Stories

Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective wins top Māori agribusiness award: Ahuwhenua Trophy 2026

The Bay of Plenty’s $130 million Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective has secured Māori horticulture’s highest honour, winning the prestigious 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy Award tonight at a gala dinner in Whangārei. The kiwifruit enterprise, collectively owned by Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, and Rotomā No.1 Incorporation, was recognised for its excellence, innovation, and long-term stewardship of the whenua. Speaking after the win, … Read More

Mother, Son fined $5k for attempted pounamu export

Two West Coast Ngāi Tahu hapū say today’s sentencing shows people trying to take pounamu out of the country illegally will be caught. Boyuan Zhang and his mother Xin Li were fined a combined $5000 in the Manukau District Court today for attempting to export 17.9 kilograms of pounamu in July 2024. It’s unlawful to export five kilograms or more … Read More

30 Years Celebration - Pukewa Kohanga Reo & Matariki.

IPCA shock: Failures by multiple police members caused death of 15-year-old Trustis Gear

A critical breakdown in Police communication and decision-making was directly responsible for a fatal pursuit in Rotorua that claimed the life of 15-year-old Trustis Gear on 31 October 2024, a damning investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has concluded. The IPCA’s findings reveal a chain of failures, confirming the teenager died following a high-speed chase that should never … Read More

Strengthening community preparedness, resilience

Two marae-based projects are the latest to benefit from the Government’s Māori Climate Platform, which makes practical investments to strengthen community resilience and emergency preparedness, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The projects cover six marae in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions, with funding coming through Stage 2 of the Māori Climate Platform — taking total funding … Read More

Unlocking papakāinga across New Zealand

The Government is making it easier for owners of Māori land to build homes, with the release of new National Environmental Standards for Papakāinga (NES-P), say RMA Reform Minister Hon Chris Bishop and Māori Development Minister Hon Tama Potaka. “The new national standards will provide consistent rules across the country for all councils, reducing complexity, time and cost for Māori … Read More

Maimai Aroha: Ahorangi Whatarangi Winiata kua riro nei

Kua hinga te tōtara haemata nō roto mai o te rohe o Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, a Whatarangi Winiata. Nō te ahiahi o Wenerei rere atu ai tōna wairua ki ngā ninihi o raurangi,ki te mūnga o te tini, ki tōna rahi, ki tāna makau a Francie Winiata,i a ia i te pūāhurutanga o tōna whānau.  Kua rongonui ia … Read More

Whanau Day Out 2026

Papakura Marae strengthens ties with India through new agreement

Papakura Marae has formalised a new partnership aimed at strengthening ties with India, through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the New Zealand Bharat Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Guests were welcomed onto the South Auckland marae with a formal pōwhiri before the agreement was signed, marking a new relationship between Papakura Marae and Indian business leaders in Aotearoa. The … Read More

Tauranga City Council votes yes to Māori Ward referendum

Tauranga City Council has voted to retain the Te Awanui Māori ward seat, a decisive move that triggers a binding public referendum on its future.  The vote saw strong support for the retention, with eight councillors voting in favour, one against, and one abstaining. This decision mandates a public poll must be held by March 28, 2027.  Mayor Mahé Drysdale … Read More

Tārewa Pounamu eruption: Disaster scare as bore contained

A grouted, private geothermal bore at Tarewa Pounamu Marae on Tarewa Road in Rotorua failed, erupting water, steam, mud, and concrete high into the air, creating a geyser effect. The eruption, which began Tuesday night, prompted a member of the public to alert the Rotorua Lakes Council around 4:30 pm. The site was immediately fenced off. A specialist on site … Read More

Mātai Pacific in the running for coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy as winner is announced this Friday

One of the three trusts vying for Māori horticulture’s highest honour is the Bay of Plenty-based Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective, with the overall winner set to be announced this Friday, June 5th, at the awards dinner in Whangārei. Mātai Pacific is a powerful Māori-owned kiwifruit enterprise and a Bay of Plenty success story, currently valued at more than $130 million.  … Read More