Te Māngai Pāho News & Current Affairs – reo-first, tikanga-led and Māori-based

Te Māngai Pāho and the Māori news sector have initiated the move towards a more collaborative and inclusive environment for Māori news and current affairs. After extensive consultation and two funding rounds, the news and current affairs funding decisions for the 2026 calendar year are set to deliver high-quality reo Māori content to the places audiences are consuming it.

“The decisions from the latest News and Current Affairs round represent the future direction of Māori media. Our goal has been to encourage collaboration, highlight regional journalism and ensure the content reaches people where they are,” says Larry Parr, Kaihautū of Te Māngai Pāho.

“We are committed to working alongside all providers to ensure a smooth transition to this new media landscape. While there are still challenges facing the sector, we believe we are better positioned to deliver news and current affairs which prioritises a Māori worldview and quality journalism.”

Te Māngai Pāho has invested just over $11 million towards the growth of the Māori news and current affairs ecosystem for 2025/26.

Funding decisions

Note: All funding decisions are subject to final negotiations between Te Māngai Pāho and the applicant.

National Hub

Te Iho – He Pātaka Kōrero, Māori Television Service for the establishment of the National News Hub, up to $1,500,000.

News / Supplementary Roles

Te Karere, Television New Zealand for TVNZ 1, up to $1,000,000.

3 x Supplementary Roles for ManiaTai Limited, up to $494,620.

Regional News

All Regional News providers will produce on a weekly basis; news stories, articles, audio for radio, and news live events, as negotiated in their funding contracts.

Pūkāea, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Mānuka Tūtahi for Tumeke FM and the National News Hub, up to $1,000,000

Aukaha – Te Tai Pūkōrero, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Incorporated for Tainui Live and the National News Hub, up to $1,000,000.

Taioro, Te Reo Irirangi o Tūranganui-a-Kiwa for Tūranga FM, Taioro Te Pātaka Oro website and the National News Hub, up to $850,000.

Te Kūkupa, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Hiku o Te Ika Incorporated for Te Hiku Media and the National News Hub, up to $850,000.

Te Reo o te Uru, Te Reo Irirangi o Taranaki Charitable Trust for Te Korimako o Taranaki and the National News Hub, up to $600,000.

Tahu News, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for Tahu FM and the National News Hub, up to $600,000.

Current Affairs

Marae 2026, 35 x 29’, Pango Productions Limited for TVNZ, 80% te reo Māori, up to $1,500,000.

Te Ao with Moana, 30 x 26’, Black Pearl Limited for Whakaata Māori, 30% te reo Māori, up to $672,500.

Ruku, 10 x 45’, Te Noni Limited for Iwi Radio, Whakaata Māori and Pasifika TV, 100% te reo Māori, up to $600,000.

Mata Series 4, 4 x 30’ longform digital videos projects, 20 x 26’ long form interviews’ 24 x radio episodes, Aotearoa Media Collective for RNZ, 30% te reo Māori, up to $469,335.