ROTORUA, Thursday 17th September 2026 — Aotearoa's longest-running reo Māori immersion course for adult education is turning 40 this November— and thousands of former students from around Aotearoa and the world are being called home to Rotorua to celebrate.

Award-winning children’s artist, Miss Nicky Says, is helping tamariki across Aotearoa and beyond to learn more about their whakapapa and tūrangawaewae, with the full release of her latest kaupapa, ‘Pepeha’ during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. 

New Zealanders are taking real steps to look after their health, with new research showing more Kiwi adults are now eating five or more servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every day, compared with three years ago.

‍Stan Walker (Tūhoe, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāi Tahu) is inviting kura from across Aotearoa to bring his new waiata, ‘Family Tree’ to life - with two schools set to win the ultimate opportunity to perform live alongside one of the country’s biggest stars. ‍‍ ‍

Musical legends of Aotearoa and the Pacific will unite at Kingston Calling, a vibrant new two-day music and culture festival transforming Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on 19 and 20 February 2027.  

‍ The inaugural three-day cultural festival will be held from Thursday 17 September to Saturday 19 September 2026. Poumatua Festival will bring kapa haka, kōrero, markets and Māori culture into the heart of the city, with events across Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Square and Q Theatre.‍

Tongan artist Folau has released his new single ‘Mamahi Moe Kona,’ written and recorded in a single night following the passing of his grandparents. The song reflects on grief, loneliness and the loss of the people who shape us most, set against a blend of island reggae, R&B and Pacific soul. 

Nearly 20 years ago, island reggae legend George “FIJI” Veikoso wrote two words on a napkin for a 15-year-old Roman De Peralta: “Keep Jamming.”

Roman never forgot them.

On August 14, those words become the heart of Kolohe Kai’s new single “Keep Jamming”, featuring Wavvy, one of Hawaiʻi’s next generation of reggae artists.

Brutha Rodz (Ngāpuhi, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Te Kāhui Maunga) has opened his heart in a recently released deeply personal and emotional waiata titled ‘Mokemoke’.

Since its release, the reggae waiata has begun finding its way into the hearts of listeners across Aotearoa.

‍ Historical collections from the whānau of tohunga raranga, Dame Rangimārie Hetet and Diggeress Te Kanawa, will be showcased alongside a new generation of designers at Te Aho Tapu - The Sacred Thread on 21 August during New Zealand Fashion Week at the Auckland Museum.

Victoria University of Wellington’s International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) is delighted to announce the appointment of Kasi Valu as the Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence for 2026.  

A Yale PhD candidate moved to Whanganui to investigate what nearly a decade of legal personhood has meant for Te Awa o Whanganui and its people.

Stan Walker (Tūhoe, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāi Tahu) will perform his first headline concert in Aotearoa since before COVID this October, a one-night-only orchestral show at The Trusts Arena in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday, 17 October 2026.

Image Credit - Mataara Stokes

A striking new projection artwork celebrating Māori starlore will illuminate the external façade of Te Waihorotiu Station from 8 July as part of Matariki ki te Manawa, Auckland Live's city centre programme within Auckland Council Events' Matariki Festival 2026.

Returning for its longest ever season, Tērā te Auahi will feature 19 performances, giving audiences and summer weekend travellers more opportunities to experience the acclaimed production.

Matariki Festival 2026 is proudly presented by Ngāti Tamaoho, in collaboration with Auckland Council Events. This is the third and final year of Ngāti Tamaoho as iwi manaaki.  ‍‍

The community is warmly invited to a planting day at Bothamley Park next month, along with a number of activities in the city, to celebrate Matariki.‍ ‍

The planting event, from 10am-12.30pm on Saturday 18 July, will put 1800 plants in the ground as part of the ongoing programme to protect Te Awarua o Porirua Harbour.‍ ‍

As Tāmaki Makaurau comes together to celebrate Matariki, Matariki ki te Manawa returns to the city centre with illuminated art, storytelling, augmented reality and live performance inspired by the people, places and cultural narratives of the region.

A te reo Māori expert who lights up the ‘gram with discussions of humour and idioms in te reo will join Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington as their first Professor of te reo Māori in late July.

Cross-genre band ‘Shivers’ are announcing they are ready for the next step in their career with the release of their new single, 'Ready' out today.‍‍ ‍

The trio, with lead vocalist Timmy Porter, multi-instrumentalist Adrian Win (Ngāti Hāua, Ngāruahine, Te Ātiawa), and producer/keyboardist Josh Parata (Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Rarawa), continues to share heartfelt lyrics blended with soulful grooves bound in genre-bending production.‍‍