Community events

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Community events promote and share the positive experiences, stories and perspectives of whānau Māori and communities across Aotearoa.

They also showcase the talent within communities and encourage whānau to engage with and demonstrate how they are living the six E Tū Whānau values that support whānau to be safe and strong.

Te mana kaha o te whānau!

E Tū Whānau Poster Competition 2025

Graphic for E Tū Whānau Poster Competition 2025, on the right of which is the phrase Ko wai au? Who am I? This was one of the community events run in 2025.

The poster competition was hugely popular, with nearly 500 entries across three categories.

The theme of this community event was Ko wai au? Who am I? and entries were judged by Miriama Grace-Smith, Kahurangi Falaoa and Stu McDonald.

E Tū Whānau Poster Competition 2025 was run by Māori Media Network in conjunction with Māori radio and E Tū Whānau.

19 years and over category

This image is of the poster by Jayda Siyakurima, one of the winners of the E Tū Whānau Poster Competition 2025 (19 years and over category). It depicts an African woman, who looks regal, and is wearing a black and white korowai, a blue headband and wooden earrings. A fantail bird perches on the blue headband, and another on her shoulder. A green tiki hangs at her neck. the poster competition is one of the many commmunity events run by E Tū Whānau.

First place – Jayda Siyakurima

“I am a creator of art, stories, and life, blending the beauty of my Māori and Zimbabwean whakapapa. Like the korowai woven with the wisdom of our tūpuna, my work reflects connection and legacy.

The beauty of a woman of colour is both judged and admired. As a mother who still mourns the loss of my twin babies, two fantails visit me often – a constant reminder that their spirit remains with me.I also chose the tiki because it embodies creation and protection, as my story continues with my two-year-old daughter and pēpī on the way.”

E Tū Whānau Song Competition 2024

This banner graphic reads: E Tū Whānau Song Competition 2024 "My whānau my future." It also shows two logos. On the left is the E Tū Whānau logo, name, and tagline saying "Te mana kaha o te whānau." On the right is the the Māori Media Network conch shell shaped graphic and tagline which reads "Te Honongo Whakapaoho Māori Māori Media Network."

The winners

Open Category
  • 1st – Hine me te rā by Anatipa Te Hā o Hinehopu (Rongomaiwahine, Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Ngāi te Rangi) of Nūhaka. Kaitautoko – Tārei Hāpuku, Taisha Tari. Audio Engineer Christian Mausia.
  • 2nd – Poipoia te kākano by Tōmuri Spicer (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa) of St Kilda, Dunedin.
  • 3rd – I pray by Ngatai Waretini (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāpuhi) of Poroporo.
  • Highly Commended  – A father’s love by Kahu Turner-Houkamau (Ngāti Porou) of Rotorua.
  • Highly Commended – Kia tata iho mai rā by Rāwiri Gilgen (Tainui, Waikato) of Tokomaru Bay.
Rangatahi Category     
  • 1st – Ka ao ka awatea (Things get better) by Tyree Wall (Ngāti Tutemohuta, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) of Richmond Heights, Taupō.
  • 2nd – Kāinga by Te Kani a Takirau Porter (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou) of Gisborne.
  • 3rd – Ngā piki ngā heke by Waiariki Gear (Ngāti Awa) of Te Puna, Bay of Plenty. Performed, written and composed by Te Whei Ao Harris, Tuara Rahiri, Waiariki Gear, Maria Williams.
  • Highly Commended – Nōku te ki, nōku te ao by Karly-Jewel and Rawinia Gordon (Ngāriki Kaiputahi, Ngāti Uepōhatu) of Elgin, Gisborne.
  • Highly Commended – Hinepukohurangi by Te Aniwaniwa Hori-Temara (Tūhoe) of Lower Hutt, Wellington. Composed by Snow Chase.
People’s Choice Award
  • Soldier on by by Devonjay Eke (Tonga) of Otara, Auckland.
View all entries in the 2024 competition gallery

The E Tū Whānau Song Competition 2024 was judged by renowned, award-winning musicians Maisey Rika, Pere Wihongi, and Tawaroa Kawana.

As with previous community events, this year’s competition was run by Māori Media Network in conjunction with iwi radio and E Tū Whānau.

Having run many community events over the years, we ran our first-ever Spoken Word Competition between July and August 2021. It was an online event hosted by the legendary spoken word poet and performer, Te Kahu Rolleston (Ngāi Te Rangi). All the entrants showed creativity and courage, with powerful, thoughtful messages to share, many of which related to our values. You can view the winning entries, and a selection of other videos rated highly by the judges below.

Rangatahi category (18 years and under)

Open category (19 years and over)

People’s Choice Award

Other great spoken word competition videos