The Iwi Whakamahu drama: A balanced report without taking sides
If you spend any time on X, Facebook or TikTok, you have probably come across Shubz, whose real name is Martel Wikeepa. He became widely known through short, direct videos calling out what he sees as entrenched Māori power structures, often naming figures such as John Tamihere and Willie Jackson. Those clips travelled fast, and his profile lifted further after a relaxed sit down on the Duncan Garner Podcast. I have personally enjoyed some of the content of his that I have come across.
As often happens with people who rise quickly online, attention has extended beyond the content itself. Across X, users have begun sharing and discussing a range of claims about Shubz’s past, including references to court matters, allegations involving a former partner and children, and questions around a current fundraising campaign now associated with Corina Shields, better known online as AuntyHeihei. These remain allegations and online claims. No findings have been established..
Shubz has announced a nationwide tour titled Iwi Whakamahu – Heal the Nation, promoted through a Givealittle page that leans heavily on language around kaupapa, healing, connection and unity. The stated goal is to engage communities across the country and bring people together. Whether a tour like this can genuinely “heal the nation” is open to debate. Personally, I am sceptical of that claim. New Zealand’s divisions are deep and complex, and no road trip is going to fix that. That said, if the tour helps even a small number of people feel heard or supported, then sweet. That is not nothing.
Where much of the discussion on X has focused is the funding target. The Givealittle seeks close to $100,000 for a 22 day trip from Wellington to Rerenga Wairua. Broken down, this equates to several thousand dollars per day. Some of Shubz’s supporters see this as a reasonable cost for a nationwide initiative involving travel, logistics and content production. Others have questioned whether the scale matches the kaupapa being promoted.
The Givealittle page has raised around $6,300 so far.
The published budget includes figures such as around $10,000 for technology and connectivity, $30,000 for vehicle hire, fuel and maintenance, and roughly $60,000 for accommodation, food and security. On the tech side, for example, Starlink Roam Unlimited is about $220 per month, with hardware costing roughly $650, which got me wondering how that particular figure was reached.
I will also acknowledge that nationwide travel in New Zealand is not cheap, especially over a short timeframe. That said, I know from personal experience it can be done for significantly less. For under $30,000, you could realistically purchase a used Toyota Hiace or similar van to transport the crew, complete the trip, and then sell the vehicle afterwards, reducing the overall cost.
Alongside this, there have been references to an alleged court appearance in Brisbane. At the time of writing, these remain unverified online claims. I haven’t seen any court documents. No conclusions should be drawn. However, some users argue that when someone asks for public trust and financial backing, unresolved questions inevitably become part of the conversation.
There has been discussion about merchandise linked to the tour. T shirts were reportedly priced at $72 plus $22 shipping. The high price of the merch could simply be a way to fund the project and show support. However, some people on X have compared the pricing to typical local printing and shipping costs and questioned the margins. Regarding the shipping costs, it costs less than $7.99 to send a t-shirt with Aramex.
I decided to run a small comparison using the same design on VistaPrint. Printing a custom T shirt comes in at around $13.77 to $16.99 per unit, with $9.99 for shipping, meaning roughly $26.98 delivered to your door. That is noticeably less than the roughly $90 being charged for the Iwi Whakamahu t-shirts. Of course, it may not be a profit-driven exercise, and the higher price could be intended to feed straight back into supporting the wider kaupapa or movement.
Corina Shields, AuntyHeihei, has become a prominent spokesperson for the campaign and is widely understood to be managing the Givealittle page and responding publicly when questions arise. Her responses have been direct and emotional, which I guess a few appreciate as authenticity, while others on X would prefer a more detailed explanation over tone.
Shields has previously been publicly associated with Hobson’s Pledge in its opposition to Māori wards. On X, some users have also speculated about whether Shubz has had any involvement. Clarification has been asked for, but so far no clear or definitive answers have been provided.
One interesting aspect of this situation is the mix of people raising concerns. The questions are not coming from one political group or ideology. Users from across the spectrum have been asking similar things about transparency, consistency and accountability. At the same time, many others continue to support Shubz, saying they appreciate that he speaks plainly, challenges powerful figures, and connects with people who feel ignored.
Social media is full of people claiming to lead movements, heal communities or speak for the nation. That makes healthy scepticism normal. It also makes it important to separate genuine questions from personal attacks.
In my view, this tour is unlikely to heal the nation in any broad sense. That is an extremely high bar for any initiative. That said, if it gives some people a sense of connection, or helps individuals work through personal issues, then it may still have value for those involved. Then again, I could argue that similar support can also be found through professional counselling or community services.
For many people watching, the central question is not whether Shubz is right or wrong, but whether the level of transparency and accountability matches the scale of the claims being made.
It will also be interesting to see what the turnout looks like. Almost everyone is back at work now, and even if some wanted to support the kaupapa, taking time off during the working week is simply not realistic for a lot of people.
For now, X will keep doing what X does best. Watching, questioning, supporting, arguing and pulling things apart in real time. People can make up their own minds about where they stand and whether they want to support it. Caution does not have to mean hostility. Sometimes it is just common sense.
Oh, and one final note. Before anyone labels me a grifter for running a Substack that people can choose to support financially, here’s 90% off for the election year. That works out to be 8 bucks - the same price as a steak and cheese pie.
And finally for my premium subscribers, I will be upfront about my own take on this. From the outside, it currently feels more like a camping trip than something that is realistically going to achieve any meaningful change. Fair play to them for coming up with the idea, but I struggle to see how travelling to Parliament and literally turning your back on the building leads to anything constructive or tangible. Especially when no politicians are going to be there in the first place.
