Aukaha News

05/06/2026

Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective has secured Māori horticulture's highest honour, winning the prestigious 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy at a gala dinner in Whangārei last night.

05/06/2026

Mātai Pacifc wins Ahuwhenua Trophy 2026

Māori horticulture powerhouse Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective from Te Puke has been crowned the winner of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy for Excellence in Māori Horticulture. The $130 million kiwifruit enterprise, owned by Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, and Rotomā No.1 Incorporation, secured the top honour at the awards dinner in Whangārei.

The Bay of Plenty’s $130 million Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective has secured Māori horticulture's highest honour, winning the prestigious 2026 Ahuwhenua

05/06/2026

The Greens Party has announced Florence Te Ohaere (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Porou) as its candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat.

Te Ohaere made the announcement this evening on her FB page.

She is no stranger to politics, having worked as the Director of Te Mātāwaka, the Green Party’s Māori and Pasifika caucus. She stated that if elected in the seat she would be committed to ensuring constitutional transformation grounded in He Whakaputanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Matike Mai Aotearoa vision.

Te Ohaere will be running against incumbent, Oriini Kaipara, who has confirmed she will be representing Te Pāti Māori, aswell as Kerrin Leoni for the Labour Party.

05/06/2026

Celebrating excellence in Māori horticulture: Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective, the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy winners. Collectively owned by Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, and Rotomā No.1 Incorporation, the $130M Bay of Plenty enterprise was crowned at tonight's awards dinner in Whangārei for their outstanding commitment to "Oranga Whenua, Oranga Tangata" healthy land, healthy people. Here’s Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka with the official winning announcement. .

05/06/2026

A night of iwi pride at the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy in Whangārei! Watch as Ngāti Whakaue and Te Arawa take to the stage to tautoko their own, with both Otama Marere Trust and Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective standing as finalists for Māori horticulture’s top honour.

05/06/2026

Earlier this year, Aukaha News featured the Otama Marere Trust and Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective, who are both vying for the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy for Excellence in Māori Horticulture tonight.

Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective is owned by Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, and Rotomā No.1 Incorporation, the $130M Bay of Plenty enterprise is a finalist tonight. Here’s the pūrongo as we wish all finalists well for tonight.

05/06/2026

Earlier this year, Aukaha News featured the Otama Marere Trust and Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective, who are both vying for the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy for Excellence in Māori Horticulture tonight.

Otama Marere Trust (Paengaroa):
A whānau-driven operation that transformed whenua from pine forestry into thriving kiwifruit orchards, led by the late pioneer Homman Tapsell. Here’s the pūrongo as we wish all finalists well for tonight.

05/06/2026

Ngāi Te Rangi leaders and Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi are demanding the Government rethink its $198 billion spend next year, with Kapa-Kingi questioning if expanding a northern prison means Budget 2026 is building "houses with bars" instead of providing whānau with necessary shelter. Meanwhile Ngāi Te Rangi say the budget has failed their region and people too as they call for more unity. Here’s Roihana Nuri.

05/06/2026

$198 billion Govt spend next year: Ngāi Te Rangi leaders blast Govt spending priorities and Te Tai Tokerau MP asks if the Govt housing plan is to expand prisons and build more houses with bars.

05/06/2026

Poutini Ngāi Tahu Rūnanga Co-Chairs Francois Tumahai (Ngāti Waewae) and Paul Madgwick (Ngāti Māhaki) say the sentencing of a mother and son who were fined for attempted pounamu export, sends the right message.

“If you break the law and exploit our taonga, you will be caught and prosecuted,” says Francois Tumahai.

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