Long before it made national headlines, Justin Latif faced an uphill battle to convince his bosses the occupation of Ihumātao was worth covering. The ensuing reportage opened up a national conversation about identity, land ownership and Māori rights.

Long before it made national headlines, Justin Latif faced an uphill battle to convince his bosses the occupation of Ihumātao wasn't just some "small local thing" - and was actually a story worth covering.

But what began as a report about a few dissidents taking a stand against a property developer would soon spark conversations across Aotearoa about identity, land ownership and Māori rights.

In this kōrero with broadcaster and media chaplain Rev Frank Ritchie, Justin discusses the power of community journalism, overcoming work-induced panic attacks, and how the media can be a force for good.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details