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.

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

Minister for RMA reform Chris Bishop. (Design: The Spinoff).

The scrapping of Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements, explained

As part of its RMA reform, the government is telling councils to cut landmark deals with iwi authorities. What does that mean for treaty settlements?

By Liam Rātana | 23rd July, 2026

Patara Te Ngūngūkai, as depicted by, allegedly, CF Goldie (Image: Supplied)

‘It still belongs to us’: The ‘new Goldie’ painting raises questions over cultural rights

Should descendants have a say in what happens to images depicting their tūpuna?

By Liam Rātana | 20th July, 2026

I can almost smell it through the screen. (Design: The Spinoff).

Why boil up is having a moment

How the cheap and humble meal went from broke to bougie.

By Liam Rātana | 16th July, 2026

The Pai Mārire faith plays an important role in the retelling of the story. (Image: RNZ).

NZ Wars: Waerenga-a-Hika is necessary viewing for healing the past

A story of survival and hope for an iwi forced off their lands.

By Liam Rātana | 15th July, 2026