It has been a packed four days on Ata Tū, with Radio Waatea bringing together political leaders, Māori advocates, researchers, health experts and community voices as Aotearoa moves deeper into the 2026 election campaign.
Across September 28 to October 1, the programme has ranged from the battle for the Māori vote and the cost of living to Te Tiriti, health, climate change, artificial intelligence, regional development and the future of whānau. The Ata Tū archive shows more than two dozen interviews and discussions published across those four days.
Monday began firmly on the election trail. Te Pāti Māori President John Tamihere examined the opportunities and challenges facing his party and the contest for the Māori vote, while Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson discussed her party’s priorities as Parliament gave way to campaigning. Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong put Te Tiriti, the cost of living and the closely contested Mt Albert electorate on the agenda.
The Monday programme also moved beyond party politics. Linda Te Aho examined what the RMA overhaul could mean for Te Tiriti, the taiao and kaitiakitanga, while another discussion questioned how public accountability would work following proposals affecting the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Sexual violence and its place in the election debate was also put under scrutiny, alongside the rebuilding of a marae and what returning home means for whānau. The day included sport as Laban on League looked towards the NRL Grand Final.
Tuesday widened the conversation considerably. National’s Tama Potaka discussed the polls, regional development and the economy, while Shane Jones focused on regional investment. Labour’s Shanan Halbert covered student debt and the tight electorate contests emerging around the country, while former All Blacks captain Taine Randell discussed his move into electoral politics.
Hauora and whānau wellbeing were also central. Lady Tureiti Moxon discussed Māori health following recent Waitangi Tribunal findings, Dr Bonnie Robinson from The Salvation Army examined food insecurity and affordable housing, and childhood immunisation was put back on the agenda. Dr Kathie Irwin also explored the intersection of education, artificial intelligence and mātauranga Māori.
Wednesday turned strongly towards the economy and the pressures facing whānau. The Government’s PREFU showed an improving fiscal position, but Ata Tū examined the gap between stronger Crown accounts and what families are experiencing around the kitchen table, including jobs, inflation and the cost of living.
The programme also explored an issue that will become increasingly important as the population ages. Architectural designer and researcher Keisha Rawiri discussed kaupapa Māori approaches to designing whare and care environments for people living with mate wareware, including how relatively simple design changes can support safety, dignity, independence and connection with whānau.
Thursday brought another broad sweep of kaupapa. Long-time Māori advocate Merepeka Raukawa-Tait examined the election campaign and Māori politics, while Winston Peters discussed New Zealand First’s focus on constitutional issues and the cost of living. Lady Tureiti Moxon returned to the programme to discuss Crown accountability and the future of the Waitangi Tribunal. The programme also remembered former Speaker and Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe and his lifetime of service.
Health remained prominent, with the pressures facing hospital emergency departments and concerns about the disproportionate impact of compulsory mental health treatment on Māori both examined. Climate advocate Mike Smith discussed taking his climate campaign into the international arena, while Edward Ashby spoke about the return of around 2,000 young kauri to Te Wao Nui o Tiriwā.
Taken together, the past four days of Ata Tū have reflected the breadth of issues confronting Māori and Aotearoa heading towards Election 2026 — jobs and household costs, Te Tiriti and political representation, hauora, housing, education, climate change, the taiao and the future opportunities available to the next generation.
You can catch up on all the interviews, kōrero and stories from Ata Tū, Monday to Friday from 7am to 9am, here:
👉 Listen and read the latest Ata Tū interviews on Waatea News
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