Mihingarangi Forbes Presenter Profile

Award-Winning Journalist, Māori Storyteller & Cultural Ambassador

Mihingarangi Forbes (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Paoa) is one of Aotearoa’s most respected and awarded journalists, known for her fearless investigative work and unwavering commitment to Māori storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has contributed to major current affairs programmes including Native Affairs, 60 Minutes, 20/20, and Campbell Live, where her incisive reporting earned her the Qantas Award for Best Reporter: Daily Current Affairs.

Mihi now fronts Mata Reports, a longform Māori investigative series, and continues her powerful work with RNZ Saturday Mornings and the NZ Wars documentary series, bringing historical narratives to life with cultural insight and integrity. Her recent accolades include the 2022 Voyager Media Award for Best Reporter: Māori Affairs, and the 2024 Te Tohu Kairangi Award, honouring excellence in journalism.

Bilingual and deeply rooted in her Māori identity, Mihi is also a proud mother of four bilingual children. She brings a uniquely personal and political lens to her work, seeking accountability while bridging understanding between te ao Māori and the wider Pākehā world. On her European side, she is a descendant of suffrage icon Kate Sheppard, a lineage that reflects her lifelong commitment to advocacy and justice.

As an MC and facilitator, Mihi is dynamic, composed, and deeply informed. Whether moderating high-stakes debates or hosting panels in English or te reo Māori, she creates meaningful, thoughtful spaces for conversation, making her an asset to any event.