFM and TumekeFM earned top honours at the 2026 New Zealand Radio and Podcast Awards, a recognition that highlights the growing strength of independent broadcasting and te reo Māori media in regional Aotearoa.

Led by Station Manager Jarrod Dodd, the stations’ achievements have been welcomed as a victory not only for the broadcasters themselves but also for the communities that have supported them over many years.

Among the major accolades was Independent Station of the Year for SunFM, a significant achievement in an increasingly competitive media environment dominated by large national networks and digital platforms.

For many in the Eastern Bay, the award is recognition of the unique role SunFM continues to play as a locally focused broadcaster dedicated to telling the stories of its communities.

Unlike larger commercial networks, independent stations often operate with smaller teams and resources, relying heavily on community support and local engagement. Their strength lies in their ability to reflect the issues, voices and aspirations of the regions they serve.

The award reinforces the importance of local journalism and regional storytelling at a time when many communities are experiencing a decline in locally produced news and content.

The success was not limited to SunFM.

TumekeFM also received recognition for its contribution to te reo Māori broadcasting, highlighting the ongoing importance of Māori-language media in strengthening cultural identity, language revitalisation and community connection.

Across Aotearoa, Māori broadcasters continue to play a critical role in ensuring te reo Māori remains visible, accessible and relevant for future generations. Stations such as TumekeFM provide a platform where language, culture, mātauranga and local stories can thrive while connecting with audiences in ways mainstream media often cannot.

The achievement comes at a time when Māori broadcasting is experiencing renewed momentum, with growing audiences seeking content that reflects their language, culture and lived experiences.

Industry observers say the awards demonstrate that Māori-language content is not simply a niche offering but an essential part of New Zealand’s media landscape.

A key part of the wider broadcasting kaupapa is Pūkāea, which provides news, current affairs and storytelling content across the network.

Pūkāea’s role extends beyond traditional news reporting. Through kaupapa Māori journalism, community storytelling and coverage of issues affecting Māori and regional communities, the service contributes to strengthening local voices and ensuring important stories reach audiences throughout the country.

The integration of Pūkāea’s journalism alongside the entertainment, music and community programming of SunFM and TumekeFM has helped create a broadcasting model that combines local relevance with cultural authenticity.

For listeners across the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the awards serve as recognition that regional media continues to matter.

At a time when many media organisations are facing financial pressures, newsroom closures and audience fragmentation, the success of SunFM and TumekeFM demonstrates the enduring value of community-focused broadcasting.

The awards also reinforce the importance of investing in regional and Māori media as part of a healthy democratic and cultural landscape.

For Jarrod Dodd and the teams behind SunFM, TumekeFM and Pūkāea, the national recognition reflects years of commitment to serving their communities, supporting te reo Māori and ensuring local stories remain at the heart of broadcasting.

As the media industry continues to evolve, their success offers a powerful reminder that authentic local voices, community connection and Māori storytelling remain as important as ever.

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The findings have prompted renewed calls for urgent government action, with respected Māori education and social policy advocate Dr Kathie Irwin warning that homelessness is causing long-term harm to thousands of tamariki and rangatahi across the country.

The report paints a troubling picture of children living in overcrowded homes, temporary accommodation, emergency housing, garages, cars, motels and other unstable living situations. Researchers say homelessness extends far beyond rough sleeping and often remains hidden from public view despite its significant impacts on health, education and wellbeing.

Dr Irwin says one of the most striking aspects of the report is the sheer number of young people affected and the long-lasting consequences housing insecurity creates throughout their lives.

Evidence shows children who experience homelessness are more likely to face poorer educational outcomes, increased health problems, social exclusion and long-term economic disadvantage. Housing instability can also have a profound impact on mental health, development and a child’s sense of safety and belonging.

The report highlights a strong relationship between women’s homelessness and the wellbeing of children, reinforcing the reality that when mothers and caregivers struggle to access stable housing, tamariki often experience the consequences alongside them.

Advocates argue this finding should fundamentally reshape how housing policy is designed. Rather than viewing homelessness as an individual issue, they say policies must recognise the interconnected nature of whānau wellbeing and provide support that keeps families together and securely housed.

For Māori communities, the findings are particularly alarming.

Māori children remain significantly overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness and severe housing deprivation. The report points to longstanding structural inequities, including lower rates of home ownership, income disparities, housing affordability pressures and the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

Pacific children are also disproportionately affected, reflecting broader challenges around overcrowding, housing costs and access to affordable accommodation.

Dr Irwin says the findings reinforce the need for responses grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and led by communities themselves. Many Māori housing advocates have long argued that solutions must move beyond short-term emergency accommodation and focus on whānau-centred, kaupapa Māori approaches that strengthen community resilience and self-determination.

Across the country, iwi, hapū and Māori housing providers are already delivering innovative housing initiatives, but sector leaders say greater investment and long-term support are needed to meet growing demand.

The report arrives amid continued pressure on housing affordability and increasing concerns about the availability of social and emergency housing. While governments have invested heavily in housing programmes over recent years, advocates say current efforts have not kept pace with the scale of need.

Researchers argue that the evidence now leaves little room for uncertainty about the extent of the crisis.

Among the recommendations emerging from the report are increased investment in affordable housing, stronger support for whānau experiencing housing stress, better data collection, and targeted initiatives focused on the needs of Māori and Pacific communities.

Many are also calling for a shift towards prevention, identifying families at risk before they enter homelessness rather than relying solely on crisis responses after housing has already been lost.

For Dr Irwin and other housing advocates, the issue is ultimately about ensuring every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, secure and stable environment.

As policymakers prepare for the next election cycle, the report places renewed focus on one of Aotearoa’s most persistent social challenges and raises difficult questions about whether enough is being done to protect the country’s most vulnerable children.

The message from researchers is clear: homelessness is not simply a housing issue. It is a health issue, an education issue, a social justice issue and, for tens of thousands of children, a daily reality.

Until every child has a place to call home, advocates say the work remains unfinished.

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Regional Development Minister Shane Jones remains one of the most influential and controversial voices in New Zealand politics, with recent debates over Māori land use, iwi relationships, infrastructure development and fuel security placing him firmly at the centre of national discussion.

Over the weekend, Jones defended his positions on a range of issues affecting Māori landowners, regional economies and the country’s development ambitions, arguing that current systems are too often preventing economic opportunities from reaching Māori communities and regional New Zealand.

One of Jones’ key concerns is the kiwifruit industry, where he has questioned whether Zespri’s tightly controlled licence allocation system is providing fair access to Māori landowners seeking to enter the lucrative sector.

The minister has argued that many multiply-owned Māori land blocks face significant barriers when attempting to secure licences and establish new kiwifruit orchards. He believes reforms are needed to ensure Māori landowners have greater opportunities to participate in one of New Zealand’s most successful horticultural export industries.

The issue is particularly significant given the growing role of Māori agribusiness in the national economy. Māori entities collectively manage billions of dollars’ worth of agricultural and horticultural assets, with many iwi and trusts increasingly seeking opportunities to diversify their land use and create long-term economic benefits for future generations.

At the same time, Jones continues to attract criticism for his outspoken comments about iwi and Māori organisations.

His recent remarks regarding various iwi have sparked strong reactions from Māori leaders and commentators, with some arguing his language risks damaging relationships between the Crown and Treaty partners. Others, however, view Jones as a politician willing to challenge established interests and raise difficult questions about accountability and economic development.

The debate reflects wider tensions within Māori politics, where differing views continue to emerge around development, resource management and the future direction of Crown-Māori relations.

Jones has also become one of the strongest advocates for accelerating economic development through mining, infrastructure projects and the Government’s fast-track consenting regime.

Supporters argue the fast-track process is necessary to unlock investment, create jobs and reduce regulatory delays that have slowed major projects across the country. Critics, including some iwi and environmental groups, warn the process could weaken environmental protections and limit opportunities for meaningful community consultation.

For Jones, the challenge is balancing economic growth with the interests of local communities and tangata whenua. He maintains that development projects can deliver substantial benefits to regional economies while still recognising the rights and interests of iwi.

The debate has become particularly important in regions where Māori landowners are seeking greater participation in resource development, renewable energy projects and infrastructure investment.

Fuel security has emerged as another major issue for the minister following the Government’s recent support for expanded diesel storage at Marsden Point.

Jones has criticised aspects of WorkSafe’s regulatory framework surrounding fuel storage and handling, arguing that some requirements may unnecessarily complicate efforts to strengthen New Zealand’s energy resilience. The minister says recent global supply disruptions have demonstrated the importance of ensuring adequate fuel reserves and reducing vulnerabilities in the country’s supply chain.

The issue gained prominence following the closure of the Marsden Point refinery and ongoing concerns about New Zealand’s reliance on imported fuels. Government investments in additional diesel storage capacity have been promoted as part of a broader strategy to improve national fuel security.

For many observers, the various debates involving Jones point to a larger question about the future direction of New Zealand’s economy and the role Māori communities will play within it.

Whether discussing Māori land development, infrastructure projects, mining, horticulture or energy security, Jones continues to advocate for what he sees as a more pragmatic and economically focused approach to policy.

With the 2026 election campaign beginning to take shape, issues surrounding Māori economic development, Treaty relationships, regional growth and resource management are expected to remain major political battlegrounds.

As one of the Government’s most prominent ministers, Shane Jones is likely to remain at the centre of those conversations, continuing to provoke both strong support and strong criticism in equal measure.

For now, the debate highlights the complex balancing act facing policymakers as they seek to promote economic growth while navigating Māori aspirations, environmental concerns and the evolving relationship between the Crown and tangata whenua.

#ShaneJones #MāoriLand #Zespri #FastTrack #FuelSecurity #EconomicDevelopment #IwiRelations #RegionalGrowth #Mining #AotearoaPolitics #RadioWaatea

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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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E matapōuri ana te Prostate Cancer Foundation i te kore a te Kāwanatanga i whakaae ki te tuku pūtea mō tētahi hōtaka whakamātau mātai wawe i te mate matepukupuku repe tātea.

E ai ki te rōpū, mā te $6.4 miriona nei pea ka kitea wawe ake te mate, ā, ka ora ake ētahi tāngata.

E ai ki te kaiwhakatairanga i ngā take mate repe tātea, ki a Te Ururoa Flavell, tērā pea ka mate wawe ake ētahi tāne Māori nā te kore e whai wāhi ki te mātai wawe i te mate.

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I te hiku o tērā wiki, i puta i te Kāwanatanga he ture hou hei whakamāmā ake i te hanga papakāinga ki runga i ngā whenua Māori.

Ka whakakotahi ēnei panonitanga i ngā ture puta noa i te motu, ā, e ai ki ngā kōrero, ka āhei ngā whānau ki te hanga kia tekau ngā whare ki runga i ētahi whenua Māori.

E hūrō ana ētahi o ngā rōpū hanga whare Māori i tēnei panonitanga. Heoi anō, e kī ana rātou ehara i te mea mā ngā panonitanga ture anake e nui ake ai ngā whare, me whai tautoko me te pūtea hoki.

E whai ake nei ko ngā whakamārama a te Minita Whakawhanake Māori, a Tama Potaka.

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