WTH Are Māori Wards? Episode 6: The Big Guns

This week we’ve called in the big guns: Professor Janine Hayward and Professor Avril Bell. If you’ve ever tried to untangle Treaty politics, democracy, or identity in Aotearoa, chances are you’ve read their work (or quoted them at the dinner table without even knowing it). Janine, a political scientist from Otago, has the rare gift of making constitutional law and electoral systems feel like a story you actually want to hear. Avril, a sociologist from Auckland, takes us deep into the messy, beautiful world of identity and what it means to be Pākehā in a Treaty partnership. Together, they don’t just explain this kaupapa, they own it. They’re sharp, they’re insightful, and they’ve got that perfect mix of clarity and courage that makes you go, “ahhhh, now I get it.” Tune in for a kōrero that will blow the dust off politics and leave you buzzing with fresh understanding of why Māori wards matter.