Pacific Dance Festival 2026: South Auckland’s Māngere Arts Centre kicks off a two-and-a-half-week Pasifika movement and story celebration, with a bigger, more diverse line-up spanning Pacific nations and diaspora. Moana Pasifika future: A decision on the Super Rugby franchise is expected within weeks as a Sāmoa-and-Tonga rescue plan develops after liquidation and debts reported at more than $8m. Matariki drone spectacle: Rotorua’s Aronui Arts Festival will stage a free 550-drone show with Māori storytelling and a theme of Matariki as a “herenga waka” for everyone. Te Tiriti and gender law backlash: Wellington Queer Communities is rallying against the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Bill, arguing it targets trans and intersex people and breaches Te Tiriti. Health system pressure: Health NZ and primary care are proposing a one-year GP fees freeze alongside a $120.6m funding package, while disability advocates say a new access report won’t change outcomes. Māori land and kiwifruit: Shane Jones criticises Zespri’s licence approach as unfairly excluding multiply owned Māori land, calling for more lease-style access. Culture and craft: Nelson’s Tikumu weaving exhibition spotlights the mountain daisy Tikumu as a near-lost taonga, bringing kairaranga knowledge back into public view. Auckland circular recovery: Auckland Council’s deconstruction approach is moving flood-damaged homes from demolition to reuse, diverting materials from landfill and supporting local jobs. Global spotlight: China tightens Tiananmen anniversary access, while NZ lawmakers face a China travel ban after a Taiwan visit—another reminder of how culture and politics collide.