Rita Ora shares intimate details of her surprise marriage proposal to Taika Waititi
The 34-year-old singer has revealed how she went against convention by getting down on one knee to propose to the Thor: Love and Thunder filmmaker as the pair holidayed in Palm Springs during the summer of 2022.
Ora,
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NZ Herald
30-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Rita Ora shares intimate details of her surprise marriage proposal to Taika Waititi
Rita Ora broke from tradition by proposing to her husband Taika Waititi. The 34-year-old singer has revealed how she went against convention by getting down on one knee to propose to the Thor: Love and Thunder filmmaker as the pair holidayed in Palm Springs during the summer of 2022. Ora,
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- RNZ News
Whānau Ora launches NZ's longest ever ad urging more Māori to join the Māori roll
The ad features artist and activist Tame Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe) reading a list of names. Photo: Supplied / Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency The Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency has launched the longest ad ever made in Aotearoa urging more Māori to sign up to the Māori Electoral Roll. The ad features artist and activist Tame Iti (Ngāi Tūhoe) alone in a cavernous space reading a 'Māori roll call' of New Zealanders who have recently joined the Māori electoral roll for 30 minutes. Whānau Ora said all people whose names have been read or listed throughout the campaign have explicitly given permission for their name to be publicised. The ad campaign will go out through TV, radio and billboards. Iti said young Māori need to get involved in politics to make change. "It's important for our young people to march, but they must join the call now. We need a political voice, parliament has its place. Now is a moment to call to all whanau, to the people from Te Tai Tokerau down to Te Wai Pounamu. The time is now." Iti's call to enroll was being supported on social media by many high profile Māori from Director Taika Waititi, to lawyer Tania Waikato and comedian Joe Daymond. A billboard that is part of the Whānau Ora campaign. Photo: Supplied / Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency The ad marks the 50th anniversary of the Māori Electoral Option, which allowed Māori to choose which roll they joined. The Electoral Amendment Act, passed in 1975, defined Māori as a person of New Zealand Māori descent. It means anyone who is Māori has the option of enrolling to vote on either the Māori or General roll. Before 1975, the electoral roll a person was on was determined by the percentage of Māori blood they were deemed to have. Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency chairperson Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Te Arawa) said they wanted to capture the voice of the politically charged young Māori and give them a genuine seat at the table. Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Te Arawa) says more Māori need to vote. Photo: Merepeka Raukawa Tait "When our people are engaged in the systems that shape their lives, we start to see real change not just politically, but in health, education, and the wellbeing of our whānau. "At the end of the day, this is about M.M.P.; More Māori in Parliament. But that's only going to happen if we can help drive Māori to vote." Tamariki Māori were expected to make up one in three children by the early 2040s, she said. "We must safeguard our rangatahi's future with an electoral roll that centres the political system in te ao Māori. "I believe the Māori roll is our most powerful manifestation of tino-rangatiratanga, or self determination, for people to have their voices heard." Iti said the timing was urgent, but there was a risk if Māori did not get involved. "The Hikoi was an amazing moment from where I came from 50 to 60 years ago, being able to see that personally. The vibration is there, and we need to capture that moment. "We need to believe in ourselves and maintain our mana. We're talking about our mana for the next 20 years, the next 40 years, the next 100 years. We'll be here forever." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
19-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Five classic Kiwi films to get you into the Matariki mood this holiday
Starting with the obvious, this drama film set around the holiday itself follows a chain of events in the South Auckland suburb of Ōtara leading up to Matariki, with the Māori New Year acting as a motif throughout. In the spirit of US-produced epics such as Magnolia and Crash, Michael Bennett's Matariki draws on human emotion and features a diverse cast who all give authentic and honest performances of their realistic (sometimes grim, sometimes darkly comedic) storylines. Multiple languages are used throughout and the script highlights the redeeming power of friendship and the importance of community after a random act of violence. With music by Don McGlashan and cinematography by regular Sir Peter Jackson collaborator Alun Bollinger, this raw display is sure to get people thinking about what Matariki means to them. Whale Rider (2002, dir. Niki Caro) Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider, an adaptation of the Witi Ihimaera novel of the same name. Whānau acceptance and ancestral ties lie at the heart of Niki Caro's groundbreaking adaptation of the Witi Ihimaera novel Whale Rider, which itself was based on the Māori mythological tales of Paikea. As a young girl longs to lead her tribe and make her family proud, she also strives to connect with her cultural heritage and her community's ancestral ties – a poignantly prominent story when thinking about it in the context of Matariki. Paikea Apirana, played by a young Keisha Castle-Hughes, is one of the best Kiwi characters to appear on-screen and stands as an empowering symbol for young wāhine everywhere. Meanwhile, Leon Narbey's beautiful cinematography expertly captures the beauty and ruggedness of Aotearoa's land, sea and sky (which also coincidentally make up some of the stars in the Matariki cluster). We Were Dangerous (2024, dir. Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu) Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu's film We Were Dangerous tells a fictional story about a rebellious trio of girls railing against the system in 1950s New Zealand. Photo / 818 Sometimes, acceptance and a sense of community can be found in the most unlikely of places. The delinquent girls' camp in We Were Dangerous is one of those places. While the main themes of rallying against patriarchy and oppression are significant in this film, it also highlights the importance of embracing diversity and sticking together to overcome challenges. A mix of dry humour and drama, the film is anchored by strong performances from the lead actors and a cracking script by Maddie Dai. Make sure you watch out for a particularly great scene where a long-standing te reo Māori language game is played, because it looks so fun, you might even want to give it a go yourself this Matariki. Boy (2010, dir. Taika Waititi) Taika Waititi's film Boy won the Best Feature award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Quite possibly the funniest Kiwi movie ever made and also the film that showed the world Taika Waititi was a force to be reckoned with, Boy is the perfect Matariki watch because it doesn't shy away from hard truths on family and togetherness. The simple story about a young Māori boy from Gisborne trying to reconnect with his vagabond father struck a chord with audiences across the motu upon its release and has since become a cult classic. Much of the humour is tinged with sadness, and the themes of belonging and new beginnings run deep while still coming across as natural in the story thanks to anchored performances by Waititi and James Rolleston. Complete with a great soundtrack, whip-smart dialogue and a very memorable Michael Jackson dance, Boy is a great example of a film that takes the audience along for the ride and leaves them feeling like part of the family when they are done. The Dead Lands (2014, dir. Toa Fraser) Lawrence Makoare as The Warrior in the New Zealand movie The Dead Lands. While brutal, bloody violence and skull-crushing isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think Matariki, The Dead Lands is still, at its heart, a story about finding your place and following in the footsteps of ancestors. Shot entirely in te reo Māori, it not only depicts New Zealand's history from a tribal warrior's perspective but also dives deep into traditional mythology and explores cultural identity in a way rarely seen on screen. Intense scenes of tribal warfare come across as rather realistic, as do the depictions of traditional Māori culture and tradition. There's even a pivotal scene featuring the lead character, Hongi, looking up at the stars while seeking guidance, something that many people across the motu will be doing this Matariki season. Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald's entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke's Bay Today.
