For Reuben, his learning extended far beyond the classroom and beyond the pages of books, deeply immersed in te ao Māori.

If there’s one thing that stands out about Gordon, it’s his evolution. He has grown into the rangatira he is today—not only through his own transformative life journey but also through his ability to recognise and appreciate growth in the world and people around him, and what that signifies for the future of his craft.

Yet, internally, systemic issues persist—a by-product of colonial structures that remain deeply embedded in societal institutions worldwide.

To hear more from Tina Ngata on this topic and her fascinating perspective on using this period as our Overton window—an opportunity to spark a broad range of discussions — listen to her full Spotify episode available now.

Driven by a powerful purpose to ensure AI is used for the greater good, join us for this insightful kōrero.

Catch this full episode of Indigenous 100 here on Spotify to hear more from Dan Walker. 

From equipping our rangatahi with a deeper understanding of our country’s political context to exploring spaces where wāhine Māori can thrive further in their reclamation journey and much more, Mera’s insights offer a thought-provoking vision for the future. 

Catch the newest full episode of Indigenous 100 now on YouTube or Spotify to hear more from Mera Penehira.

To hear more from Te Ururoa in his full interview, head over now to Spotify or YouTube.

To hear more of Honey’s story, her humor, and her incredible journey on Indigenous 100, head over to YouTube or  listen here on Spotify now to catch the full interview.

Tuku Morgan is a straight shooter – his full podcast and extended interview is now available now via Spotify and YouTube. ????️

In the latest episode of Indigenous 100, the Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro opens up about her journey—sharing personal stories, experiences, hopes, and what keeps her grounded while driving her vision forward.

Dame Cindy’s full episode is now available on YouTube and Spotify, a powerful kōrero about leadership, equity, and humanity. 

She’s not only a champion boxer but also a powerful advocate for Māori women, inspiring others through her journey of overcoming obstacles and pushing boundaries. 

With a relentless spirit, Mea continues to pave the way for the next generation, showing what it means to fight with both heart and purpose.

Descended from Waikato, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngārauru, Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi, Kara-France infuses his fighting spirit with the teachings of his ancestors. A proud Māori who wears his heart on his sleeve, he honours his heritage through te reo Māori and tikanga both in and out of the octagon. 

Having turned to martial arts after facing childhood bullying, Kara-France now champions its values across Aotearoa. Besides his professional fighting career, he coaches the Warriors NRL team, enhancing their wrestling technique for UFC 300. 

Training at CKB City Kickboxing alongside UFC legend Israel Adesanya under coach Andre Baremen, Kara-France embodies comradery and dedication. In a candid podcast with Julian Wilcox on Indigenous 100, he shares insights into life’s challenges, juggling fatherhood, marriage, and fighting while promoting Māori culture. 

Kaiwhare Kara-France’s journey exemplifies the spirit of perseverance, inspiring others to overcome obstacles and embrace their cultural heritage.

A former professional rugby league player and coach, Blair excelled as a prop, second-row forward, and lock in the NRL, representing both the New Zealand and New Zealand Māori international teams.

Starting with his junior football days at Northland Carvers and education at Whangarei Boys’ High School, Blair was recruited by the Melbourne Storm at 16. His journey led him to Brisbane, where he played for the feeder club Norths Devils, alongside Greg Inglis during his time at Wavell State High School.

Having played for the Melbourne Storm, Wests Tigers, Brisbane Broncos, and the New Zealand Warriors, Blair faced various challenges throughout his career. He was part of the New Zealand team that won the 2008 World Cup and showcased his leadership skills as the team’s captain. His contributions to Rugby League were acknowledged with the appointment to the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021. 

Explore the depth of Adam Ngawati Blair’s sporting journey here on Indigenous 100.

Interestingly, Jenny May’s journey to the world of television began when she participated in a singing competition in Waikato, where she was discovered and her talent was recognized. Since then, she has made a name for herself as a prominent television personality, admired for her professionalism, charisma, and engaging on-air presence. 

Despite her busy schedule, Jenny May is a devoted māmā to her whānau and tamariki, and she takes great pride in her role as a mother. Her commitment to her family and her work is truly admirable, and she is a great inspiration to many.

In this episode of Indigenous 100, we sat down with the talented and dedicated woman to learn more about her beginnings as a broadcaster, her time as a sportswoman and more.

Sir Hirini started his career as a teacher and artis, serving as a principal at various schools and later taught anthropology at several international universities before returning to New Zealand in 1977. He established the first Māori studies department in the country. Later in his career, Sir Hirini became a prominent Māori advocate, representing several tribes in negotiations and serving on advisory boards. He has authored several publications on te ao Māori and currently chairs the council of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. 

We had the privilege of talking to this extraordinary Māori leader about his life, achievements, and more.

She received her education at Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga in Huntly and even published a book called Maahina, which delves into the Māori lunar calendar known as maramataka. She was then invited to give a speech on the footsteps of Parliament in celebration of 50 years of the Māori Language Petition and now – she is the youngest politician in Parliament in 170 years for Te Pāti Māori. 

The young Hana Rawhiti acknowledges the movements in Māori history that have paved a way for her – Te Kīngitanga, Kōhanga reo and Te Petihaa Reo Māori and more. With a whakapapa full of Māori who have been pioneers in some of the greatest activism movements in Aotearoa, Hana Rawhit feels inspired and supported in stepping up to the challenge of being in parliament and bringing the young people of her electorate and beyond with her. 

We had the privilege of speaking with this future change maker and wahine Māori who is part of the direction moving forward for young Māori.

This is her story. Indigenous 100 – Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke

From growing up in the small communities of the east coast under the tutelage of his grandparents, to travelling the country for countless kaupapa and sharing the knowledge he has learned over the years with other people who share a passion for his work – he has served as a keeper of knowledge, driven with the purpose of bettering the lives and mentality of his people all across the country. 

In this episode of Indigenous 100, we talk to this master artist about Māori artforms, what it was like growing up in a Māori speaking community, the mental health work he has done over the years and how his experiences have helped shape not only who he is but his craft as well. 

This is his story. Indigenous 100 – Mark Kopua

Annette Sykes is a remarkable figure in New Zealand’s legal and political scene. Her journey began during a political protest in Wellington in the 1980s. Since then, she has fearlessly fought for the rights of Māori interests and indigenous rights for the past 40 years, both in New Zealand and internationally. Annette is known for her exceptional legal skills and unwavering commitment to social justice. 

Despite facing criticism and backlash from both Pakeha and Māori communities, Annette remains steadfast in her pursuit of justice, earning her the respect and admiration of many in the legal and political world.

Recently, we had the privilege of sitting down with Annette to discuss her thoughts on the current constitution and the need for change. She spoke candidly about the challenges of being a Māori woman in a predominantly Pakeha legal system and stressed the importance of having a constitution that reflects the diverse cultural identities of Aotearoa. 

This is her story. Indigenous 100 – Annette Sykes. 

Brought up in places like Kāwhia and Rūātoki, Hoturoa attributes his fluency in te reo Māori and cultural understanding to his upbringing in Māori-speaking environments. He stresses the significance of traditional knowledge, particularly concerning waka, as a representation of mana and a tribute to the abilities and eminence of his forebears. 

His experiences during waka voyages, encompassing both memorable and challenging episodes, have imparted valuable lessons in teamwork, community spirit, and the scientific aptitude of his ancestors. We sat down with him to talk more about this life, his dedication to voyaging and more. 

This is his story. Indigenous 100 – Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr.

Rahui Papa has spent his life dedicated to his people. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in Waikato culture and language, Rahui is highly respected as an expert in his field and for these reasons has served as the orator to the current Māori king: honing the skills he has learned from some of the greatest orators and historians of his people. 

During our conversation, Rahui shared with us his insights into the future of whaikōrero, the oratory art form that involves the skilled use of speech and te reo Māori. He discussed how he sees this ancient practice evolving and adapting to the modern world, and what his hopes are for its continued growth and development. 

As we listened to Rahui speak, it was clear that his passion for whaikōrero and his dedication to preserving its traditions and teachings are unwavering. He is truly a testament to the power of language and the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of his people. 

This is his story. Indigenous 100 – Rahui Papa

As a man who has been at the centre of the Kura Kaupapa movement, he believes that Kura Kaupapa Māori Aho Matua is the way forward for Māori to revitalise themselves. Rawiri learned te reo Māori as young adults so that he could provide a Kura Kaupapa Māori Aho Matua education for his children. 

Over the decades, Rawiri has seen the results of the battles that he and those who fought for Kura Kaupapa and is immensely satisfied and humbled to see former students who are now contributing and giving back to the world. We got a chance to sit and talk with him about why he decided to raise his children immersed in te ao Māori and why he remains committed to Kura Kaupapa after 30 years. 

This is Indigenous 100. Rawiri Wright – Episode 40

Beyond her individual accomplishments, Rena has advocated for Māori representation in the entertainment industry, using her platform to raise awareness of the challenges, and support rangatahi – a testament to her talent, resilience and her unwavering commitment to using her influence for positive impact.

But what were the foundations of Rena’s success? What was going on behind the scenes of the acting career? We got to chat with Rena about her humble beginnings in Moerewa, an almost-medical career, a conviction decades old that still hinders her work opportunities, and her dreams for the future.

This is her story. Indigenous 100 – Rena Owen

Wetini Mitai-Ngatai is a highly respected figure in the world of kapa haka, renowned for his exceptional skills as both an orator and performer. For many years, he has served as both the leader and tutor of the Te Matarae i Ōrehu Kapa Haka , a kapa haka group based in Rotorua, has left an indelible mark on the national cultural landscape and even help take Māori performance to the world. 

Te Matarae i Ōrehu made its debut appearance at the prestigious Te Matatini competition in Rotorua back in 1996. It was a momentous occasion that marked the beginning of a remarkable journey for the team, which went on to become one of the most beloved kapa haka groups in the country. Over the years, the group achieved numerous milestones, including winning several regional and two national titles, and earning a reputation for its outstanding performances that showcased the very best of Maori culture. 

However, several weeks ago, the group was disbanded, much to the disappointment of its fans and supporters. To shed some light on this unexpected turn of events, we had the opportunity to sit down with one of the key tutors of the Te Matarae i Ōrehu group. During our conversation, we discussed the history of the group, the art form of Kapa Haka, and the factors that contributed to its closure.

This is his story. Indigenous 100 – Wetini Mitai-Ngatai

Master carver James Rickard has been part of the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute since he enrolled in the first carving school intake in 1967. Rickard has not only dedicated decades of his life teaching the traditional Māori art form, but he has also been instrumental in creating hundreds of bespoke pieces that now hold pride of place around the world. 

We had the chance to sit down with this master carver to talk about his craft, what it means to be a carver in Aotearoa and around the world and where he sees the future of carving. 

This is his story. Indigenous 100 – James Rickard

Moko Tepania made history as the youngest elected Far North District Council member in 2019 and again in 2022 as the district’s youngest and first Māori mayor. The far north mayor has been recognized as one of the world’s top young leaders by a global organisation advocating for youth in politics. The young mayor is also an educator and is currently finishing a master’s degree in education and his dissertation explores how Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, can be used to benefit learning.

Tepania is among the five winners of the One Young World Politician of the Year Award, which acknowledges exceptional politicians between the ages of 18-35 who positively impact young people; which is one of the driving forces in his pursuit of politics – to bring more young people into the fold. 

We sat down with the young mayor to talk about his aspirations for young people in politics, his district of The Far North, what home means to him and more importantly – all the things he wants to achieve and his plans for the future. 

This is his story. Indigenous 100 – Moko Tepania

Professor Papaarangi Reid has been at the forefront of equitable outcomes for Māori for over 30 years and is known for her years of dedication to addressing equity and furthering hauora Māori in Aotearoa. We had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Prof. Papaarangi about what equity means in the health space, how people misconstrue equity into something else and where Māori can best utilise equity going into the future.

This is her story. Indigenous 100 – Professor Papaarangi Reid

Academy nominated actress Keisha Castle-Hughes was uncertain about her future after her breakthrough role in Whale Rider at the age of 12. Now, almost two decades later, she shares insights about her fascinating life both on and off the screen. 

Her acting career has united New Zealanders, who take pride in watching Paikea, the young girl they all know, take on more significant roles, inspiring future actors and actresses of Aotearoa. Recently, we had the privilege of sitting with Keisha, where she talked about her humble beginnings, identity struggles, having a child at a young age, and the valuable lessons she learned during her time in the industry.

This is her story. Indigenous 100 - Keisha Castle Hughes