New Zealand’s relationship with China has been in the spotlight recently with some claiming the freezing of relations could affect our exports to that country. But as political reporter Eruera Rerekura - Te Karere was told by a leading Māori business leader China continues to value its relationship with Māori.

Two days out from the world's largest kapa haka event and teams competing at Te Matatini ki te Ao are starting to arrive in the capital. Wellington. Today Rapaera Tawhai went out to meet one of those teams, Manawa Mai Tawhiti. Rapaera Tawhai Reports

Ngāti Tama ki te Waipounamu have taken exception to an artist's provocative portrait of their tupuna. Whatitiri Te Wake - Te Karere got the reposnse of the art gallery that hosted the painting. #WATCHNOW

Dual place name Tūranganui a Kiwa-Poverty Bay has been officially approved. Tau kē!

High winds have prevented remaining fire evacuees in Tasman from returning home this morning. Restricted access for those in the Teapot, Eves and Redwoods valleys has been cancelled due to the heightened fire risk.

He Tānga Manawa | Before it was called Te Matatini, the national kapa haka competition once went by the name of the Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival, and before that, the Polynesian Festival. Here in this report from 1992, there was talk of canning the competitive nature of the event altogether, but the suggestion was met with opposition.

It's a way of delivery tertiary education to isolated communities. Nearly 50 people from Wairoa have passed a multimedia course delivered by AUT. And as Te Okiwa McLean reports, another benefit was the creation of an app that tells the Māori history of the district.

#SmearYourMea Matatini doesn't officially start till next Wednesday but a group of kapa haka aficionados have already hit the road. That's because they're travelling all the way from Rotorua to Wellington by bike! As Rapaera Tawhai Reports, the journey is actually a health awareness campaign inspired by a late haka exponent, Talei Morrison, who dedicated the last months of her life encouraging women to get regular smear tests.

The Māori Council claims the Māori Affairs Select Committee is incompetent for refusing to hold an independent inquiry into PHARMAC. Eruera Rerekura - Te Karere has the details.

Water restrictions remain in place in the Gisborne region despite the leak having been fixed. Contractors worked overnight to mend the seal on the pipe as concern over water levels mounted.