Sarah Sparks

A mystery gift is helping a Waikato Youngster carve out her future.

When a kapa haka group travelled to Croatia last year for the coronation celebrations of King Tomislav, the country’s first sovereign, its members brought more than songs, haka and poi.

As the local election season begins, I remember a moment in May 2021—inside the Hamilton City Council chamber at an extraordinary meeting, where the call for Māori wards echoed like a challenge laid bare.

On Friday, once again, Aotearoa gathered before dawn to remember the fallen and those who served in the name of peace...However remembrance without reflection risks becoming an empty ritual - ceremony stripped of meaning.

As Aotearoa witnessed the poignancy of Kiingi Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII’s tangihanga last week, a moment of profound significance quietly unfolded on Tuesday. Beyond the public eye, fate and history converged as a precious heirloom...

OPINION: As Aotearoa witnessed Kiingi Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII’s tangihanga, a moment of profound significance quietly unfolded.

OPINION: Honouring the Treaty was the point of Thursday’s hīkoi, and rangatahi will keep fighting for true partnership between the Crown and Iwi.

OPINION: Kiingi Tūheitia’s national unity hui will go down as an unforgettable landmark in the annals of Aotearoa, writes Sarah Sparks.

Kim Eriksen-Downs is venturing from Taupō to Dubai to talk about the power of indigenous healing.

Kim Eriksen-Downs talks about the power of indigenous healing.

Takutai Kemp takes the Whānau Ora kaupapa to Parliament.

Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke is not afraid of korero whānau.

Waikato kaumātua charitable trust Rauawaawa has celebrated its silver jubilee with cake-cutting and kaikōrero to mark its journey to date.

Rauawaawa celebrated its silver jubilee with cake and kaikōrero.

On Waatea Marae in Mangere, Labour leader calls out race-based politics.

A surprise gifting to Ngāti Pikiao of the Ōwhata Medical Centre in Rotorua “lock stock and barrel” by not-for-profit primary health organisation Pinnacle is now official after the handover at Pounamanui (Houmaitawhiti) Marae in Rotorua. It is…

Carving kura is creating cultural pathways for rangatahi.

Te Heke Ngāhuru ki Te Awa Tupua Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi performing at the launch of the Whanganui River wellbeing strategy.ALECIA ROSSEAU/STUFF Sarah Sparks is a communications consultant, and works with wāhine toa across…

Taking up the Mahuru Māori challenge Stuff reporter Joel Maxwell, who spoke only te reo Māori for the month of September, heads out to kōrero with people in Pōneke. (Video first published October 2022.)MONIQUE FORD / STUFF Sarah Sparks is a…