Jessica Tyson, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

Songwriting in te reo ‘is my superpower’ - Jordyn With a Why

1 month ago | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

Singer Jordan Rapana, also known as Jordyn With a Why, is making her mark, inspiring a whole generation of urban Māori with her music that celebrates te reo Māori. She creates bilingual music that mixes RnB, soul pop and neo soul. Each waiata is influenced by her own experiences growing up as a Samoan, Māori in an urban setting through indigenous stories, kupu (words) and different musical elements. Rapana says, “I just want everyone to fall in love with te reo Māori.
RSA club breaks away over Treaty of Waitangi

1 month ago | sunlive.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

In a bid to retain their mana motuhake, a small RSA club in Te Teko, Mātaamua, has decided to break away from the national RSA. Their president, Hemana Waaka, says they’re leaving the Royal NZ Returned Services Association Inc (RNZRSA) because of a new constitution that doesn’t recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi. “We are now moving away from the words RSA as part of our mana motuhake. Today, we have replaced it with our own brand and entity.
Te Teko RSA leaves national body to reclaim mana motuhake over Te Tiriti clash

1 month ago | nzherald.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

A small RSA club in Te Teko has left the national RSA to retain its mana motuhake. President Hemana Waaka cited the new constitution’s lack of recognition for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The club, now named Te Hokowhitu a Tū ki Te Teko, will provide community healthcare services. In a bid to retain their mana motuhake, a small RSA club in Te Teko, Mātaamua, has decided to break away from the national RSA.
Te Teko RSA leaves national body to reclaim mana motuhake

1 month ago | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

In a bid to retain their mana motuhake, a small RSA club in Te Teko, Mātaamua, has decided to break away from the national RSA. Their president, Hemana Waaka, says they’re leaving the Royal NZ Returned Services Association’s (RNZRSA) because of a new constitution that doesn’t recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi. “We are now moving away from the words RSA as part of our mana motuhake. Today, we have replaced it with our own brand and entity.
Manawatū producers making beats for superstars like Rihanna

2 months ago | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

Woodville is a small town in the Manawatū, with a population of about 1600 people. It’s famous for some things, like being the home of Gotfried Lindauer who painted some of our most prominent rangatira. 100 years later, it’s now home to artists of a different kind. Te Whiti Warbrick, Georgia Boyden, Joseph Boyden and Elijah McDonald are music producers making beats for superstars like Rihanna, Post Malone, Little Wayne, Camilla Cabillo, Ty Dolla Sign, Tyga, Pop Smoke, Rod Wave and more.
‘I always cover my smile’: The real cost of dental care in NZ

Mar 31, 2025 | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

Māmā of eight, ‘Aroha’*, has struggled with dental problems all her life and has lost several teeth in domestic violence incidents. It’s a pain she wears emotionally and physically - and one which has slipped through the fingers of the oral health care system in Aotearoa. Jess Tyson from Te Ao with Moana reports. “I had no front tooth. I always used my hand to cover my mouth when I’d smile,” Aroha says. “It totally affected my confidence. I couldn’t look at people…I always turned away.
Hutt City Council first local body to formally oppose Treaty Principles Bill

Dec 9, 2024 | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

The Hutt City Council, Te Kaunihera o Te Awa Kairangi, is the first local body to pass a motion to oppose the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. It was passed unanimously by council members in Lower Hutt today and other local bodies across Aotearoa are being urged to do the same.
Award-winning initiative reaffirms importance of tikanga Māori taught in law schools

Dec 9, 2024 | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

An initiative embedding tikanga Māori within the Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Canterbury has won the university’s Hapori Community of Practice Award. The award recognises staff who support learners from a wider perspective and was presented to the leaders of Indigenising the LLB, an initiative supporting staff to embed tikanga Māori within the degree. The initiative is led by Māori lecturers William Grant, Rachael Evans, Dr Adrienne Paul and the Faculty of Law kaiārahi Dee Tawhai.
Young Te Tai Rāwhiti entrepreneurs win national award after being the first to pitch in Māori

Dec 6, 2024 | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wānanga students are the first finalists of the Young Enterprise Scheme national competition to pitch their business product in te reo Māori. The Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) is a programme for New Zealand high school students to start and run their own business.
Devastating fire burns through whare holding precious indigenous heritage seeds

Dec 3, 2024 | teaonews.co.nz | Jessica Tyson

Owners of a farm dedicated to fostering indigenous sustainable practises are devastated after their whare full of precious taonga was destroyed by fire last week. Farm owner and Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust founder Dr Jessica Hutchings woke up at 5.20am on Monday, November 25 to her home full of smoke. “I got up to investigate and it was just thicker and thicker.