Latest news with #Whangārei
RNZ News
12 hours ago
- Health
- RNZ News
'This is not a recognition I carry alone' - Māori honoured in King's Birthday list
Dr Maxine Ronald is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to breast cancer treatment and research. Photo: SUPPLIED Rugby superstar Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, former Labour Minister Dover Samuels, and waka stalwart Joe Conrad are among the Māori on this years King's Birthday Honours List. Thirty-one Māori received honours this King's Birthday, making up 16 percent of the list. Read the full list of King's Birthday Honours recipients Whangārei-based breast cancer surgeon Dr Maxine Ronald is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to breast cancer treatment and research. Ronald (Te Kapotai ki Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Hine) was feeling totally overwhelmed by the honour. "It's obviously a huge honour but it's also a massive surprise. I don't think anyone who does work like this really expects to be recognised in any way. We just kind of do this because we have a passion or we see a need and we're in the right place at the right time. "I mean honestly I feel a little bit uncomfortable accepting this award as an individual just because of all the people who are also doing the same mahi and who have supported me to be able to do the mahi that I do." She thanked Dr Nina Scott, Hei Ahuru Mowai the National Maori Cancer Leadership Group, Breast Cancer CURE and the Breast Cancer Foundation for supporting her work. Receiving the honour sent a message particularly to wāhine Māori that there were people working hard to improve outcomes for them, she said. "There's no denying that recognition like this helps to connect people which is a really important part of our mahi in breast cancer research and any work that we're doing for breast cancer for Māori, because we need to connect with multiple different groups. There's some people in the community doing amazing things, it's not just hospital specialists and cancer specialists and researchers." Ronald said the part of her work that she is most proud of is connecting with wahine and their whānau through her clinical work as a breast surgeon. "I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to support all women through their breast cancer journey, but for Māori women their often very appreciative that there's someone who might understand where they are coming from and that's really lovely to make that connection." There are more and more Māori surgeons coming through the system and Ronald is hopeful some of them will work in the breast cancer space so she can definitively shed her unenviable title of Aotearoa's only wahine Māori breast cancer surgeon. "You just worry about being... positioned as the 'only' because you really have to question why are you the only there really should have been more a long time ago." Her last message to wāhine Māori was not to be scared about getting screened for breast cancer. It was always scary to get a breast cancer diagnosis, but the earlier it was detected the more treatable it was, she said. Dr Alishia Rangiwhakawaitau Moeahu a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori culture in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours. Photo: Supplied/Alishia Moeahu Dr Alishia Rangiwhakawaitau Moeahu is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work in the Māori cultural space in the Wellington region. Moeahu (Ngāti Awa, Ngā Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Hikaairo, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) spoke to RNZ from Tokyo, where she and husband Kura Moeahu travelled to support Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and the Hutt City Council's relationship with their Japanese sister city Minoh. Although it was a huge surprise, she was humbled to receive the NZOM on behalf of Ngāti Awa and the many iwi she proudly belongs to. "I feel this is not a recognition I carry alone and there are so many people that I pay tribute to, a collective that have contributed to this honour. I think of my whānau, I think of my Kuia that I was raised by in Te Teko." Wellington is often a busy place with many organisations and government departments requiring cultural support and Moehau acknowledged the members of Te Puharikiriki group who support her mahi. Moehau is particularly proud of working with mōrehu (survivors) of abuse in care during the National Apology of the Crown. She coached a group of female mōrehu to learn and perform the karanga at both the dawn ceremony and national apology. "To allow them that safe space to learn the karanga and to stand strong and proud to deliver the karanga at the ceremony... in Parliament. And just providing them with that manaakitanga and building their confidence in that space that was a huge honour for me. "[It was] also quite emotional as well to learn about what these mōrehu have gone through in New Zealand and to be quite honest I was oblivious until we actually got involved. We hear about things when we grow up, but we don't actually know the full impact it has and some of them are our whānau." Last year Moeahu completed her PHD, something she said was a huge challenge while she continued her cultural work. She thanked everyone who had supported her through the process and said she plans to continue working with her husband's iwi Te Āti Awa and with her own of Ngāti Awa. "So my role now is giving back... not only am I enjoying serving but I'm enjoying giving back to the community," she said. Photo: RNZ Pita Tipene is to be a Companion of the King's Service Order for his contribution to his community through governance as a Māori leader for more than 30 years. Tipene (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Te Tārawa) credits the honour to his parents, kaumatua, kuia and wider whānau who, from a young age, taught him that serving his people was both a duty and reward in and of itself. "When I was being raised, our parents always spoke in te reo Māori and so we grew up being bilingual, bicultural, having gone to Motatau school and having a generation of kaumatua and kuia who are very much still part of our hearts and minds today and who handed us values of humility and service to the people before service to one's self." "All of those values that we hold dear to and, and certainly I hold dear to, have been reflected throughout my life and that there is no fulfilment that is more important than serving your own people and doing your best to put your shoulder to the wheel to improve the circumstances of your communities." Tipene grew up on a small dairy farm in Opahi, just south of Moerewa, and is the third youngest of 11 children. He has been the chair of the Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust for 20 years, helping grow and transform the financial assets, chaired Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapū Ngāpuhi for 16 years and has presented to the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi since 2010. Tipene has also deployed his governance expertise in a number of roles overseas like attending international indigenous forums as a Māori leader including APEC in 2023 and 2024 as the international Indigenous Economic Development Forum keynote speaker. He is a member of the National Iwi Chairs Forum and has chaired the Manuka Charitable Trust, which protects Manuka as a taonga in the global market. Tipene credited his strong education at St Stephen's School for opening his eyes to a world outside of Motatau and the North. "Coming from Motatau, you know, you never really went to Auckland or very rarely. So St Stephens was another great part of my life journey that I savour and remember with much fondness... "It gave me, I suppose, a more national and even international outlook on how big the world really was," Tipene said
RNZ News
12 hours ago
- Health
- RNZ News
'This is not a recognition I carry alone' - Māori honoured in King's Birthday lists
Dr Maxine Ronald is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to breast cancer treatment and research. Photo: SUPPLIED Rugby superstar Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, former Labour Minister Dover Samuels, and waka stalwart Joe Conrad are among the Māori on this years King's Birthday Honours List. Thirty-one Māori received honours this King's Birthday, making up 16 percent of the list. Read the full list of King's Birthday Honours recipients Whangārei-based breast cancer surgeon Dr Maxine Ronald is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to breast cancer treatment and research. Ronald (Te Kapotai ki Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Hine) was feeling totally overwhelmed by the honour. "It's obviously a huge honour but it's also a massive surprise. I don't think anyone who does work like this really expects to be recognised in any way. We just kind of do this because we have a passion or we see a need and we're in the right place at the right time. "I mean honestly I feel a little bit uncomfortable accepting this award as an individual just because of all the people who are also doing the same mahi and who have supported me to be able to do the mahi that I do." She thanked Dr Nina Scott, Hei Ahuru Mowai the National Maori Cancer Leadership Group, Breast Cancer CURE and the Breast Cancer Foundation for supporting her work. Receiving the honour sent a message particularly to wāhine Māori that there were people working hard to improve outcomes for them, she said. "There's no denying that recognition like this helps to connect people which is a really important part of our mahi in breast cancer research and any work that we're doing for breast cancer for Māori, because we need to connect with multiple different groups. There's some people in the community doing amazing things, it's not just hospital specialists and cancer specialists and researchers." Ronald said the part of her work that she is most proud of is connecting with wahine and their whānau through her clinical work as a breast surgeon. "I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to support all women through their breast cancer journey, but for Māori women their often very appreciative that there's someone who might understand where they are coming from and that's really lovely to make that connection." There are more and more Māori surgeons coming through the system and Ronald is hopeful some of them will work in the breast cancer space so she can definitively shed her unenviable title of Aotearoa's only wahine Māori breast cancer surgeon. "You just worry about being... positioned as the 'only' because you really have to question why are you the only there really should have been more a long time ago." Her last message to wāhine Māori was not to be scared about getting screened for breast cancer. It was always scary to get a breast cancer diagnosis, but the earlier it was detected the more treatable it was, she said. Dr Alishia Rangiwhakawaitau Moeahu a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori culture in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours. Photo: Supplied/Alishia Moeahu Dr Alishia Rangiwhakawaitau Moeahu is to be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work in the Māori cultural space in the Wellington region. Moeahu (Ngāti Awa, Ngā Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Hikaairo, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) spoke to RNZ from Tokyo, where she and husband Kura Moeahu travelled to support Te Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa and the Hutt City Council's relationship with their Japanese sister city Minoh. Although it was a huge surprise, she was humbled to receive the NZOM on behalf of Ngāti Awa and the many iwi she proudly belongs to. "I feel this is not a recognition I carry alone and there are so many people that I pay tribute to, a collective that have contributed to this honour. I think of my whānau, I think of my Kuia that I was raised by in Te Teko." Wellington is often a busy place with many organisations and government departments requiring cultural support and Moehau acknowledged the members of Te Puharikiriki group who support her mahi. Moehau is particularly proud of working with mōrehu (survivors) of abuse in care during the National Apology of the Crown. She coached a group of female mōrehu to learn and perform the karanga at both the dawn ceremony and national apology. "To allow them that safe space to learn the karanga and to stand strong and proud to deliver the karanga at the ceremony... in Parliament. And just providing them with that manaakitanga and building their confidence in that space that was a huge honour for me. "[It was] also quite emotional as well to learn about what these mōrehu have gone through in New Zealand and to be quite honest I was oblivious until we actually got involved. We hear about things when we grow up, but we don't actually know the full impact it has and some of them are our whānau." Last year Moeahu completed her PHD, something she said was a huge challenge while she continued her cultural work. She thanked everyone who had supported her through the process and said she plans to continue working with her husband's iwi Te Āti Awa and with her own of Ngāti Awa. "So my role now is giving back... not only am I enjoying serving but I'm enjoying giving back to the community," she said. Photo: RNZ Pita Tipene is to be a Companion of the King's Service Order for his contribution to his community through governance as a Māori leader for more than 30 years. Tipene (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Te Tārawa) credits the honour to his parents, kaumatua, kuia and wider whānau who, from a young age, taught him that serving his people was both a duty and reward in and of itself. "When I was being raised, our parents always spoke in te reo Māori and so we grew up being bilingual, bicultural, having gone to Motatau school and having a generation of kaumatua and kuia who are very much still part of our hearts and minds today and who handed us values of humility and service to the people before service to one's self." "All of those values that we hold dear to and, and certainly I hold dear to, have been reflected throughout my life and that there is no fulfilment that is more important than serving your own people and doing your best to put your shoulder to the wheel to improve the circumstances of your communities." Tipene grew up on a small dairy farm in Opahi, just south of Moerewa, and is the third youngest of 11 children. He has been the chair of the Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust for 20 years, helping grow and transform the financial assets, chaired Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapū Ngāpuhi for 16 years and has presented to the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi since 2010. Tipene has also deployed his governance expertise in a number of roles overseas like attending international indigenous forums as a Māori leader including APEC in 2023 and 2024 as the international Indigenous Economic Development Forum keynote speaker. He is a member of the National Iwi Chairs Forum and has chaired the Manuka Charitable Trust, which protects Manuka as a taonga in the global market. Tipene credited his strong education at St Stephen's School for opening his eyes to a world outside of Motatau and the North. "Coming from Motatau, you know, you never really went to Auckland or very rarely. So St Stephens was another great part of my life journey that I savour and remember with much fondness... "It gave me, I suppose, a more national and even international outlook on how big the world really was," Tipene said
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Whangārei man found guilty of 31 charges, including rape and assault
By Shannon Pitman, Open Justice reporter of All of the women gave evidence that the man demanded sex daily. Photo: Supplied/123/RF WARNING: This article discusses sexual assault and may be upsetting to some readers. A man, whose five ex-partners testified he raped, beat and sexually assaulted them, remained steadfast in his denial, despite the judge handing down 31 guilty verdicts. "For your information, I didn't do this," he said, before being told to sit down in the courtroom dock. On Friday, Justice Rebecca Edwards convicted the 43-year-old man on 31 charges, including rape, threats to kill, assault, and sexual violation, after hearing testimony from five women in a recent judge-alone trial in the Whangārei High Court. The offending spanned a 15-year period, during which the victims had been in relationships with the man, which resulted in seven children. Some of the women described being "love-bombed" and drawn into serious relationships within weeks, only for the man, who cannot be named, to become controlling and abusive soon afterwards. They said he demanded sex daily and when they did not agree, they would be worn down to the point of sleep deprivation, until they gave in. One woman described juggling childcare, work and study, while the man slept through the day, only to then endure his relentless sexual demands throughout the night. Another testified that he held her underwater in a bath, until she lost consciousness, while a third recounted the frequent beatings she suffered, particularly to her head. The man was also found guilty of raping two of the women just weeks after they had given birth to his children. In the Crown's closings, Geraldine Kelly laid out the rules of the law around sexual consent. Kelly said true consent had to be freely given. "Reluctant consent is still consent, but not if free will has been removed," she said. "It is not reluctant consent, if she has been left to feel she has no choice - that is submission." Kelly submitted that the defendant overpowered them and, at times, physically restrained some of the women, taking away their will to refuse. "Each and every one of those women has stood strong and consistent throughout, they are telling the truth," Kelly closed. Throughout the trial, defence lawyers Martin Hislop and Connor Taylor alleged the women had banded together in the "ex-wives' club", as they were aggrieved that he moved on in relationships quickly and had no contact with his children. "It was unhappiness about this man spreading his seed and moving on, and not taking responsibility as a father," Hislop alleged. Hislop claimed that at no stage did he have sex with any of the women without their consent. Following the closings, Justice Edwards reserved her decision, to deliver her verdicts on Friday. After finding the man guilty on 31 of the 33 charges he faced, she said the not-guilty verdicts on the two charges had nothing to do with the victim's honesty. Immediately after the verdicts were read out, the man interjected. "Thank you, your honour, but for your information, I didn't do this," he said. "No, take a seat," Justice Edwards warned him. "I didn't do it," he responded. Discussions were held around the interim suppression order in place, with a permanent order to be argued by the man's counsel at his sentencing in August. The women have automatic name suppression. The man was remanded into custody and did not stand for Justice Edwards, as she retired from the courtroom. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Parents could be prosecuted for truancy, but principals say it won't work
"The previous government ceased to pursue prosecutions, I think that was a mistake," David Seymour says. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Parents who repeatedly refuse to send their children to school are more likely to be prosecuted as the government cracks down on truancy, but principals say prosecution is not the solution. A primary school principal in Whangārei had earlier called for exactly this - in 2019 Hora Hora primary's Pat Newman called for more prosecutions for parents who deliberately fail to send their kids to school. But six years on, he had changed his mind. Newman told Morning Report prosecuting parents wouldn't work. "This move, in my view, is about looking tough rather than actually doing something effective about it. Attendance is just a symptom, it's not a cause. "I listened to the Minister this morning and he said it's not about punishing children, but if you are talking about fines of up to $3000 a day, then I can't see how that's not actually punishing children." Hora Hora primary's Pat Newman. Photo: RNZ / Sam Olley When asked why the change of heart, Newman said he called for prosecution in 2019 out of frustration, but had since embarked on a "really successful campaign". "It's about communities and families and looking at how we can get these kids to school. It's about kids not at school because they are shifting because of the house rentals, or shifting because of jobs. "Threatening to fine people, what are we going to do when we go from $300 a day to $3000, do we put them in jail then?" Newman said the government should give schools the truancy budget money and let the them do "something effective". "We are already running two buses at our own cost to get kids to school... to help kids who can't get to school, get to school." If given extra money Newman said he would put on more buses, which was helping attendance at his school. Principal of Kaitaia College Louise Anaru told Morning Report the schools and communities were best placed to make decisions about truancy. "I think it's not a one size fits all. "For our school for instance, what works for our communities and where we get the best engagement is when we all sit around the table together with our parents, whānau, student and we come up a really robust attendance plan together." In the 16 years Anaru had been a principal, she said had not come across a situation where a prosecution was necessary. She said she had also not come across people calling for the prosecution of parents. Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Ministry of Education is proactively contacting schools and truancy officers. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Associate Education Minister David Seymour said the Ministry of Education was proactively contacting schools and truancy officers to ensure parents condoning truancy were referred to the Ministry to be considered for prosecution. The rules were not changing, but the government was ramping up enforcement because schools and truancy officers said it was needed, Seymour said. "There are some parents who just refuse to cooperate, don't care about their kids' futures, and the people working at the coalface have told me it would be helpful if they had another sanction that they could bring into play." They wanted a "coercive power" that would ensure parents took school attendance seriously, Seymour said. No parent had been prosecuted for refusing to ensure their kids attended school for more than five years, he said. "The previous government ceased to pursue prosecutions, I think that was a mistake," he said. "We're making it clear that the Ministry of Education is back in business and will respond to requests from schools to take prosecutions." When a parent is referred to the ministry for condoning truancy, staff would decide whether to prosecute, and it would then be a matter for the courts, he said. Parents faced fines of up to $300 for a first offence and $3000 for a second or subsequent offence. Seymour said 90,000 students were chronically absent. "We are not going to prosecute the parents of 90,000 students. This is an option for people working at the frontline ... if they have someone who is more of a 'won't' than a 'can't'." The ministry would not prosecute parents of students who were "genuinely engaging" with the school, or those who were absent because of chronic illness or health conditions associated with a disability. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- NZ Herald
Whangārei crash victim named as 22-year-old Seth Isiah Dundass
The crash site on Riverside Drive was directly outside the carpark for Whangārei Aquatic Centre. A Whangārei man praised as a 'keen young worker' has been named as the person killed in a crash last Friday. Police said Seth Isiah Dundass, 22, of Onerahi, died when the truck he was driving crashed into a power pole near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Ewing
