Following the ceremony held on 13 December 2023, Pūkaki Māori Marae Committee, in collaboration with Te Ākitai Waiohua and Auckland Council, is delighted to announce the successful signing of a refreshed co-management agreement for Pūkaki Tapu o Poutūkeka – the iconic Pūkaki crater situated in Māngere.

Get ready for an immersive experience like no other on the West Coast, as the Pounamu Pathway opens its doors to the public in December 2023. The opening of the Pounamu Pathway – a world-class cultural experience that transcends boundaries – sets the stage for a dynamic economic boost for the West Coast.

In the heart of Te Tai o Poutini (the West Coast), a vision was sparked by Ngāti Waewae Chair, Francois Tumahai, to create a world-class cultural experience offering a window into the vibrant and resilient Poutini Ngāi Tahu culture. This vision gave rise to the Pounamu Pathway, creating a partnership between Poutini Ngāi Tahu and globally renowned Wētā Workshop.

Ōwhata Kohanga Rākau is this week celebrating a major milestone with its housing plans, securing resource consent to start civil works for roading, water and utilities.

Award-winning kaituhituhi Shelley Burne-Field (Sāmoa, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Rārua, Pākehā) has been appointed as the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) and Creative New Zealand Emerging Māori Writer in Residence for 2024.

Waka hourua will head to Kaiteretere harbour in April next year as part of a festival to protect the continued legacy of kaupapa waka in Aotearoa and reconnect local iwi with waka hourua. Te Hau Kōmaru Festival not only ensures the safekeeping of taonga (treasure) and mātauranga (knowledge) such as waka but will share and celebrate the history of Polynesian navigators and voyagers by showcasing different waka types and the mātauranga that accompanies them.

Jordyn with a Why, MOHI and choicevaughan release their latest single ‘Set...Go’.

This soulful summer track began in between sessions during a 2022 APRA Songhubs week. The overflow of creative energy, whakawhanaungatanga and good vibes formed the perfect storm for the writing of ‘Set...Go.’. Sonically equal parts sweet, soul and steeze, this track talks to taking the jump into love, finally ready, feeling set, all you gotta do is...go.

Descendants of the Poutini Ngāi Tahu Warrior Chief, Tūhuru, have travelled to Wētā Workshop in Wellington to bless the first-ever hyper-realistic representation of their ancestor, as part of the eagerly awaited tourism experience, the Pounamu Pathway.

The Pounamu Pathway will consist of four interconnected experience centres — Māwhera (Greymouth), Awarua (Haast), Kawatiri (Westport) and Hokitika — each serving as a gateway to captivating and emotive visitor experiences.

Māori Education Provider, TupuOra, has announced the launch of tutoring programme, Tuku Marumaru for years 7 to 13 at Kura Kaupapa or Wharekura. Expressions of interest are now being accepted for kaiako, kura and ākonga seeking support or extension through specialised te reo Māori-based tutoring to upskill in numeracy and literacy.

The final lineup for M9, the ground-breaking Māori oratory and performance event, has been announced. Awhina-Rose Ashby (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine), Edmund Eramiha (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tawake Ki Te Wāo Kū, Ngāti Hine), and Julian Arahanga (Ngāti Rangi, Te Āti Haunui-ā-Pāpārangi) will appear at Kiri Te Kawana Theatre on 16 November 2023 for the final instalment of the year - He Mataaho ki Te Ao Whakaari - Whānau, Feeds and Fame.

Porirua City Council signed off its new Māori and Pacific strategies this morning, in an emotive meeting full of tears, applause and song.

At its regular Te Puna Kōrero meeting, councillors and Porirua Mayor Anita Baker adopted "Ola Kamataga - Beginning of Life 2024-2027: Pacific Strategy for Porirua City", along with the Māori Strategic Plan, called "Maungaroa 2050". The two were developed together and will be in place in time to align with Council’s Long-term Plan, which is developed next year.

M9 is returning with its third and final 2023 instalment - He Mataaho ki Te Ao Whakaari - Whānau, Feeds and Fame - a spotlight on nine of our finest Māori acting talents.

This instalment of M9 will see each kiripuaki (actor) share their upbringing and unique journey to success at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau on November 16th.

Te Onekura, a free online educational series, has been released to support ākonga at all levels of their reo journey. Translated as "The School in the Sand," Te Onekura is an innovative resource that combines the ancient wisdom of oneone (sand) art with intergenerational storytelling to build reo confidence.

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of "Coffee Spot," the latest bilingual waiata by the talented Māori neosoul, pop funk artist, MOHI, hailing from the vibrant city of Tāmaki Makaurau. "Coffee Spot" is set to drop on Friday, September 29th, 2023, and promises to be a musical masterpiece that effortlessly blends Te Reo Māori and English within the neosoul and funk genres.

Before the existence of highways and cars, an ancient pathway connected the West Coast of the South Island, made by pounamu traders and warriors moving up and down the coastline. This was a place of legends and historic battles, and it’s being brought back to life through the ancient stories of Poutini Ngāi Tahu and Wētā Workshop’s cutting-edge technology.

Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off next Monday, 18 September with a focus on the Five Ways to Wellbeing, a set of simple actions that are proven to improve our mental health. The week’s ‘Five Ways, Five Days’ theme asks New Zealanders to Take Notice, Give, Be Active, Connect and Keep Learning.  

The annual Tāmaki Makaurau inter iwi waiora festival, Iwi of Origin, is back and stronger than ever. Taking place on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October at Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini, organisers of the two day festival of sports, reo, culture and more are encouraging te iwi Māori living in the Tāmaki area to get active as a whānau and join in the festivities of this year's event.

Thousands of guests are expected to attend the 17th annual koroneihana celebrations at Tūrangawaewae Marae this weekend, in honour of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.

Kiingitanga Chief of Staff Ngira Simmonds says this year’s koroneihana will be free from the covid restrictions that impacted recent events.

“We are expecting thousands of attendees from across the motu who are excited to reconnect kanohi ki te kanohi and reflect on the year that’s been.

Wellington 17th August 2023:  Today marked a significant milestone towards reconciliation and justice of what the Waitangi Tribunal has found to be “among the worst Treaty breaches in this country’s history”. The Treaty Settlement Bill for Te Whakatōhea received its inaugural reading in the halls of Parliament today.

Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa in partnership with Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga is helping more Māori students qualify as nurses and enter the healthcare workforce. Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga offer the Whitireia Bachelor of Nursing Māori programme which will continue to run from January to December. The additional delivery described above is offered in partnership with Te Āti Awa and will run from July to June. 

Māori Soul and R&B artist, Jackson Owens, is once again making waves in the Aotearoa music industry with the release of his latest single, 'Now Forever’.

Fresh off the heels of his AMA nomination and highly successful debut EP, 'For The Better,' Jackson (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) is excited to introduce this soulful, heartfelt anthem – the first track from a new upcoming EP.