The Hui to conclude 11-season run as reporter John Boynton reflects on Māori storytelling legacy

AUCKLAND — The long-running Māori current affairs programme The Hui will screen its final episode on December 7, concluding an 11-season legacy of storytelling that has provided a platform for Aotearoa’s Māori communities. The programme, which first aired in 2015, is coming to an end following a reduction in funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Created by Annabelle Lee-Mather and Mihingarangi Forbes, The Hui has been celebrated for its commitment to journalism anchored in empathy, integrity, and heart. Reporter John Boynton, who joined the team in 2019 after departing RNZ, reflected in The Spinoff on the show’s role in giving a voice to communities often overlooked by mainstream media. He noted that the programme allowed for a pace of journalism that prioritised building trust, such as his experience sitting down for a kapu tī with kuia from the Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā hapū before filming their work reviving the art of kahukiwi. Over its seven-year journey, the show has covered significant historical and contemporary issues, including the 2019 pardon of Tūhoe prophet Rua Kēnana. The production focused on long-form journalism that followed stories over months or years, often threading the impacts of history through modern community narratives. Te Māngai Pāho indicated that budget pressures led to the difficult decision to shift focus toward te reo Māori content, resulting in The Hui's funding dropping from $1 million in 2024/25 to $364,000 in 2025/26, before eventually missing out on further funding. Despite the closure, Boynton highlighted the show’s enduring legacy as a training ground for current affairs and a space where Māori could tell their stories on their own terms. The final episode marks the end of a decade-long commitment to holding power to account while maintaining cultural care.