Te Ao Māori
News and perspectives for and about tangata whenua in Aotearoa
Fiery Rātana rhetoric cools amid frosty Māori-Crown relations
Analysis - Rhetoric at Rātana was cooler this year, compared to the past four years of fiery exchanges.
Government announces $10m for Ringatū marae in Bay of Plenty
The announcement was made at Rātana, with regional development minister Shane Jones saying the funding would boost resilience in the Wainui Marae infrastructure.
Māori willing to work with any party ahead of election, says Kiingitanga's Rahui Papa
Politicians were welcomed to Rātana Pa with a pōwhiri this afternoon.
Global Indigenous ocean leaders to gather at Waitangi for moana protection wānanga
Indigenous leaders from across the Pacific and beyond will gather at Waitangi next month for a 10-day wānanga focused on protecting and restoring the Pacific Ocean, Te Moana Nui a Kiwa.
Political year kicks off as Ratana celebrations begin
Politicians will this morning be travelling Ratana Pa south of Whanganui for the annual celebrations, which traditionally mark the start of the political year. Maori News Reporter Pokere Paewai spoke… Audio
Rātana celebrations get underway
Thousands of followers of the church known as Te Iwi Morehu congregate in the small settlement of Rātana Pā south of Whanganui every year.
Helping rangatahi choose a different path through music
Fast-rising Māori roots reggae artist TAWHAKI says his music is about turning inherited trauma into something positive.
Māori local councillors set direction for the next three years.
Members of Te Maruata met in Wellington in December 2025, with Dinnie Moeahu and Aubrey Ria elected as co-chairs for the next three years.
Erny Belle Live at the Leigh Sawmill Cafe
Ngapuhi singer-songwriter Erny Belle, known for her debut alt-folk/country and Pacific pop-tinged album 'Venus Is Home', preforms live at the Leigh Sawmill Cafe. Audio
Meet the rangatahi Māori breaking ground in both law and fashion
From a town of less than 4000 people, Siadin Ellis is carving out space for rangatahi Māori in places they are still rarely seen.
800 more paddlers compete at Waka Ama Sprint Nationals
There are some 100 waka ama clubs from Kaitaia to Invercargill in Aotearoa, with four or five new clubs getting started in 2025.
'He lived fully. He loved deeply': Tributes for journalist and playwright Aroha Awarau
Awarau's debut play, Luncheon, starring Jennifer Ward-Lealand and directed by Katie Wolfe, won Best Play at the 2014 New Zealand Script Writing Awards.
Maori chefs hope to reconnect people with traditional kai
The E Kai Maori partnership has been running three day wananga at different marae around the country for the last three years to revive practical knowledge of foraging and cooking techniques. Maori… Audio
Waka Ama pays tribute to one of its pillars at 2026 Nationals
Karaitiana Tamatea a longtime supporter of the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karapiro died on Saturday.
Introducing: The Negotiators
For many New Zealanders, Treaty settlements are an aspect of our history that is shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding. Take a closer look at the conversation, through the eyes of seven lead… Audio
'How do the people break through?' - third of Māori land considered landlocked
Landlocked whenua has been identified as one of the biggest challenges to public access in 2025.
The Battle of Ruapekapeka Pa remembered
Up to a thousand people gathered on a Northland hilltop before dawn yesterday to remember the Battle of Ruapekapeka Pa. Reporter Peter de Graaf. Audio
‘The only noise is ourselves’: Inside iwi's two-week Whanganui River journey
A Whanganui iwi leader says reserving stretches of the Whanganui River exclusively for the two-week tribal river journey has transformed the experience for participants.
Popular Auckland hot springs gets name change
As 2025 ticked over into 2026, Parakai Springs became Kaipātiki Hot Springs, the traditional name for the area.
'Shows just how powerful this sport has become': Biggest Waka Ama Nationals in history to begin
A record number of paddlers will take part in one of the biggest sporting events in Aotearoa.
