I admit this still buzzes me out!
The expectations for a Māori woman with five kids are grim, we see this on a daily basis across Aotearoa. And yet here I am, deputy political editor of the biggest newsroom in NZ.
Self centring af 👊 but I work for that, and here we are. Proud.
My 3yo boy tested positive for covid today and I’m a little bit emotional about it and probably just a little bit tired. Māmā and Pāpā and our other four tamariki have tested negative. Guess we all have to climb aboard this rollercoaster soon enough… ♥️
Celebrating 34 years of age today with my entire whānau covid positive and māmā making everyone dress up for a birthday photo because albums are forever and this is a moment!
🥂🎈🎂🎁🎊✨🥂
I called Sir Bill English for an interview on the passing of Sir Wira Gardiner and text him afterward to say thanks.
He replied; “Only interview since I left politics. Worth it for Ta Wira”
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
Nanaia Mahuta delivering the karanga on behalf of the new executive is exactly why she is a great fit as Foreign Affairs Minister. NZ needs that authentic indigenous voice in its global conversations.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
Jacinda Ardern has announced Labour would make Matariki a public holiday in New Zealand if re-elected, introduced by 2022. Matariki celebrates the beginning of the Māori New Year.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
Got my first dose of the good stuff today - the Pfizer vaccine.
I did it for my children and all of our tamariki nationwide under 12 years old who aren’t able to get protected themselves at this time.
Please get vaccinated if you haven’t done so already.
#Covid19NZ
#nzpol
A global sport star gets multiple days of coverage on the news while a global indigenous change maker is lucky to have one. This is why we need the type of transformational change Moana Jackson dedicated his life to. How do we measure what it is we value and by whose standards?
Whakapiki Mouri ceremony taking place at Parliament this morning to bless and cleanse the grounds following the ugly scenes of violence and anger as police moved protestors on from here two weeks ago.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
The saddest part of today was that the tamaiti who witnessed his māmā embroiled in a scuffle with a protestor was the main student giving the Prime Minister a tour of his school. He was impressive and led karakia for their kai. Ka aroha hoki.
Bloody stoked to be entrusted with the role of Chair for the NZ Parliamentary Press Gallery. Helping pave the way for young Māori in all spaces and places - we out here doing it! ❤️
#nzpol
My dad’s siblings often recall how as young boys they were denied haircuts in Pukekohe and when they got home to their Pākehā father he marched them back down and demanded the barber cut his sons’ hair. They also remember racial segregation at the cinema.
#NoMaoriAllowed
Ka nui te pōuri. E te rangatira, e moe.
E rere nei te aroha ki te whānau pani. Devastating news this morning.
Green MP Efeso Collins dies after collapsing at Auckland charity event
Today was my last day at work for a wee while. Off for six months to have baby number six. Content henceforth will be fomo political tweets and cute baby updates - ETA two weeks! 🐣
So, at the end of last year I took the leap from singing to my UE Boom to joining an actual band - tonight is our first gig. Life is for living. Do the damn thing!!! Arggghhhh 😝
TVNZ requested the BSA not even consider a complaint about the use of reo Māori in its news + current affairs programmes as it “gives the issues raised by the complainant an undeserved legitimacy”.
The BSA now won’t ever consider te reo complaints. EVER.
I first joined the Parliamentary Press Gallery in 2012 for Māori TV and pregnant with baby no2 - since then I’ve worked in the gallery for Newshub and 1News - throw in another three babies and it was special to celebrate the Gallery 150th with my partner Anaru a.k.a baby daddy!✨
The Green Party has a rich history, born of activism, on environmental issues many have only just woken up to in the last decade. Spare me the patronising take of why they should be ever so grateful to the centre voter and how dare they even think of agitating for more.
#nzpol
Can I just say the whole “Mana is my mountain, Aroha is my sea, Whānau is my waka” etc does not sit well with me…
I don’t know a mountain by that name? Or a sea? Or a waka? So, why is pepeha being used in this way. Am I going to hear that on the marae? I hope not.
What I enjoy most about this poll is watching people explain it away like it’s no biggie, not surprising mid-term, we’re still so far from an election and there are bigger things going on in the world. All very true, and yet that little voice inside still yelps - “fuck”.
#nzpol
It’s not until you hear the frustration and pain of your colleagues that your heart well and truly breaks. A tough meeting today with devastating news for our TVNZ colleagues. We are a whānau and we all care deeply about the work we do, this hurts.
If you embrace the hope and beauty of Matariki Day but not the pain and difficult conversations of Waitangi Day then you should probably spend tomorrow thinking about why that is…
Mānawatia a
#Matariki
Mānawatia
#TeTiriti
A part of me wonders if it was right to broadcast the scuffle when thinking of the whānau and kura. But another part of me believes people should know some of the kino that is a direct result of protestors’ actions.
One of Moana Jackson’s parting wishes was to have wāhine speak on the marae at his tangihanga, a role usually reserved for men. His people of Ngāti Kahungunu met last night and agreed, with Minister Kiritapu Allan the first to speak earlier today. Change maker to the end.
Nine days of loving our newest wee addition, Onoaio Eve, born December 6th at 7.8pounds.
Her youngest older brother, Turei Heke, sharing his 3rd birthday with his new little sister. An extra special day for evermore! ❤️
A tribute just now in the house to Labour MP
@AAnahila
who lost her mother during Level 4 last year and has just lost her father during lockdown this year. Ka nui te pouri, e rere nei te aroha ki te whānau.
#nzpol
The Human Rights Commission has announced it will no longer consider individual complaints over the use of te reo Māori or the term Pākehā.
In future only a standard response will be provided.
Personally hoping the response will be; “Kāti tō hamuti…” 😜
#tereo
Labour + National have reached bi partisan agreement on the Māori Electoral Option allowing Māori to switch rolls at any time and as often as they like except during the three months before polling day for general and local body elections, and by-elections.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
My partner took all the children to a birthday party while I stayed home and had a two hour bath. I’d like to thank him publicly for this true act of romance. 🛀🥀
Jacinda Ardern was met with protestors in Westport - more than is shown in this picture - one woman repeatedly yelling “you’re killing us bitch” just metres away as the PM walked to her vehicle.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
Like many waking up to the news of Moana Jackson’s passing it is hard to put into words how my heart breaks. E taku rangatira, haere. Takahia atu rā te aratiatia a Tāne kia tauawhitia koe e tō tāua kuia a Hinenuitepō. E tangi ana mō tō iwi Māori kua mahue iho nei, auee te mamae!
Govt has announced $53mill to implement self-test cervical smears.
“Clinical modelling predicts the move to HPV screening will prevent about 400 additional cervical cancers over 17 years and will save around 138 additional lives.” - Dr Ayesha Verrall.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
Speaker Trevor Mallard has told Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi he will not call him in the House while he is not wearing a tie and that he must wear one tomorrow. Waititi replied saying he was wearing “Māori business attire” incl his taonga. Speaker not convinced.
#nzpol
From the Prime Minister’s office:
“The PM is suffering the consequences of having a child that goes to day care and has picked up the seasonal sniffle. She will be working from Premier House today and joining meetings via zoom.”
NO ONE IS IMMUNE ! 🙃
A teacher only day at kura meant my two eldest children were at work with māmā and witnessed history in the making as the first Māori woman was appointed Governor-General. E mihi ana, Dame Cindy Kiro.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
The Green Party wants paid sick leave to increase from five to ten days as part of the response to Covid-19.
“The very real concern of losing the income they rely on stops many people from staying home if they or the kids in their households have cold symptoms.” - Jan Logie
Protesters chase Ardern's vehicle down driveway after school visit and a parent ends up in a scuffle with a protestor who was filming her children.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
@class_maori
This is not an accurate depiction of the interview, nor is it an honest and informative explanation (which I gave the journalist
@MaikiSherman
for 15-20+ minutes on camera and off) of the Bill thus far.
A deal at Ihumātao has been reached - the Crown will purchase the land for $30mill from Fletchers and a governance group established consisting of 3x Ahi Kaa, 2x Crown, and 1x Kiingitanga representative.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
A note for all corporates and govt departments: if you have children taking part in any of your events be it pōwhiri/performance then make sure you have kai on offer for them. As a māmā I can tell you they appreciate it hugely and it feels less like a one-way transaction.
At National’s caucus retreat Christopher Luxon spoke about poverty and wanting to show voters that National cared. I pressed him on what that would look like and he said income tax credits. Today he’s announced National would lift the first 3 tax thresholds by 11.5%.
#nzpol
Would you like a pūkana with that Pfizer? Protecting my whakapapa and yours with a second dose of the vaccine today.
Don’t be bots.
Get your shots.
@ministryofyouth
encouraging rangatahi to get the jab!
#CovidNZ
The Māori Party has called National Leader Todd Muller a “racist” saying it would be “untenable” for it to work with National.
More on
@1NewsNZ
at 6pm.
#nzpol
National Party conference opens with haka pōhiri from a kura followed by the waiata tautoko from the National side of “He hōnore” with the crowd standing to sing. Interesting stuff given the debate around He Puapua and Aotearoa…
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
Takoto mai rā koe e te Kiingi Māori! Okioki atu rā ki tō whāea, ki Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, ki tō pāpā anō hoki, otirā ki ō mātua tūpuna i te pō.
Kiingi Tuheitia dies at 69.
@1NewsNZ
NEW: Labour MP Gaurav Sharma has posted a lengthy statement on his Facebook page incl:
“The main bully was Kieran McAnulty who kept gaslighting me, shouting at me, degrading me in front of caucus members and other attendees at events and telling me that I was a terrible MP.”
The Green Party has this morning announced its annual conference will now be held online due to covid fears, cancelling its in-person two day meeting in Christchurch this weekend.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
“Segregation was an appalling idea last century and it remains an appalling idea in 2021.” - Judith Collins on a Māori Health Authority.
Wonder how she feels about Whānau Ora receiving hundreds of millions, run by independent commissioning agencies, est under a National govt?
If the person tested in Whangārei and confirmed with Covid-19 is not cooperative as the Minister says - therefore putting public health at risk - what options are available to hold that person accountable?
#Breaking
: A person who presented to Middlemore ED today with a non-Covid-19 issue has tested positive for the virus.
This is despite answering all screening questions in the negative, indicating no exposure to covid nor having been at any location of interest.
@1NewsNZ
Wrote this tweet in jest because a flip flop (labour day) deserves some light roasting and clear policy communication is important. Then watched
@NZQandA
today and well…
Proud of the boss tonight -
@MutchJessica
- stellar work on the Minor Party debate, striking the balance between all the moderators to date to be honest. Especially with that bunch! Can’t wait to see her with Ardern and Collins next week.
@1NewsNZ
#YourVote2020
Labour’s Priyanca Radhakrishnan has won Maungakiekie with a 635 majority over National’s Denise Lee.
Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime wins Northland with 163 votes over National’s Matt King.
Labour‘s Emily Henderson wins Whangārei with 431 votes over National’s Shane Reti.
@1NewsNZ
Opinion: Mahuta adds Māori influence to traditionally Pākehā foreign affairs.
Not one, but two op pieces from me this weekend! This on the Foreign Minister’s brown agenda and an assessment of her first year.
@1NewsNZ
#nzpol
Tūhoe people are on high alert with Waimana Valley in self-isolation for at least 48 hours following a confirmed covid case in the Valley.
Door-to-door testing in Matahī Valley is getting underway this afternoon and testing has also been done at the local kura.
@1NewsNZ
Working on my National Party story for
@1NewsNZ
this evening and it’s really sad how many current MPs are gone under these results - a lot of good people. They’re no doubt feeling bruised and sad today. Elections are fun, but they’re also rough.
#nzpol
#YourVote2020
Woke up to both our kōhanga and kura closed for the week due to cases amongst whānau. We picked up rapid antigen tests today, but I knew something was up with our boy as his breathing woke me more than once overnight - it was like croup. Breathing ok today, just lethargic + hot.
I’m lucky my bosses at TVNZ have believed in me so much and that I’m also just pretty good at my job…
But make no mistake, it is a battle, and it would be so easy to work exclusively for Māori. But our efforts as Māori journalists are needed across newsrooms. So, kia ora! 👋
It’s tough being a Māori journalist in a mainstream newsroom. At the very least you must be senior enough to stand your ground when necessary. But even the daily banter can be a struggle. The way Māori talk and interact is so different to Pākehā.
“Māori feel frustrated and disappointed that they were excluded from the room by decision makers in the early stages of the pandemic.
Yet Māori have shown great community and wisdom in the way that they have looked to address the problems they face.”
- Sir Peter Gluckman
Beautiful listening to the new Children’s Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers just now.
@NZQandA
“Colonisations had a huge impact. I also think it s now inter generational. When a culture loses their identity…it’s hard, you don’t know who you are.”