A Cup Of Tea With... Mihingarangi Forbes

The broadcaster reveals the courage it takes to tell her stories

- Karyn Henger

An award-winning investigative journalist, TV presenter and radio broadcaster, Mihingarangi Forbes, 48, has produced, presented or reported for many of New Zealand’s leading current affairs shows, including Campbell Live, 20/20, Te Karere, Native Affairs and The Hui, which she currently presents on Three. The Weekly catches up with Mihi over a cup of kuÌ„marahou tea.

Kia ora, Mihi, can you tell us about your latest project?

NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui is part three of an RNZ series and this is a crucial story to tell. There were so many things that happened that people wouldn’t even consider. For example, the population at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi was 2000 settlers to 80,000 Maori, yet by the time the Waikato War happened, it had completely flipped. There were tens of thousands of Pakehawhile the Maori population had fallen drastically due to disease and the influx of settlers.

The Waikato War changed New Zealand forever and we still live with the consequences today. There are great disparities between Maori and Pakeha, and you can’t talk about issues today without considering whakapapa, where people have come from.