Te Rina Ruka-Triponel

Guest writer

Te Rina Ruka-Triponel (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Te Ātiawa, Hauiti, Apanui, and Ha’apiti in Mo’orea (Tahiti)), is the senior Māori media adviser at the University of Auckland, specialist in Māori and Pacific development, with a focus on transdisciplinary research engagement.

Labour has a chance to win back the Māori seats, but does it have the MPs? (Design: Tina Tiller).

If Labour wants the Māori seats back, it needs to win over a new generation

A digitally fluent, politically literate Māori generation is reshaping power.

By Te Rina Ruka-Triponel | 17th February, 2026

Oriini Kaipara is Te Pāti Māori’s candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection, with Peeni Henare running again for Labour (Image design: The Spinoff)

Why Tāmaki Makaurau needs an urban Māori leader

What does it mean to be Māori without a connection to the culture – and who will speak for us in the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection?

By Te Rina Ruka-Triponel | 15th July, 2025

Waipiro Bay. (Photo: Tamaira Hook).

Waipiro Bay is not your marina

A fast-tracked marina proposal at Waipiro Bay risks spreading invasive caulerpa and sidelining Māori-led economic solutions grounded in tikanga.

By Te Rina Ruka-Triponel | 13th May, 2025