The Bulletin: What kind of budget will we get?

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Previewing the budget we’ll get tomorrow, tangihanga rules further clarified, and Peters doesn’t believe Taiwan war of words will harm China relationship. We’re increasingly getting a sense of the sort of budget Grant Robertson will deliver tomorrow. The country is facing an economic downturn which could … Read more

Leading us through loss

A group of Māori women wearing pare kawakawa, wreaths of kawakawa leaves on their heads as a sign of mourning.

The leadership shown by tangata whenua at every national disaster and tragedy should be recognised and honoured by all of us, writes Catherine Delahunty. I do appreciate having a prime minister who is capable of expressing decent, human emotions when tragedies descend on us. It’s a sadly low bar that she rises above. We live … Read more

Grief and ashes: The Casketeers’ Francis Tipene on mourning in Māori culture

A group of Māori women wearing pare kawakawa, wreaths of kawakawa leaves on their heads as a sign of mourning.

Grief is tough to navigate, wherever you come from. An incident involving the public sprinkling of ashes started a conversation this week on cultural belief versus the freedom to mourn however you need to. Spinoff Ātea editor Leonie Hayden talks to funeral director Francis Tipene about the tikanga around ashes and cremation. On Tuesday night … Read more