Pania Newton

2022 Cohort

Pania is campaigning as an activist for Māori rights, environmental protection and constitutional transformation; recently co-led the #ProtectIhumatāo campaign to protect ancestral land in Auckland from corporate desecration.

Pania is of Waikato, Ngāpuhi, and Te Rarawa descent and lives in Aotearoa. Pania is one of the co-founders of the high-profile campaign to #ProtectIhumātao, the aim of which was to prevent corporate development of unjustly confiscated Māori land in Mangere, South Auckland. Pania is passionate about advocating for Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and constitutional transformation. She holds a Conjoint Degree in Law and Health Sciences from the University of Auckland, and has also acquired qualifications from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in the areas of Māori Food Sovereignty Practices and Performing Arts.

“I am committed to building our mana motuhake (self-determination) and enacting our ancestors’ moemoea (visions) of creating just, equitable and sustainable futures.”

Social change work

The overarching vision for her social change project is to nourish the restoration and healing of ahi kā, and promote transformative ways of thinking, being and doing that advance justice for Indigenous Peoples at Ihumātao, across Aotearoa and elsewhere.