Ko Putauaki te Maunga
Ko Kaputerangi te pā tūwatawata
Ko Whakatane te Awa
Ko Mataatua te Waka
Ko Ngati Awa te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Hokopu te hapu
Ko Te Whare o Toroa te Marae
Ko Wairaka te Whare Tipuna
“Kia Whakatane au i ahau”
Kirsty Babington has spent her working career in the media and has experience in newspapers, radio and television since graduating from the Waiariki Polytechnic journalism course in 1989.
With an awareness that the media is a key vehicle to create understanding, Kirsty has documented the stories and history of iwi, kaumatua and change makers for the past 35 years.
Kirsty is often called upon to train and mentor younger journalists and has tutored at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, Waiariki and WINTEC.
Her focus has been creating an awareness around te ao Māori through preserving the knowledge of the past, documenting current issues and consolidating the broad range of whakaaro Māori in the media by offering a platform to record positions on key issues.