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“Does the state belong only to those Māori who are willing to minimise their culture, and to think and reason in public life according to someone else’s culture?” — Dominic O’Sullivan.

“The fear of Māori having a place at the table outweighed both the evidence and the truth about what the law actually did.” — Environmental planner Tina Porou on the government’s decision to remove Mana Whakahono ā-Rohe.

“We have a right to the best healthcare and the best health outcomes that are available. And we have a right to be part of creating the solutions when those rights aren’t being met. So advocacy needs to be part of an excellent health system.” — Professor Matire Harwood.

“Deborah had no idea her words would spend years waiting in a garage before pushing a young Māori boy to see what was possible, ultimately starting a journey that carried him straight to her doorstep.” — Will Flavell.

“Māori do grieving and supporting whānau and death better than any other culture that I know. But we don’t, as whānau, engage in the planning side of things to make the rest of it easier.” — Julie Herewini, author of ‘He Aroha Te Aroha’.

“It is time to abandon a European-style ‘lock it or lose it’ approach to conservation.” — Elizabeth Macpherson and David Jefferson.

“There are unanswered calls, missed whānau events, eyes that aren’t quite present anymore, and excuses that no longer make sense but are accepted because the alternative is too hard to face.” — Kingi Snelgar on the insidious creep of meth addiction.

Director Nī Dekkers-Reihana, 33, has reimagined the celebrated British play ‘Constellations’ for Aotearoa, setting it among the stars of Matariki.

“It’s clear that the justifications for the bill don’t have any real basis, and that it would have significant impacts on New Zealand’s constitutional conventions, protected rights, and international obligations.” — Laura MacKay on the government’s attempts to shut down Mike Smith’s court case.

“China’s test came just days after the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear test in the Marshall Islands, when the US dropped a warhead into the lagoon of Bikini Atoll on July 1, 1946 — an event locals describe as ‘the day the sun exploded.’” — Jamie Tahana.

“Back then, it wasn’t called Matariki. It was just winter. No one gave a shit about the stars in the sky.” — Haeatarangi Barker on welcoming Matariki as an adult.

“This year, I joined a predominantly Māori team, and I’ve never been so instantly embraced by a group of colleagues. Usually, I take a while to warm up and trust new people.” — Aroha Gilling.

“Over the years, the questions have ranged from ‘Why do we need a Māori cultural liaison person at our workplace?’ to ‘How do we have hard conversations with colleagues to do better?’” — Atakohu Middleton on the questions people put in the Too-Hard Basket.

“There are many Pākehā out there, including my mum and partner, who have learned or are learning te reo Māori, who are not just the metaphorical womb but are quite literally the whare tangata of our language.” — Professor Hona Black.

“I’m not arguing that Pākehā can’t learn te reo Māori. Anyone can learn te reo Māori, speak te reo Māori, and have a relationship with te reo Māori. But only Māori can claim te reo as ‘ours’.” — Taea Staples.

“When the war ended, bombs were dumped or buried, and the troops walked away. For more than 80 years, Solomon Islanders have lived in fear that the ground might explode beneath them.” — Atakohu Middleton on a new documentary that looks at how World War II is still destroying lives in the Solomons.

“They encouraged me to recover the ancestral teachings of my Diné people, and to explore how our ancestral wisdom approaches disability.” — Sandra Yellowhorse on how Māori scholars inspire other Indigenous peoples.

“Whata was referred to as ‘he taniwha hikuroa’. He truly was a taniwha of our times, with a long tail reaching into the future through our people.” — Tainui Stephens, farewelling Professor Whatarangi Winiata, a giant of the Māori world, who died early this month.

“You hate it as a kid, but when you grow up, you realise: ‘Oh, there’s a big picture here.’ Your identity is your strength.” — Jason Tiatia, author of ‘Sāmoan Made Simple’, on speaking only Sāmoan at home.

’Waenga’ is very much a family affair. It was written by Hariata Moriarty, 25, and her brother Tamati, 23, who also star in the play. Dad, Jim Moriarty, is directing the play, and mum, Helen Pearse-Otene, is the dramaturge, providing guidance on the story. — Atakohu Middleton.