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Thursday 6 February 2025
Pokere Paewai
In April 1982 the first kohanga reo was opened at Pukeatua, Wainuiomata, which helped to revitalize Te Reo Maori at a time when it was considered to be endangered. It was one of five kohanga opened that year which would later blossom into hundreds, and one of the movement's founders, Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tawhiwhirangi, died this week aged 95. Some of the dignitaries and iwi leaders left Waitangi to go straight down to pay their respects this week and her name rang out on the paepae here many, many times. She's been lying at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae in Gisborne where Pokere Paewai reports.
Huia Hamon
In the run-up to Waitangi Day the RNZ team invited musicians into our music studio in Tamaki Makaurau to hear their views on our national day and what it means for them. Mihingarangi Forbes spoke to singer-songwriter Huia Hamon.
Erica Stanford
From the kohanga movement sprang a whole new generation of te reo speakers. And it is in those full immersion environments that tamariki excel. A Qualifications Authority report out last October showed tamariki in kura kaupapa are far more likely to get merit and excellence endorsements than those at mainstream schools. Mihingarangi Forbes spoke to the Minister of Education Erica Stanford.
Chris Hipkins
Labour leader Chris Hipkins joined Julian Wilcox and Mihingarangi Forbes at the RNZ tent next to Te Whare Runanga.
Paul Goldsmith
The Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith was part of the Government's contingent at Waitangi.
Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick
Fresh from the dawn service are Green's co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick.
Bryan Cadagon
Bryan Cadagon is the Mayor of Clutha and joins Julian and Mihi for his first celebration at Waitangi.
Anna Coddington
Anna Coddington is an award winning singer-songwriter who is also close to finishing her legal studies.
Tigilau Ness
New Zealand musician Tigilau Ness was one of the lucky ones to have attended Bob Marley's only New Zealand concert at Western Springs in Tamaki Makaurau in 1979.
Riki Tainui
Chair of the Onuku Runanga, Riki Tainui, spoke to Julian Wilcox at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Rei
The young rapper, Rei, has an upcoming album called 'Moisturise and Decolonise'. He came into RNZ's music studio in Tamaki Makaurau with our 'maestro' sound engineer Andre Upston at the helm.
New Zealand Youth Choir
Tess Dalgety-Evans and Takarei Komene discuss their experiences at Waitangi and perform a waiata.
Dame Jenny Shipley
One of Aotearoa's former Prime Ministers wakes up every day to gaze across the bay towards Waitangi. Dame Jenny Shipley, who was Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999, now lives in Kororareka and like many former leaders she mostly observes a respectful silence over speaking out on the political policies of the day. But her opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill has gone public. Julian Wilcox sat down with her at Waitangi and asked her about the state of our nation in 2025.
Moana Tuwhare
One of the more impressive sights this past week at Waitangi has been the launch of fleets of waka paddling out into the bay. Last September Moana Tuwhare was appointed Te Tumu Whakahaere, or general manager, of Te Runanga-a-iwi o Ngapuhi.
Aro
It was six years ago today that the musical duo, Aro, launched their first album Manu. Now husband and wife, Charles and Emily Looker, are part of our list of musicians we invited to play exclusively for RNZ's Waitangi morning show.
Marking Waitangi Day in London
Waitangi Day is being commemorated across the motu today and around the world. Clint Heine is the founder of the popular Kiwis in London Facebook page. It's become something of a one-stop shop for Kiwis (and some Aussies) looking for jobs, flats, events and generally helping each other out with life in London. Clint is also one of three finalists for the UK New Zealander of the Year, an award run by the New Zealand Society in the UK - and set to be announced at the Waitangi Day Charity Ball. He joins Susana Lei'ataua from London.
Clint Heine Photo: Supplied
Lynda Topp joins Susana Lei'ataua
Lynda and Jools aka the Topp Twins are national treasures who have performed around the motu and around the world as an original comedy music. Lynda joined Susana Lei'ataua to reflect on what Waitangi Day means to her.
Dames Jools and Lynda Topp, Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards Photo: Carlo Gomez
Pasifika community leader Pakilau Manase Lua on reflects on Waitangi Day
Tongan leader Pakilau Manase Lua - also a member of the Pacific Leadership Forum in Aotearoa New Zealand - has been at Waitangi for the past two days. He joins Susana Lei'ataua.
Pakilau Manase Lua Photo: Pakilau Manase Lua
Karlo Mila from Waitangi on her new poetry collection
Dr Karlo Mila is an award-winning poet, writer, mother, activist and researcher. Dr Mila's work is widely anthologised both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. Karlo is one of a stellar lineup of poets releasing a collection of poetry and art at Waitangi today. The collection is entitled "Fighting Words for Despairing Times" She joined Susana Lei'ataua. The email address for the poetry collection "Fighting Words For Despairing Times" is fightingwords2025@gmail.com
Karlo Mila Photo: supplied
Preserving the art of Karetao
The art of Karetao, traditional Māori puppetry dates back to the early 19th century. Artist Oriwa Morgan Ward is helping to preserve and share the knowledge of this artform - and is holding Waitangi Day workshops at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum today. Oriwa spoke to Susana Lei'ataua,
Oriwa Morgan Ward aims to encourage the understanding of Māori art, promote Te Reo Māori and support learning through creative activity. Photo: Oriwa Morgan Ward
National Library open doors to view Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is housed at the in the document room He Whakapapa Kōrero, at the National Library in Wellington. Director of Public Engagement, Alison McIntyre joins Susana Lei'ataua to explain how it is preserved, and to outline activities at the library open day.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Waitangi sheet, Sheet 1, on display at He Tohu at The National Library of New Zealand. Photo: Mark Beatty
He Tohu documents room at the National Library of New Zealand. From left to right Women's Suffrage Petition and He Whakaputanga, The Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand,and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Treaty of Waitangi. Photo: Mark Beatty
Around the moutu: Waitangi Day at Okains Bay
Chair of Okains Bay Museum, Helen Brown joins Susana Lei'ataua to talk about Waitangi Day activities in the Banks Peninsula settlement.
Helen Brown is chair of Okains Bay Museum Photo: Supplied/Helen Brown
The famous tug o war is a highlight during Waitangi Day at Okains Bay. Photo: Okains Bay Museum
Around the motu: Waitangi Day in Porirua
A big crowd is expected in Porirua today for the city's popular Waitangi Day event. Based at Te Rauparaha Park, the event features a range of musicians, performers, activities, stalls and kai. Porirua City Mayor Anita Baker joins Susana Lei'ataua to talk about the activities both on and off the water.
Photo: Supplied/Porirua City Council
Auckland Arts Festival celebrates indigenous music
Ataahua Papa joined Auckland Arts Festival as Kaihautū Māori / Director of Māori Programming and Language in August 2020, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge about tikanga Māori along with an impressive background in the arts as a practitioner, performer and more recently, an organiser. She joins Susana Lei'ataua to talk about the new indigenous music series in this year's programme.
Ataahua Papa Photo: Ataahua Papa
