Aukaha News

10/02/2025

Ngāti Haua singer, Rākai Whauwhau is set to release his debut album, entirely in te reo māori. Coming off the back of his single Tarore, Whauwhau highlights kōrero tuku iho from his iwi that he says has never been showcased in this way before. Te Kawa Paora with this story.

10/02/2025

Rotorua Boys’ High School has confirmed that one of its hostel students passed away this morning.

Tumuaki John Kendal says the school is liaising closely with the whānau and ensuring every possible support is in place for them, its students, teachers and wider school community.

“This is a simply devastating situation for everyone involved, and our thoughts and aroha are with the whānau and their loved ones.

“There is no greater priority right now than supporting them, and looking after our students and team.

“Our support structures are in place, and we will continue to awhi all of our students, team and school community as we navigate this difficult time together.”

Te Arawa

09/02/2025

Following yesterday's fatality at New Dicks beach, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Mākino, Te Paepae Taumata, and Kawa have put in place rāhui from Ōkurei Point to the Little Waihi bar in Maketū.

Emergency services were advised just after 4pm yesterday that an unresponsive male had washed up on the shoreline.

Despite immediate medical attention, he was sadly unable to be revived. The man’s death has been referred to the Coroner.

Te Arawa FM Moana Radio Tauranga

08/02/2025

Director-General of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati has ordered the Rotorua Lakes Council to fluoridate the town's drinking water.

“This decision confirms that local authorities under directions continue to be legally required to fluoridate their water supplies. We continue also to work with these local authorities to support them to comply with their directions,” says Dr Sarfati.

“Water fluoridation is a safe and effective method of preventing tooth decay. New Zealand has high rates of preventable tooth decay, particularly among people living in our most deprived communities. Community water fluoridation benefits everyone and has proportionately larger benefits for people in these communities,” she says.

Rotorua Lakes Council Mayor Tania Tapsell invited the Ministry of Health to explain their directive to fluoridate drinking water. This meeting will be held tomorrow (Monday 10 Febraury 2025) at Council at 1pm. Last week Mayor Tapsell posted more information on her page writing that on 26 March 2025 the Rotorua Lakes Council will meet to make a final decision on whether to follow the new law, or not.

“Providing quality drinking water is a very important job that we have here at Council. I'm proud to say we have some of the best in the country, we've been voted the best tasting, as well as consistently met drinking water standards,” says Mayor Tapsell.

“Many Councils fluoridate their water supply for community health benefits, but previous Rotorua Councils chose not to. Recently that decision making ability was removed from Councils, and Rotorua Lakes Council was one of 14 councils directed by the Director-General of Health to fluoridate our water supplies,” she says.

Te Arawa FM

08/02/2025

E whakamārama ana a Poutama P**i o Ngāti Tuwharetoa i te take ka tū ai te ahurei tuatahi o te iwi e kīa nei Ruia Taitea 2025 i ēnei rangi okioki o te wiki o Waitangi, ki Parākiri i Taupō.

08/02/2025

Due to excessive rainfall entering the wastewater system, the Taupō District Council has decided to release treated wastewater into Waikato Awa tonight.

The council has informed the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board that they estimate discharging 150-200 cubic metres of treated wastewater from the Taupō Wastewater Treatment Plant into the awa between 6pm and 7pm.

“While incidents like this are sometimes unavoidable in extreme weather, we must continue to look for ways to strengthen wastewater management and better safeguard our waterways for the betterment of all communities,” says Rakeipoho Taiaroa, Chief Executive of the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board.

“Taupō Moana and the Waikato Awa are taonga for all New Zealanders, and we all have a role to play in their care,” he says.

In a statement from the Taupō District Council today they explained that typically wastewater is treated through the treatment plant and is then pumped to council’s land disposal sites and used as irrigation. The pumps which transfer treated wastewater to the land disposal system were unable to keep up with the significant increase in volume, which resulted in some of the treated wastewater discharging into the Waikato River.

With high river flows, and the relatively short period of time that the discharge occurred over, it is expected that risks to water quality were short lived, however council staff are continuing to complete further in-river sampling to check water quality results.

Tuwharetoa FM Te Arawa FM

The Trust Board Responds to Wastewater Overflow into Waikato Awa February 8, 2025 MEDIA STATEMENT Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board has been advised by Taupō District Council (TDC) of a wastewater overflow into the Waikato Awa following yesterday’s heavy rainfall. TDC have estimated that between 150...

07/02/2025

The Māori Pasifika Water Polo Competition began today at the Baywave in Tauranga Moana. The water polo festival encourages Māori and Pasifika youth to participate in an Olympic sport. Macie Kuki has this story.

07/02/2025

Te Taura Podcast is a historical reflection on for each Poukai with Mamae Takerei.

06/02/2025

Our reporter Heeni Brown met up with Kristi Bennett from America who took her whānau along to Waitangi to experience the day's festivities and learn more about the Māori culture.

06/02/2025

E kōrero ana a Te Kawa Paora ki a Te Arepa Morehu tētahi o ngā kaihoe waru rau ka rere mā Te Pēwhairangi i tēnei te rā i hainatia ai Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

06/02/2025

Ki Te Arawa i te rā nei e tū ana te kaupapa whakanui i te rā o Waitangi ki Te Puia, i Rotorua. Koinei te wāhi ka kōrero tahi tā mātou karere a Macie Kuki ki a Maringi James o Te Arawa e pā ana ki tana tono i tāpaea e ia ki mua o te aroaro o te kōmiti take ture i tērā wiki e whakahē ana i te pire mō ngā uara o Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

05/02/2025

Ka kōrero tahi tā mātou karere a Heeni Brown ki a Koro Nicholas nō Tauranga Moana e pā ana ki te kāhui o ngā waka ka whakaterea ki runga o Te Pēwhairangi i tēnei te rā o Waitangi.

05/02/2025

Ka kōrero tahi a Te Kawa Paora ki a Ian Marino Tauhinu e pā ana ki te rā o Waitangi i waho atu o Te Tii Marae i te ata nei.

05/02/2025

ki tō mātou pāhotanga mataora mai i Waitangi, te rā i waitohua ai Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Kei reira ā mātou kaikawe kōrero a Te Kawa Paora rāua ko Heeni Brown.

Nā mātou tahi ko Te Ao Māori News ko Tahu News ko Te Reo o Te Uru me ā mātou reo irirangi ā iwi tēnei pāhotanga i ngā waka ka whakatere ki runga o Te Pēwhairangi.

05/02/2025

Te Kawa Paora wraps up all the protest action during the pōwhiri to the politicians at Waitangi.