“Success looks different for everyone” – Halle Pitama at Mairangatia te Angitu
In March 2025, the Mairangatia te Angitu brought together rangatahi, educators, and whānau to celebrate diverse journeys of Māori success. Among the standout keynote speakers was Halle Pitama (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Te Rangi), a bold new voice in Māori journalism and a proud graduate of both Te Kura Whakapūmau and the New Zealand Broadcasting School.
Hailing from North Canterbury, Halle grew up immersed in te ao Māori, attending kura kaupapa Māori and carrying with her the reo and values of her people. Now a reporter with Tahu News, she’s quickly gaining recognition for her fresh voice, fearless storytelling, and unwavering commitment to uplifting her whānau, hapū, and iwi.
But her journey hasn’t been easy.
After graduating from kura in 2021, Halle faced a question familiar to many ākongaMāori: what now? “There weren’t many clear pathways for us,” she shared with the audience. “I had a few ideas. One was beauty, something I’d always been passionate about.” She even looked into training to administer cosmetic injectables but realised that wasn’t where her heart lay long-term.
Her second option? Public speaking. “I was always the loud one in the group,” she laughs. “People pushed me toward MCing and journalism.” With no one in her circle having attended broadcasting school before, it was a leap of faith. She applied, got accepted, and moved into the unfamiliar world of tertiary education.
Broadcasting school came with culture shock. “I was the only Māori-speaking student in the whole school. It wasn’t like kura. There’s less structure, you’re figuring things out on your own, and life keeps happening.”
And life really did happen. During her first year of study, Halle became hapū. She took a break to have her baby, returned to study and soon found out she was hapū again. “It was hard. I wouldn’t recommend it,” she said with a smile, “But I did it. And I want other young māmā to know that it can be done. You can keep going, even when it’s hard.”
Alongside her studies and journalism work, Halle never let go of her passion for beauty. She became a certified eyelash technician, running a lash studio from home to support her whānau and balance her creative energy with her media mahi.
At Mairangatia te Angitu, Halle’s kōrero was real, raw, and uplifting. She reminded the audience that success is not one-size-fits-all.
“Success looks different for everyone,” she said. “For me, it’s about being happy in what I’m doing. If I’m providing for my whānau and enjoying my mahi, then that’s success. That kind of success is achievable for all of us.”
A constant thread in her story is the power of whakapapa. “Everything I do in life is based around my whānau, hapū, iwi. I try to bring them with me into every space. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
And that’s exactly why she said yes to speaking at Mairangatia te Angitu.
“When I was in high school, we didn’t have events like this. I would’ve loved to hear from someone like me, a rangatahi, not long out of kura, sharing what life is actually like. If I can help one person feel seen or a little more confident about their next step, then that’s worth it.”
Her final words to the rangatahi in the room were simple but powerful:
“Do something you enjoy. Do something fun. Make sure whatever you’re doing makes you happy.”
From journalism and lashes to nappies and deadlines, Halle Pitama is carving out a pathway all her own and taking her people with her every step of the way.