Leonie Hayden

Ātea Editor

Leonie Hayden (Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Ngāti Rango) is the editor of Ātea, The Spinoff's Māori and indigenous content channel. She is the former editor of Mana magazine and Rip It Up magazine. Email her on leonie@thespinoff.co.nz

Society

Dec 16, 2020

Ex-staff of MAGA-linked Hoppers bar speak out on 'intense and upsetting' culture

An Auckland bar attracted heat last month for hosting a US election party attended by MAGA hat-wearing Trump supporters. Three former employees say that incident is the least of its issues.

Ātea

Jul 23, 2020

A time of reckoning: Racism and representation in media

Why it's time for everyone to get on the bi-cultural waka.

Ātea

Jul 18, 2020

Why diversity matters (and no one should need to write this headline in 2020)

Gerry and Judith, this is for you.

Media

Jul 15, 2020

Why Mike Hosking made a public apology to John Tamihere

Allegations of defamation led to a court-mandated apology by Mike Hosking to John Tamihere.

Ātea

Jul 8, 2020

Idea: Put up more statues – of New Zealanders who deserve them

As the settler government did in the late 1800s, it's time to erect monuments to the great people of this country, and maybe take some of the stink ones down.

Ātea

Jun 26, 2020

Hamilton or Kirikiriroa? New poll on backing for a city name change

A new survey shows limited appetite from the public to restore Hamilton’s name to Kirikiriroa. But a Waikato kaumatua says he'll continue to push for change.

Ātea

Jun 19, 2020

The Hui and Marae are safe, says Māori development minister

As the Minister for Māori development faces the music for a poorly-received Māori media sector review, new and contradictory details are emerging.

Ātea

Jun 19, 2020

Black New Zealanders on their fight: ‘I didn’t know how unseen we were’

Leonie Hayden talks to three young leaders of NZ's Black Lives Matter movement about colonialism and justice – and why anti-Black racism isn't just 'an American problem'.

NZ Music Commission

May 30, 2020

Channelling the goddesses: Wāhine Māori musicians on reclaiming tradition

There aren't many women composing for and playing taonga pūoro. In fact, there aren't many people like Te Kahureremoa Taumata and Khali Phillips-Barbara at all.

Ātea

Apr 30, 2020

Accusations fly after new anti-Semitic vandalism appears at Ōwairaka

For the second time since New Zealand went into lockdown, the public toilet block and carpark at Ōwairaka has been defaced with racist images.

Ātea

Apr 24, 2020

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer on attack politics, Covid-19 and her new Māori Party co-leader

Rebuilding support for her seatless party in the midst of a global pandemic is an unenviable task, but new Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is taking it in her stride.

Ātea

Apr 17, 2020

On the wait, and the weight

One day the weight got so heavy I tried to outrun it. My chest hurt and I turned around and walked home.

Society

Apr 9, 2020

Dispatch from the frontline: A bus driver on working in lockdown NZ

What it's like to drive a bus under alert level four, and the struggle to secure a safer work environment.

Ātea

Apr 1, 2020

Covid-19: The Siouxsie Wiles and Toby Morris gifs now in te reo Māori

Our Covid-19 gifs are now available in te reo Māori. Spread the word (while staying at home).

Society

Mar 28, 2020

Covid-19: Who really needs to be wearing protective gear?

Unless you have a respiratory illness, you probably don’t need to wear that mask to the supermarket.

Society

Mar 27, 2020

Dispatch from the frontline: A supermarket checkout manager on life under Covid-19

They're not getting paid extra, they miss their families and they’re tired of people losing it over yoghurt.

Ātea

Mar 20, 2020

How marae and iwi are preparing for Covid-19

Māori authorities have acted swiftly on behalf of their people, but some say they're concerned about the lack of communication from government.

Money

Mar 18, 2020

Freelancers and sole traders: How to apply for the Covid-19 wage subsidy

You don't have to be a business with employees to apply for the government's wage subsidy. That's good news for more than 380,000 of you.

Society

Mar 13, 2020

As Pasifika is cancelled, what does Covid-19 mean for other public events in NZ?

The latest on which events are going ahead, and which are cancelled.

Society

Mar 4, 2020

Our hands are tied: Seven alternatives to shaking hands

It's a hard habit to shake – but we have to try.

Society

Feb 19, 2020

Disabled voices on Peter Singer: ‘Who’s actually listening to this guy?’

Australian philosopher Peter Singer is coming to NZ in June. His views on disability have sparked widespread condemnation.

Ātea

Feb 14, 2020

Bob Jones is not just a racist. He’s also a coward

This week I watched a man shoot himself in the foot so many times I was amazed he could walk out of the court room. Here's my honestly held opinion.

Ātea

Feb 14, 2020

Bob Jones abandons ‘Māori Gratitude Day’ defamation case against Renae Maihi

The high-profile case at the Wellington High Court has come to an early and unexpected halt.

Ātea

Feb 10, 2020

The Bob Jones v Renae Maihi ‘Māori Gratitude Day’ case goes to court

In 2018, Robert Jones called for a 'Māori Gratitude Day'. Filmmaker and activist Renae Maihi responded with a petition to have him stripped of his knighthood. Now Jones is suing her for defamation.

Ātea

Feb 7, 2020

Waitangi Day without the politicians is the best Waitangi Day of all

Waitangi Day brings together all groups of people, of which politicians are just one, writes Leonie Hayden.

Ātea

Feb 5, 2020

‘Hold us to account’: has Jacinda Ardern honoured her 2018 Waitangi pledges?

On this day three years ago, Jacinda Ardern asked to be held to account by Māori at Waitangi. As asked, we've taken that speech and held it up against the Labour-led government's achievements over the past three years.

Ātea

Jan 22, 2020

‘We will see a positive resolution’: the flag comes down at Ihumātao

On day 1,173 of the occupation at Ihumātao, a resolution looks imminent.

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