Aukaha News

06/08/2025

“I’m just lost for words… it’s not me.” Ellen Tamati says she was devastated this morning to find her moko kauae image used without her permission on a billboard organised by Hobson’s Pledge, opposing Māori Wards. She says neither she nor her whānau gave permission for the image to be used, and they fully support Māori Wards, committing to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming referendum.

In a statement, Hobson’s Pledge said: “We are saddened to see that this billboard has caused personal upset. This is never our intention.”

Viewer advisory: This story contains emotionally distressing content. Te Kawa Paora has the full story.

05/08/2025

"I’m just lost for words… it’s not me." An emotional Ellen Tamati says her photo, showing her moko kauae, has appeared this morning on billboards used by Hobson’s Pledge to campaign against the Māori Wards referendum, without her permission. Ellen wants everyone to know that her and her whānau support Māori Wards and will be voting yes in the upcoming referendum. More on this story soon.

If you see any billboards of Ellen Tamati’s face on them, please send photos of them and your location via email to [email protected] or via DM here on our page.

05/08/2025

This morning, Ellen Tamati’s image, featuring her moko kauae has appeared on billboards across the country paid for by Hobson's Pledge encouraging people to vote no in the Māori wards referendum, without her permission.

In response, Ellen and her mokopuna Anahera share their kōrero, live and unedited, confirming that they support Māori wards and want everyone to vote yes in the upcoming referendum. Aukaha News will bring you all the latest.

05/08/2025

At Rotorua Boys’ High School, John Kendal has just stepped into the tumuaki role. He’s proud of what Raukura has achieved under the current NCEA system.

“We’ve exceeded the national pass rates right across Levels 1, 2 and 3. So for us, it worked because we worked hard to show our boys how they could pass.”

Two tumuaki and a kaiako from the Bay of Plenty and Waikato secondary schools and kura who spoke with Aukaha News are reacting with some concern to the government’s NCEA reforms.

05/08/2025

Two tumuaki and a kaiako from Bay of Plenty and Waikato kura are voicing concern over the government’s NCEA reforms. They support change but want clear support and fairness as NCEA Levels 1–3 are replaced. Here’s Te Kawa Paora with the story.

04/08/2025

At Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura Kōkiri, almost every tauira consistently achieves NCEA Levels 1, 2, and 3, a tradition maintained through early and immersive engagement in NCEA mahi starting as early as Year 9. Kaiako Koro Nicholas remains upbeat, confident the kura will still “find a way to get their kids over the line” regardless of the upcoming reforms announced by Education Minister Erica Stanford and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today.

04/08/2025

In response to a $500,000 funding cut, Waikato Women’s Refuge – Te Whakaruruhau staff and supporters are each walking 100,000 steps this July to raise money for their services. So far, more than 3 million steps and $8,000 have been raised to support over 6,000 women, children and families.

04/08/2025

Kua p**a te rārangi ingoa o te Kapa Ōpango mo te whakataetae Rugby Championship ka timata hei ngā wiki e tu mai nei.

03/08/2025

After a $500,000 government funding cut, Te Whakaruruhau Waikato Women’s Refuge launched Steps to Save lives, a 100,000-step challenge uniting staff including pakeke and rangatahi.

02/08/2025

“You had to earn that trust, it was not given to you.” The challenge of reporting on the Raupatu settlement was more than politics, it was navigating whaanau mamae, mistrust, and the pressure to be ‘on the right side’.

01/08/2025

It’s the second and final day of “Te Reo a Tū”, a powerful two-day wānanga in Rotorua focused on the art of mau rākau and the wellbeing of the modern warrior. This kaupapa has brought together Tū Tauā experts, kaihaka, and rangatahi from across the motu to reflect on where we’ve come from, where we stand today, and where we’re heading. Our reporter Te Kawa Paora filed this story. ̄nanga

01/08/2025

Te Reo a Tū uniting hundreds of Tū Tauā experts, kaihaka and rangatahi to strengthen Māori wellbeing through the art of mau rākau for the two-day wānanga that started today in Rotorua. ̄nanga