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December 26, 2025
Inspiring Māori Voices and Achievements of 2025
Waatea Team
Posted On December 26, 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, Māori across Aotearoa have continued to shine – bringing te ao Māori to the world stage, nurturing mātauranga reo and culture at home, and breaking new ground in arts, sport, economics and education. These inspirational leaders and rangatahi remind us of the mana, innovation and resilience of Māori communities.
Champions of Culture and Language
This year saw continued celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori’s 50th anniversary – a milestone that brought attention to the importance of te reo, identity and mātauranga Māori in every classroom and community. Rangatahi took the stage in kōrero at Ngā Manu Kōrero, tackling big issues with courage and pride in their voices – a powerful expression of Māori thought and creativity.
Among those inspiring us was Sir Timoti Kāretu, the first Māori Language Commissioner, who expressed his admiration for the younger generation’s passion for te reo – a powerful reminder that te reo Māori continues to be nurtured by new learners and speakers across generations.
Creative expression also flourished with the moko kanohi resurgence showcased at Te Papa, as artists and practitioners such as Fernleigh Rangihaeata and Tā Moko experts shared deep whakapapa narratives that reconnect our people with identity and ancestors.
Honouring Our Ancestors and History
2025 brought the long‑awaited posthumous awarding of a degree to the pioneering Māori scholar Mākereti Papakura – believed to be the first Māori woman to study at the University of Oxford, finally receiving recognition nearly a century later. Her life and scholarship continue to inspire Māori across the world about the power of education and cultural contribution.
Rangatahi, Innovation and Leadership
Rangatahi continue to carry te ao Māori forward with strength. In the digital and tech space, Māori leaders like Ernestynne Walsh have been recognised for excellence in corporate Māori leadership and digital innovation, inspiring others in tech and business.
In agriculture, Coby Warmington, winner of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award, showed how Māori youth are shaping the future of farming with passion, sustainability and connection to whenua.
Māori Arts, Music and Media
Māori artists and performers have also brought inspiration in 2025: singers like Jordyn With a Why made waves with her te reo Māori songwriting, uplifting urban Māori voices and influencing a new generation through music.
Māori musical heritage was honoured at events like the Waiata Māori Music Awards, where icons such as Wyn Anania and Toni Huata were recognised for their lifetime of contribution to waiata and Māori cultural expression.
Sporting Icons with Global Reach
In sport, Māori excellence reached new heights at the New Zealand Rugby Awards, where players of Māori descent – including Portia Woodman‑Wickliffe – were celebrated for their leadership, performance and role‑model status, inspiring whanau and tamariki across communities.
And globally, rugby legend Portia Woodman‑Wickliffe was even immortalised in a Barbie doll modelled in her likeness, symbolising strength, identity and representation on the world stage.
Māori Economic and Collective Leadership
2025 also saw powerful moves in Māori economic leadership with Te Arikinui, the Māori Queen, launching the multi‑million‑dollar Kotahitanga Fund – a bold initiative aimed at growing the Māori economy, strengthening iwi enterprise, and creating intergenerational wealth for Māori communities.
Celebrating Community and Cultural Participation
The massive return of Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga – the largest kapa haka festival in New Zealand’s history – reflected deep cultural participation, lifting Māori performing arts and uniting whānau from all walks of life in celebration of haka, waiata and whakapapa.
Across the motu, these stories – from rangatahi speakers to economic visionaries, cultural champions and sporting stars – showcase the rich fabric of Māori achievement in 2025. It’s a year filled with inspiration, creativity and pride, as Māori continue to shape our nation and uplift future generations.
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