Liam Rātana

Ātea editor

Liam Rātana (Ngāti Wairupe/Ngāti Kurī) is editor of The Spinoff's Ātea section. He is passionate about indigenous and minority issues. Liam enjoys cooking, poetry, photography, and exploring the outdoors.

Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi

From entrenching te tiriti to curbing its role in law and government, the parties are offering voters starkly different visions for its future.

By Liam Rātana | 25th August, 2026

Greatouth in his native south Auckland (Photo: Geoffrey Matautia)

Greatsouth on making music and what it really means to be a good Kiwi

New Zealand is not all hobbits and beautiful landscapes and his new album challenges us to look deeper.

By Liam Rātana | 22nd August, 2026

This is your last chance… to enrol to vote. (Design: Tina Tiller)

There are more Māori on the Māori roll than ever. Will they turn out to vote?

The Māori roll is growing at record pace. How could it impact the election?

By Liam Rātana | 20th August, 2026

Warriors aura farming. (Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The story behind Ngā Tamatoa, the Warriors’ history-making haka

Before their victory over the Panthers on Friday night, the Warriors performed a haka for the first time ever. Here's how it came to be.

By Liam Rātana | 11th August, 2026

Hearing a language spoken by native speakers gives you a true insight into how it should be spoken. (Design: Tina Tiller)

What living in the Cook Islands taught me about reo Māori

Reminiscing on hearing te reo Māori being spoken freely by nativel speakers.

By Liam Rātana | 8th August, 2026

It’s all systems go for Te Pāti Māori. (Photos: Getty Images; Supplied. Design: The Spinoff)

Te Pāti Māori says it has moved on from the chaos. Will Māori voters agree?

Te Pāti Māori is asking voters to focus on its vision for the future, but the fallout from last year's dramatic split remains impossible to ignore.

By Liam Rātana | 7th August, 2026

Kia Kanuta prepares a dish at Pici on Karangahape Rd, Central Auckland. (Photo: Supplied)

The best new food show in New Zealand isn’t really about cooking

He started out as a potscrubber at the RSA – now Kia Kanuta is a bit like a Māori version of Anthony Bourdain.

By Liam Rātana | 6th August, 2026

No trees above my son’s placenta, unfortunately. (Design: Tina Tiller)

How my son’s placenta became ‘toxic waste’

What happens to whenua when a birth plan doesn't go to plan.

By Liam Rātana | 4th August, 2026

Catch your eye? That’s the point. (Design: Justina Tiller).

Why Greens candidate Tania Waikato is posting thirst traps on social media

A new political baddies campaign is making people ask if thirst traps can support democracy.

By Liam Rātana | 30th July, 2026

From left to right: Māui Hitchens, Phoebe Rayneau, Manunui Rainey, Tom Webster and Tyla Tuala-Vaimasenu’u. (Photo: Massive Theatre Company / Andi Crown).

New production Home Made made no sense – and perfect sense

Massive Theatre Company’s new show delivers the warm fuzzies in a confusingly beautiful way.

By Liam Rātana | 24th July, 2026