Showing 1–12 of 55 stories
For Lauren James of Ngāti Whakaue, the opening of Te Whare Oranga Tangata o Whakaue at Rotorua Hospital is more than just a ribbon-cutting; it is a profound reclamation of dignity and healing. As the new $50 million Mental Health Wellbeing and Recovery Unit officially opens its doors, James reflects on the stark transition from a 45-year-old facility that had … Read More
Te Pāti Māori has launched a nationwide campaign grounded in a clear strategic directive: “one plan, two votes.” As candidates fan out across the motu, the party is positioning itself as an unapologetic, independent force, aiming to dismantle systems they argue have failed Māori while mobilising their whānau at the grassroots level. At the heart of the campaign is a … Read More
Greens, MP, Huhana Lyndon is hitting out at the Minister of Health, Simeon Brown following a report into health service vacancies commissioned by the Public Service Association. Māori patients have been left without vital cultural and clinical support as Health New Zealand deliberately restricted recruitment to reduce spending, a new PSA report claims. The report, Vacant by Design, draws on … Read More
Kirikiriroa’s first social supermarket, Te Kāpata Kai o Kirikiriroa, officially opened its doors today, (18 August 2026) at 77 Norton Road. While the facility provides access to affordable groceries, organisers emphasise that the supermarket is designed as a “front door” rather than a destination, aiming to serve as a wider pathway for community support. Operated by the Kaupapa Māori provider … Read More
The Port of Tauranga has cleared a significant hurdle in its bid to expand operations, with an expert panel issuing a draft decision to grant approvals for the massive Stella Passage development project. The announcement, delivered via Minute 14 on August 17, 2026, signals a major advancement for the port’s infrastructure ambitions under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. If finalised, … Read More
Te Pāti Māori’s 2026 campaign strategy centres on securing all seven Māori seats to solidify an independent and transformative Māori voice in Parliament. The party is urging its base to commit their candidate or electorate vote to Te Pāti Māori candidates, emphasising the necessity of local, movement-driven representation. Regarding the party vote, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer expressed trust in the … Read More
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will remain National Party leader after securing the support of his caucus during an urgent meeting at Parliament today. The meeting was called by Luxon as reports of internal dissatisfaction intensified, less than three months before the November 7 general election. National MPs ultimately backed Luxon to continue leading the party and the country, ending — … Read More
Kua whakatakotohia he pūtea kōpaka, neke atu i te $1 miriona, hei whakaora i te taiao o Taranaki. Ko te Minita mō Te Papa Atawhai, a Tama Potaka, kei mua i te aroaro e tohe ana kia kaha ake te mahi tahi ki te manaaki i ēnei taonga tuku iho. “Ko te taiao te take e hoa, whakatoitū nei te … Read More
New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones says his party will campaign on reviewing the role of the Waitangi Tribunal, after it delivered a damning assessment of the Government’s proposed changes to Treaty provisions across New Zealand law. The Tribunal’s 334-page report, Te Tinihanga o ngā Mātāpono, found Cabinet’s February 2026 decision breached the Treaty principles of partnership, active protection … Read More
Te Whatanui Leka Taumalolo Skipwith, widely recognised for his advocacy protecting the ancestral whenua and waterways of Rotokākahi, has been selected as the Green Party candidate for the Ōtāhuhu electorate in the upcoming General Election. Skipwith has whakapapa to Te Arawa, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi, Kāi Tahu, and has Tongan heritage, he has spent … Read More
A $3 million geothermal exploration project will test whether underground heat in Tauranga can help reduce industrial energy costs and support future renewable energy developments. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has announced funding for the Gas to Geoheat – Tauranga Geothermal System Project through the Regional Infrastructure Fund. The project will drill two test wells near the Mount Maunganui industrial … Read More
The air at Hūria Marae in Tauranga was filled with significance today as Ngāti Ranginui hosted the 11 other iwi of Te Moana-a-Toi and Crown representatives to celebrate the formal signing of a long-awaited aquaculture settlement. The landmark agreement marks a historic chapter for the rohe, affirming rights and recognising an enduring relationship with the moana. Oceans and Fisheries Minister … Read More