Unity Day 2026
Sharing stories of unity for a kinder and fairer Napier
Ngā kōrero Pūrākau ka puawai te kotahitanga
Unity Day Award Winners
Naomi Eunson
Lisa Hardie
Christine Henrisine “Hubba” Harrison
Manawa Ora Mobile Community Hub Team
Gracyn Moana-Poi
Dee Murphy
Orange Sky Te Matau a Maui
Sarah Pihema
Shyann Raihania
John Wise
Working in partnership with the community
Mahi tahi i roto i te whakaaro
Kotahi hei painga mo te iwi katoa
Without such vision, the people perish
E kore pa mai ngā whakaaro kino a te ao hurihuri
Programme
Unity Day 2026 MC's - rangatahi from Toi Matarua, the famous MokoBoys
8:30 – 9:00am Registration
9:00am Karakia, mihi whakatau – Mana Whenua (Ngāti Pārau me rāua Te Taiwhenua o Te
Whanganui ā Orotū me Mana Ahuriri)
Te Wehenga Toi Matarua and Whakawhanauatanga
9.25am Transforming Communities: Stories of unity through Community Building. Initiatives that
are creating community wellness: Moving Forward Māra Kai Video and Poppa Pete
9:30am 2026 John Robson Memorial Lecture
Professor Khylee Quince, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Te Roroa, Dean of Law, Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Followed by a panel discussion led by Toi Matarua
10.30am Transforming Communities: Stories of unity through Community Building. Initiatives that
are creating community wellness and unity: Whatever it Takes Trust & Āhuru Mōwai
10.45am Tributes to former Pilot City Trustees: Maaki Kururangi, Roger McNeill and Ross Duncan
11.00am Transforming Communities: Stories of unity through Community Building. Initiatives that
are creating community wellness and unity: Tangata Tiriti Aotearoa Neill Gordon
11:05am Morning Tea
11:35am 2026 Unity Awards Citations read by Mayor of Napier Richard McGrath. Awardspresented by Matiu Eru & Khylee Quince
12.15pm The importance of having your say: He Mana, He Pōti Councillor Whare Isaac-Sharland
12:20pm Poroporoaki
Unity Day 2026 was kindly supported by
