Tārake — pānui o te Rāpare, 10 o Hepetema

Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai ki te pānui o Tārake mō te Rāpare, te tekau o Hepetema, rua mano rua tekau mā ono. Here are today's positive stories from across Aotearoa. Story 1. In international. Woodland Heart Nonprofit Empowers Menominee Youth Through Traditional Dance and Regalia. A Menominee-led nonprofit is fostering cultural pride and identity among young boys through traditional woodland dance and hand-crafted regalia at major Indigenous gatherings.. SHAKOPEE, Minn. — In a vibrant display of cultural reclamation, young Menominee dancers took to the arena at the annual Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi in mid-August 2026. Among them was 13-year-old Niigani Bineshi Buckholtz, who joined over 1,300 registered dancers at one of Indian Country’s largest annual powwows. Buckholtz, adorned in handmade woodland regalia featuring hand-stitched applique aprons, is one of several teenagers participating in Woodland Heart, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting Menominee youth. Based in Neopit, Wisconsin, on the Menominee Reservation, Woodland Heart was established in December 2024 to support boys aged 11 to 14 who may be disengaged from school activities or sports. Story 2. In international. Coastal clean-up near Dongara protects Midwest cultural and environmental values. The Department of Biodiversity and Conservation has removed 620 kilograms of debris from a 10-kilometre stretch of coastline near Dongara to protect wildlife and cultural heritage.. A significant environmental and cultural preservation effort has taken place on the Midwest coastline of Western Australia, where authorities successfully cleared more than 600 kilograms of rubbish. On Wednesday, 9 September 2026, the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation (DBCA) confirmed that a four-day operation resulted in the removal of 620kg of debris from a 10-kilometre stretch of beach near Dongara. According to the DBCA’s Chelsea Attwood, the initiative is about more than just cleaning the sand; it is a vital step in mitigating long-term harm to the natural environment. This story comes to us from the ABC. Story 3. In business. Ngāti Rangi and Defence Force Seal Landmark Housing Agreement at Waiōuru. Ngāti Rangi and the New Zealand Defence Force have signed a commercial agreement to build 50 new homes at Waiōuru, marking a significant shift toward partnership and shared economic opportunity.. A significant new commercial agreement between Ngāti Rangi and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) was signed on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, clearing the way for a 50-home housing development at Waiōuru Military Camp. The deal involves the sale of land and buildings to Ngāti Rangi, which will then lease the assets back to the NZDF under a long-term arrangement. Construction and development of the surrounding land is expected to be completed by mid-2028. Te Tōtarahoe o Paerangi Chair Tomairangi Mareikura described the agreement as a transformation of a relationship historically marked by sacrifice and grievance into one based on partnership. This story comes to us from Waatea News. Story 4. In sports. Aotearoa New Zealand to Host 2028 World Squash Championships. New Zealand has been named the host for the 2028 World Squash Championships, marking the largest squash event in the nation's history just months before the sport's Olympic debut.. Auckland is set to become the global hub for squash in February 2028 after New Zealand was selected to host the World Squash Championships. This landmark announcement, confirmed on 8 September 2026, marks the beginning of an unprecedented era for the sport in Aotearoa, as the tournament will take place just four months before squash makes its inaugural appearance at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The championships will be staged at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in central Auckland. In a significant expansion for the sport, the event will run alongside the first-ever World Club Championships, a new initiative allowing club players to compete on the same global stage as professional athletes. This story comes to us from RNZ. Story 5. In community. Tāiki ē! Grassroots campaign mobilises Māori whānau for Election 2026 enrolment. ActionStation Director Kassie Hartendorp is leading a community-driven movement to ensure Māori and rangatahi are enrolled to vote before a new legislative deadline on 25 October.. A nationwide grassroots campaign titled ‘Together for the Vote’ has launched to mobilise Māori communities and rangatahi across Aotearoa ahead of the upcoming general election. Reported by Waatea News on 9 September 2026, the community-led initiative is racing to ensure whānau are enrolled before a new legal deadline that could catch many voters off guard. The urgency stems from the Electoral Amendment Act 2025, which dictates that enrolment now closes 13 days before election day. Unlike the last two elections, eligible voters will no longer be able to enrol at the polling booth during the voting period. For the 2026 election, anyone wishing to cast a ballot on 7 November must be enrolled by midnight on 25 October. This story comes to us from Waatea News. Story 6. In community. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026: A National Invitation to Strengthen Aotearoa’s Unique Language. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori is calling on all New Zealanders to celebrate and normalise te reo Māori in everyday life as the 2026 Māori Language Week approaches.. As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026 approaches, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) is urging the nation to embrace the language as a unique cornerstone of New Zealand identity. Chief Executive Ngāhiwi Apanui-Barr stated that the week provides a vital opportunity to recognise the progress of te reo Māori while encouraging citizens to integrate the language into their daily routines. According to Waatea News, the commission emphasizes that revitalisation occurs not just in classrooms, but through visibility in workplaces, sports, and at home. This year’s celebrations build on a legacy of activism that began with the Māori language petition presented to Parliament on 14 September 1972. This story comes to us from Waatea News. That's the pānui for today. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa — thank you for listening to Tārake. Haere rā.