Stories by Layla Bailey-McDowell

For Kirsten Crawford, the journey to receiving her moko kauae has been one of identity, connection, and the feeling of "becoming complete."

Over the years, confusion has clouded the understanding of moko. So what is it really about?

The placards seen at the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti conveyed "huge kōrero with immediacy", expert says: "People know the power of the word."

Stolen pounamu ranks as the commodity second most traded for drugs, after cash, according to a hapū.

The sale marks a "momentous moment" for West Coast hapū Ngāti Māhaki.

Former heavyweight boxer and founder of Buttabean Motivation (BBM), Dave Letele, is bringing his kaupapa of hope and transformation to young people in custody.

The collection is intended to reflect Dame Whina's values of kotahitanga, resilience and mana.

The Tasman Region has reaffirmed support for te reo Māori after repeated vandalism of bilingual signs.

Leah Heremia believes it is a crucial step towards cultural representation online.

Riana Te Ngahue's bite-sized breakdowns of complex Māori issues are educating audiences far beyond Aotearoa.

The cast said the inclusion of te reo Māori in such a beloved Disney film was a powerful step towards preserving language and culture.

The haka continues to make headlines around the world, captivating audiences and drawing both passionate supporters and critics.

Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa.

From the mist-covered peaks of Te Rerenga Wairua to the plumes of geothermal steam in Rotorua, here are the key moments to date.

Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti stood united to "protect the integrity of Te Tiriti o Waitangi", calling on the coalition government to "kill the bill."

A Christchurch-based Samoan artist is documenting history through art, capturing the "resilience and strength" of Pacific people.

A young wahine Māori is using the power of her language to inspire rangatahi to chase their dreams and realise that "the world is better with them in it".

Today marks 143 years since the invasion of the once-thriving Taranaki settlement led by Māori rangatira, Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi.

"The problem's not Māori or Pacific or anything like that. The problem's with Pākehā because we're the ones that are in control."

"Pounamu is part of who we are as Poutini Ngāi Tahu", Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae's chair says of the emotional ceremony

In the leadup to Gumboot Friday 2025, mental health advocate Mike King calls on everyone to unite and support a "greater cause": the mental well-being of our rangatahi.

An Auckland-based youth homeless collective is calling on the government to make young people a priority.

Researchers are calling for more kaupapa Māori targeted public health interventions following the study's findings.

"The complaints board ruled three claims in the two-page wrap advertisement were materially misleading," the ASA said.

Spawnbreezie has described his welcome to Aotearoa as a "humbling" experience, as he was gifted a custom korowai.