We follow-up last week’s fiery debate by welcoming Dinnie Moeahu to the mic for a kōrero that is equal parts laughter, depth, and uncompromising truth. With warmth, wit, and the authority of lived experience, the sitting New Plymouth District Councillor dismantles Morris West’s claims one by one, offering a compelling defence of Māori wards that is grounded in history, community, and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It’s passionate, personal, filled with "bring it on" energy, and the kind of episode that's bound to leave you better informed, deeply moved, and maybe even seeing the debate in a whole new light.
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WTH Are Māori Wards? Episode 4: Unapologetically Opposed
Hold onto your headphones, because this episode's a firecracker. In Episode 4 of WTH Are Māori Wards, we sit down for a bold and unflinching kōrero with Māori ward critic Morris West. What starts as a calm conversation deepens into a battle of wills between Andrew Judd and Morris West, as two staunch perspectives collide with grit, fire, and electric moments. This isn’t just a debate, it’s a reflection of the fault lines of Aotearoa’s democracy. Two strong voices meet at one table, and this is the result.
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WTH Are Māori Wards? Special Episode: Electoral Roll Drama
Nau mai, haere mai, and buckle up for an unexpected episode of WTH Are Māori Wards? This week, thousands of Māori voters across Aotearoa discovered they’ve been removed from the Māori Electoral Roll without warning or consent, including our own co-host, journalist and advocate Taryn Utiger. In this urgent and deeply personal kōrero, Anaru Judd turns the mic on Taryn as she unpacks how it happened, what it means, and why it matters. Together, they dive into the confusion, the system failures, and the very real consequences for whānau gearing up to vote in the Māori Wards referendum later this year. If you care about Māori representation, voter rights, or democratic integrity, then this episode is essential listening.
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WTH Are Māori Wards? Episode 3: Recovering Racist Pt2
This week Anaru and Taryn delve further into his past life and examine exactly what it means when he says he is a recovering racist. They kōrero about some important hui happening around the motu, and reflect on the noticeable changes in the collective community stance on Māori issues. Ahead of next week's episode, where they kōrero with someone against Māori wards, the duo discuss some conscious and unconscious reasons why people might not vibe with Māori having representation on councils.
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WTH Are Māori Wards? Episode 2: Recovering Racist Pt1
This week Taryn delves into Andrew Judd's own personal journey around Māori wards. In this raw, honest and deeply human episode Andrew reveals how he came to the realisation he was racist, why he will always be a recovering racist, and how he transformed his personal awakening into a broader mission.
His story is a lens into how one person’s commitment to doing the right thing, even when unpopular, can ripple outward and create national change. Across Aotearoa, Andrew helped normalise the idea that Pākehā have work to do in honouring Te Tiriti, but that came at an enormous personal and professional cost to him.
In the second episode of WTH Are Māori wards, Andrew reflects on a journey that has challenged his identity, cost him his comfort, and ultimately transformed the way he sees race, power, and what it really means to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
What are Māori wards? Why are they important? And why are they facing a referendum in Aotearoa in 2025?
In this bold and timely 10-part podcast, former New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd and journalist Taryn Utiger explore the meaning, mana and myths of Māori wards — from the history of Māori political representation to the modern-day battle for equity in local government.
Through expert interviews, whānau voices, real talk, and moments of raw honesty, this podcast shines a light on a part of our democracy that too few understand, and too many fear.
Whether you're on the fence or fired up, WTH Are Māori Wards? is here to help you listen deeper, think bigger, and vote informed.
New Zealand