This is edition 2025/226 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
The MUMA Millions: Where the hell Is all the money going?
Matua Kahurangi
- 💰 Massive Financial Growth: Manukau Urban Maori Authority (MUMA), led by Labour MP Willie Jackson’s wife Tania Rangiheuea, jumped from $3 million to $16 million in income within a few years.
- 🏦 Huge Cash Reserves: Financial statements show MUMA holds over $10.5 million in cash — a staggering figure for a social services group.
- 🤔 Accountability Questions: Critics ask where the money is going and whether it’s truly helping vulnerable Māori in South Auckland.
- 📰 Media Arm Scrutiny: MUMA’s assets include Waatea News, but its media presence doesn’t explain the explosion in funding.
- ⚠️ Allegations of Misconduct: Matthew McCarten revealed on The Good Oil Podcast that Willie Jackson allegedly intervened to make a complaint against his wife “disappear.”
- 🚨 Ethical Concerns: The claims suggest political interference and serious governance issues inside MUMA.
- 🕵️♂️ Media Silence: Mainstream outlets have ignored the story, contrasting their usual eagerness to cover trivial issues.
- 🧱 Protective Media Shield: Critics say Labour still benefits from media loyalty fostered by the $50 million Public Interest Journalism Fund.
- 🔁 Déjà Vu of Corruption: The situation mirrors John Tamihere’s Waipareira Trust saga — alleged elite Māori profiteering while communities suffer.
- 😡 Public Frustration: Ordinary Māori still face hardship while millions flow into politically connected organisations.
- 💔 Eroding Trust: The scandal deepens public distrust in institutions and oversight in New Zealand.
- 👀 Disappearing Act: After the revelations, Rangiheuea has reportedly been absent from MUMA, keeping a low profile amid the controversy.
