Feature stories, media statements, speeches and more.
Supplier diversity to increase through new procurement targets for Māori businesses
Māori enterprises are in line for greater opportunities to do business with government agencies under an initiative to spread the benefits of the economic recovery.
Driving future diversity behind the silver screen
A decade ago, she was a breakout child actor from the hit movie ‘Boy’. Now Rickylee Russell-Waipuka is all grown up and making a name for herself behind the camera with support from Te Puni Kōkiri.
A place to heal
When the Aroha Te Rangi Robin whānau moved into papakāinga homes in Kohupātiki they didn’t anticipate all the intangible gifts they’d receive.
“Māori Aotearoa living” – the good life in Waipatu
The second stage of the Aorangi Māori Trust Board papakāinga is among those leading the way in home ownership in Hawke’s Bay.
The origins of the Māori kiwifruit industry
Māori horticulture pioneers, Kihi and Maria Ngatai planted the first kiwifruit vines in the Tauranga region more than forty years ago. The whānau forged the way for Māori involvement in the kiwifruit industry.
Thousands of Māori businesses revealed through research
More than 10,000 Māori businesses have been identified by new research - eight times more than previously reported.
Whānau pride restored in Bridge Pā home
A whānau home that has housed 22 tamariki over two generations has taken on a healthier life following critical repairs inside and out.
Repairs transform Hawke’s Bay home from hazardous to healthy
“The walls are not crying now.” Collaboration between Te Puni Kōkiri, health authorities, builders and community groups is leading to healthier homes, healthier whānau in Hawke’s Bay.
“My family is whole again”
A Hastings woman suffering from a life-threatening respiratory illness was forced to live elsewhere because of the unhealthy condition of her home. She is now back with her whānau in a warm, dry house thanks to the Te Puni Kōkiri-led Housing Repairs Programme.
The pull of home accelerates papakāinga construction in Waiōhiki
The construction of papakāinga housing in Waiōhiki, Hawke’s Bay, is drawing whānau home to live on their ancestral land. A new generation is bringing skills back to the rural community and becoming kaitiaki of their whenua.
Ancient innovation sets path for Māori business growth
“We're navigating the world of software and tech, as our ancestors navigated Te Moana Nui a Kiwa,” says Jesse Armstrong, Chief Executive of Wellington-based tech company, VAKA.
Harnessing the power of community for small Māori businesses
“As a small business it’s cool knowing we can help Māori grow in the digital tech industry,” says the founder of a Wellington digital design agency. “The Te Puni Kōkiri Cadetship is a massive opportunity. It means so much to us all.”
Wāhine Māori frame up for business boom
“Expanding our business means we can hit our goals to help our people in prisons - youth and rangatahi - much sooner,” says Taaniko Nordstrom, co-founder of vintage cultural portraiture photography business, Soldiers Rd Portraits.
Wāhine Māori businesses build digital footprint to survive and thrive
Māori women in business are getting a helping hand to grow their online presence so they can strengthen their business resilience through the pandemic uncertainty.
Koeke supporting each other ā hinengaro, ā wairua, ā tīnana
Taking up the ukulele for the first time, getting tips on using mobile devices and making new friends are just a few of the benefits of a programme for Rotorua koeke run by Tā Taipakeke Trust.
New whenua development calls people home
On a brilliant sky-blue day, whānau gathered on their ancestral land near Te Araroa on the East Cape to plant more than 1300 lime trees.
Urban papakāinga built on foundation of manaakitanga
Fifty years ago, a Ngā Puhi hapū established a place of their own in the big smoke. Now the hapū is building homes for a new generation of whānau.
Opening new doors for Māori storytellers through Cadetships
When Taika Waititi took home an Oscar at this year's Academy Awards, indigenous storytellers came under the global spotlight. The owner of a Māori creative agency wants to sustain that focus, by supporting other 'creative natives' to tell their stories to the world. He has found a way to do that through the Te Puni Kōkiri Cadetships programme.
Maara kai to keep kōeke nourished and safe
Unable to do regular grocery shopping during COVID-19 restrictions, many of the 150 kōeke, who make up over half of all the residents in Ōhinemutu village (in the heart of Rotorua) struggled to access and afford fresh fruit and vegetables.
Māori Wardens continue whānau support in Tāmaki COVID-19 response
Māori Wardens across the motu are actively being sought after and recognised for services to their communities. No more so, than in Tāmaki during the resurgence of COVID-19.
Kaimahi provided tools to grow Māori leadership
Māori kaimahi at a civil infrastructure company are trading in their hard-hats and high-vis gears once a month, for book-work and presentations as they embark on a cadetships programme designed to grow their leadership potential.
Papakāinga adopts COVID Tracer QR code
Concern for whānau health and safety has prompted a Hastings papakāinga to get their own NZ COVID Tracer QR code.
Intern programme cultivating strong Māori leaders
Inspired by a legacy left by her parents, Maia (Maizy) Te Koha (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Tamaterā) is embarking on her own journey in the Public Sector as a Policy Advisor at Te Puni Kōkiri.
Critical incident training for Māori wardens from across the motu
21 Māori wardens from across Aotearoa gathered on the first weekend of August at the Fire and Emergency NZ National Training Centre in Rotorua for the Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS4) training. CIMS is a framework for managing incidents of any scale across multiple agencies and organisations.
How Ōtautahi Māori Wardens awhi communities in and out of COVID
One of the biggest struggles for Māori Wardens working through lockdown in Christchurch East, was being unable to give whānau what they desperately wanted - the simple power of a hug.
New app aims to revolutionise seasonal work
Māori tech business Jobloads pivoted its original business during lockdown and has just developed a digital solution that connects pre-verified workers with horticulture industry jobs.
‘No whānau go hungry’ mandate driving new South Island service
A new Māori organisation called Te Pātaka Inc is being established to continue providing kai and firewood to assist whānau experiencing hardship from COVID-19 in Te Tau Ihu (top of the South Island).
COVID-19 accelerates training and processes for Māori wardens
Wharekāhika is a small coastal township between Potaka and Te Araroa along State Highway 35 on the East Coast. Like many other rural communities around Aotearoa during lockdown, the Wharekāhika community were determined to protect their whānau, especially the vulnerable like kaumātua and pēpi, from the coronavirus by setting up checkpoints to stop the spread of the virus into their township.
Budding Ngāti Toa entrepreneurs get ‘world class’ training
One Māori business is being mentored by two global investors and another is developing a prototype to patent after a successful Ngāti Toa entrepreneurs wānanga that left 25 iwi attendees buzzing.
Resilient rangatahi move inspiration online
Kauwhau Whakaohooho is an interpretation of inspirational Ted Talks and is a four-part webinar series created by Te Waiora, a rōpū Māori at the University of Waikato. The online series is designed by rangatahi for rangatahi, to bring them together in a safe online space to have online conversations with the hope to inspire and act.
Building lives through Māori cadetships
Building business owner, Jarrod Tua (Ngā Puhi), didn’t waste time when he had to down tools during the COVID-19 lockdown. He swapped his hammer for a computer and successfully applied for Te Puni Kōkiri funding to support four new cadets.
Te Arawa Level 2 marae packs ready to go
When New Zealand moved to Alert Level 2, Te Arawa were quick off the mark to prepare their marae for the loosening of restrictions – while keeping everyone safe.
Online Māori mall for Te Tai Hauāuru goes live
Hokohoko, a new online Māori mall has been launched to provide hundreds of Māori businesses across Te Tai Hauāuru the opportunity to sell their products and services on the one-stop-shop website.
Rangatahi helps kaumātua bridge digital divide
On the northern side of the Otago Peninsula, near Ōtākou Marae lives Tia Taiaroa, a recent university graduate who has been supporting kaumātua to take their first steps into the digital world during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delivering for whānau Māori despite dialysis
Helping your people through an emergency takes a combined effort, especially as you come out of the immediate response and into the long-haul of recovery.
Taiohi realities in Te Tai Tokerau during COVID-19
While some taiohi Māori in Te Tai Tokerau embraced the COVID-19 lockdown as a time to just breath and take a break from the ‘rat race’, many other taiohi were in struggle mode.
Mā tōu rou, mā taku rourou ka ora te iwi
With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.
Kua hora te wairua mākohakoha ki Papakura
A spirit of generosity spreads across Papakura.
Ngāti Kahungunu builds on initial response to COVID-19
The coronavirus which is causing havoc around the world has brought out some amazing examples of co-operation, not least of all here in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.
Living in Papakāinga benefits whānau during COVID-19
After the experience of the last few months, Hinewai Ormsby is more convinced than ever of the holistic benefits to Māori of living on their whenua and being closely connected to whānau
Being whānau in a changing world
When the Turner whānau (Waikato, Ngāti Aamaru) moved into their papakāinga in 2017 they didn’t imagine it would become their sanctuary and lifeline during a pandemic.
Continued vigilance to keep kaumātua safe as alert levels drop
Hamilton’s Rauawawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust (Rauawaawa) will continue their new ‘Covid world’ way of supporting kaumatua until Alert Level 1 because of how vulnerable elderly are to the virus and some are anxious about leaving their bubble too early.
As long as people keeping ringing us up, we’ll keep on going
These are the words of Teone Te Rangi (Rongomaiwahine) who has been working with his team of 12 from the Flaxmere Māori Wardens over the past six weeks to assist their region respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ahuriri Māori Wardens providing support to their region
As part of a collaborative effort between Te Kupenga Hauora (NGO), Te Tai Whenua o Whanganui o Rotu, Takitumu Seafoods, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Ltd the Ahuriri Māori Wardens have been out in the community supporting local whānau in the region.
Tairāwhiti Māori Wardens support during Covid-19 pandemic
Like most Māori Wardens across the motu, Tairāwhiti mobilised together to see what support they could provide during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Helping kaumātua in need
Māori Wardens are often associated with manaaki and have been a strong presence amongst our communities right across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Moving forward together
Te Kahu o Taonui, Te Tai Tokerau Iwi Collective, has played a vital role in supporting local whānau and communities during the COVID-19 crisis. Its ongoing influence will be critical as Northland enters the recovery phase.
Whānau and rangatahi in Ōtautahi show their strength
From helping a whānau to plan their mother’s tangi, to advocating for a solo Dad raising his teens, Te Ora Hou kaimahi are doing whatever it takes to make sure rangatahi and their whānau emerge from the COVID-19 crisis safe, well and supported.
Piritahi Tātou – coming together for Waiheke Island whānau
When ten Waiheke Island residents suddenly found themselves homeless as Level 4 lockdown closed in, marae-based Piritahi Hau Ora was immediately by their sides.
Lifting the morale of Waikato rangatahi Māori in uncertain times
Waikato rangatahi group Koroī wanted to support other young Māori through the isolation of COVID-19 so they put some of their own humble budget towards local initiatives.
Lifeline provided to homeless and struggling whānau in lockdown
Homelessness, affording newborn baby supplies or struggling to pay for power are some of the issues keeping Ngāti Kahungunu Whānau Services flat out supporting Wellington’s most vulnerable during COVID-19.
Time, team and tenderness in Tāmaki Makaurau
As Aotearoa ground to a halt in week one of lockdown, three Ngāpuhi women in Auckland were firing on all cylinders – co-ordinating kai packs, training volunteers, massaging networks and making phone call after phone call.
The power of orange
You get the impression that Sheridan Waitai would do whatever it takes to protect her Muriwhenua Tika whānau from getting infected with Covid-19.
Overcoming COVID-19 barriers to get food to Mōtītī Island hapū
When New Zealand went into COVID-19 shutdown the people living on Mōtītī Island, 10km’s off the Tauranga coast, were cut off from food and generator fuel supply.
Reaching whānau on air and on the ground during the pandemic
Atiawa Toa FM staff never doubted their radio station should stay on-air to support their communities through COVID-19 when the nation went into lockdown.
Supporting the stay at home kaupapa: kaitiaki for te pakeke
Working with iwi and Turanga Health, Pania King, Principal Advisor Whenua Māori, was on the road last week delivering kai and hygiene packs to more than 75 kaumatua and whānau in need of assistance in the Motu-Matawai rohe in Gisborne.
Koha Kai Community Meals - Murihiku
“When this all started we were just excited to be doing something ‘cool’ and positive to help” says Founder of Koha Kai, Janice Lee, “but as the week went on, the work and the people, brought a sobering realisation.
Taking stock of the risks – how a whānau is managing self-isolation in its Papakāinga
Hinewai Ormsby and her whānau started planning for the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown well before it was announced. As a Hawkes Bay regional councillor Hinewai was familiar with the vital role of the council in managing civil defence emergencies like the pandemic.
The beating heart of Te Arawa shows a model of collaboration
“Whānau aroha” has been the driver behind Te Arawa Covid-19 response hub according to head of Planning and Operations, Karen Vercoe.
Te Pūtake o te Riri Funding
An update on Te Pūtake o te Riri Funding and its response to COVID-19.
Waikato whānau offers tips to other whānau during lockdown
The Ngāruawāhia based Turner whānau mum, Tilly and daughter, Rangitāmoana offer a few sage words of advice to whānau who may experience what they are during the mandatory lockdown period.
Collaboration arrangement for indigenous prosperity
Minister for Māori Development and Associate Minister for Trade and Export Growth Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP signed a collaboration arrangement to deepen the trans-Tasman working relationship on indigenous issues.
Tāmaki Māori Wardens providing relief
Prolonged dry weather in the Auckland region is putting pressure on water supplies for rural residents, in response to this need the Auckland City Council have set-up water relief centres across the rural districts.
Hīkoi of Hope
In the heat of summer well over 100 Ngāti Kahungunu rangatahi and whānau strapped up their boots to take part in a Hikoi of Hope starting at Heretaunga (Hastings) and finishing in Ōtepoti (Dunedin).
Prime Minister meets with Māori Wardens
The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern along with other ministerial colleagues met with the Māori Wardens a day before Waitangi at their annual hui.
Rotorua Māori Wardens Community Trust share why they do the job
Everyone's got an uncle and aunty in the Rotorua Māori Wardens - whether you're a backpacker in town, a businessman, or before the courts. While they may fulfil the role of the police and security, they are one of the most selfless community organisations across the motu doing it for "Aroha ki te tangata - For the love of the people".
A tradition of responsibility
Māori Wardens have supported whānau at a grassroots level since the late 1800s. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters calls them "a huge asset to New Zealand's social cohesion".
Housing: New transitional whare helps ease shortage on Wharekauri/ Rēkohu
It’s a clear, crisp morning on the island of Wharekauri/ Rēkohu as dozens of locals slowly inch their way toward the front of the property.