TV Highlights

MAORI TELEVISION’S INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SLOT

Tuesday February 5 – Tuesday March 11 2008

Maori Television’s International Documentary slot, Pakipumeka o te Ao, screens every Tuesday at 8.30 PM.

Upcoming documentaries include:

THE LADY IS A CHAMP – Tuesday February 5 at 8.30 PM: As coach of the women’s basketball team in Ramat Hasharon, Israel, Orna Ostfeld competes for the National Championship. Outside of the basketball arena, she fights constantly for equal government support of women’s sports. This is a documentary about gender, human rights and the pursuit for equality. It’s about the struggle of a woman who refuses to give up at all costs. (Hebrew – subtitled in English where required)

NO MAN’S LAND – Tuesday February 12 at 8.30 PM: Hijras or transgender people as they are sometimes known, occupy an unusual position within South Asian society. They are considered social outcasts, existing in a strange, no man’s land. Hijras are however reluctantly accepted – even though they are often an object of laughter, scorn or even fear. This documentary explores how hijras live in India; we meet with four hijra and hear their stories; and we also meet the medical professionals who deal with their differing medical needs. (Indian – subtitled in English)

ROME – THE LOST CITY OF CHINA – Tuesday February 19 at 8.30 PM: The lost city of Li-jien in China is a settlement that experts believe was once occupied by Roman legionnaires over 2,000 years ago. This documentary investigates the mystery behind its present day residents and their link to the West. Though the villagers believe they are of Roman heritage, the claim is a controversial one. Through a mix of scientific and historical analysis, modern experts try and piece together if the Romans could have lived in China, over one thousand years before the coming of Marco Polo.

SAYONARA CHANGI – Tuesday February 26 at 8.30 PM: In 2004, a brutal chapter of World War Two’s history was brought to a close. Singapore’s infamous Changi Prison, where some of the worst atrocities of the war were committed by the Japanese military, was torn down in August of that year.

This documentary takes six ex-prisoners of war from the UK and Australia to Changi to see the prison for the last time and relive this painful chapter of the war in Southeast Asia.

BEFORE THE FLOOD – Tuesday March 4 at 8.30 PM: Tuvalu – the tiny island nation with a fascinating story. Once the world’s third poorest country, at the height of the dot com boom in 1999, it sold its internet domain name – .tv – for $50 million. But all the cash in the world won’t stop the relentless march of the sea – Tuvalu is only three metres above sea level and suggestions are the nation will be eventually engulfed. This documentary looks at the impact of the impending disaster and how the residents feel about a homeland that is slowly disappearing. (Tuvaluan – subtitled in English)

VANUA-TAI – OF LAND AND SEA – Tuesday March 11 at 8.30 PM: Sea turtles are one of those animals that hold a fascination for many of us but are understood by very few. In 1995, the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) began the Year of the Turtle Campaign. The result of this was the creation of a network of village volunteers, named turtle monitors, that continues today. The initial group of monitors, instigated bans on the killing of turtles and the taking of eggs. This documentary tracks SPREP’s turtle preservation programme through the eyes of those who worked as turtle monitors. (Bislama – subtitled in English)

Maori Television’s International Documentary slot, Pakipumeka o te Ao, screens every Tuesday at 8.30 PM.

FORGING THE MISSING LINKS WITH TATAI HONO

TATAI HONO , the extraordinary series that reconnects people with their Maori origins, returns for a third season, premiering on Maori Television Monday January 28 at 8.00 PM.

Watch as seven different people embark on fascinating journeys to discover their family roots. TATAI HONO combines the hopes, fears and loves of ordinary folk with the intrigue of uncovering secret tales and forgotten links.

It’s an endearing rediscovery series where people who feel disconnected from their roots get an opportunity to explore their history, tribal affiliations, language and tikanga with the help of experienced researchers.

“Viewers will be able to gain the tools and the inspiration to begin their own journey or understand what it is to be disconnected from iwi Maori,” says Bryn Evans of Blue Bach Productions, the makers of the series.

“We have included interviews with kaumatua and kuia, aspects of whakapapa, debate about what it is to be a Maori today and the hopes and fears of those taking the leap and making the long journey home.”

In this, the third series of TATAI HONO, the programme travels throughout Aoteaora searching for people’s links with their tupuna. Those who are searching range in age from 24-56 and include those who have little knowledge of the Maori world, to one who is a native speaker well versed in whakapapa.

Meet the seven participants:

Anaru Thomas: Anaru was born and bred in Porirua, a stongly multicultural community. As a young man, Anaru felt he didn’t quite fit in and couldn’t identify why. Although his parents split when he was younger, his grandparents held the extended family together. When they passed on, he felt like his ties were slowly being cut. Anaru follows his grandmother’s whakapapa from Porirua to the East Coast and makes some surprising discoveries along the way

Hailee Kareko: Auckland ‘s Hailee Kareko is a focused 24 year old who lives for her sports. But while her days are full, she feels her soul is not nourished in the big city. Hailee was brought up living beside her father’s marae in Kaeo and she and her partner decide to make the journey north when they discover she is pregnant – just in time for the worst flooding the area has seen.

Taikawa Savage : After a life of hard knocks and feeling as if she had been abandoned, 53 year old Taikaawa Savage of Auckland travelled to Kaikohe to discover family she’d never met before. Taikaawa’s birthmother and most of her close whanau have passed on but she was to meet her uncle Pakihana who was able to share with her many details of her background including the meaning of her name.

Sam Kahui: Hamilton’s Sam Kahui began looking for his whakapapa several years ago spurred on by the interest of his sons. He’s a 52 year old father of four, including top rugby player, Richard Kahui. Sam has a lot on his hands; caring for his aged father and studying at Waikato University. Sam, with his sons, Alan and Richard, find their way back to his marae at Hangatiki.

Theona Ireton : Theona Ireton was adopted into a pakeha whanau as a baby and always felt like she was the odd one out. When the 43 year old began looking for her birthparents, Theona’s birthmother did not want to know her and she discovered her Maori father had died as a young man. She went home to Kaungaroa marae just outside of Wanganui and discovered that finding blood relatives is the just the start of a whole new chapter in her life.

Ronald Hou Poti : Ron has been the kaikorero for the Tatai Hono programme since it began in 2005 helping many people re-connect with their whakapapa. Ron was a whangai (adopted) who is now looking to fill the gaps in his own whakapapa. After speaking with his aunties, Ron is looking for his family connections with their Irish ancestors and begins by going to see his cousin Professor Patu Hohepa.

Wiremu Earnshaw : Wiremu Earnshaw of Tokoroa has spent several months searching for the links tying his mother’s family together. However, after several months of searching, Wiremu has a change of heart and decided to withdraw from the programme.

Join Maori Television for these extraordinary stories with the TATAI HONO series premiere, Monday January 28 at 8.00 PM.

MAORI TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS

NATIVE AFFAIRS: SUMMER SERIES (CURRENT AFFAIRS) – Monday February 4 at 8.30 PM

Maori Television’s current affairs series presents the highlights of 2007. Tonight: What would it take to settle Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2020; the Crown’s settlement process with Te Arawa; and the Office of Treaty Settlement’s handling of the claim by Ngati Whatua.

WARRANT OF FITNESS (HEALTH) – Tuesday February 5 at 8.00 PM

Hands-on health information from a distinctively Maori perspective. Tonight: Ella Henry goes public about a very private, very common and very embarrassing problem – incontinence.

THE LADY IS A CHAMP (INTERNATIONAL DOCO) – Tuesday February 5 at 8.30 PM

Coach Orna Ostfeld of the women’s basketball team in Ramat Hasharon, Israel, competes for the National Championship but also fights for equal government support of women’s sports. (Hebrew with English language subtitles)

KOTAHI TE RA: WAITANGI 2008 – Wednesday February 6 from 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM

Maori Television presents a 12-hour broadcast dedicated to New Zealand’s national day including reports from Waitangi Day events at home and abroad as well as news, views, interviews, discussions, documentaries, entertainment and historical highlights.

TAKU WAHINE PUROTU – Wednesday February 6 at 9.00 PM

Iconic female ancestors are celebrated in this series about tribal meeting houses. Tonight: Ohinewaiapu is the ancestress who lured the nation of Maui to the mouth of the Waiapu River. Was she a taniwha, a tipua or the tipuna of Waiapu River and its valley? (Maori language with English language subtitles)

NBL: HARVEY NORMAN NZ BREAKERS – Thursday February 7 at 8.00 PM, repeats Saturday February 9 at 1.30 PM

More brilliant basketball action from Auckland’s North Shore Events Centre when the NZ Breakers take on the Melbourne Tigers in round 21 of Australia’s Hummer Championship NBL.

BASSLINE (NZ MUSIC) – Friday February 8 at 8.30 PM

New Zealand ‘s modern-day musical movement is captured in action on stage. Tonight: House of Shem from Wanganui who is tipped to become a household name for roots and reggae fans around the country.

2008 NATIONAL WAKA AMA CLUB SPRINT CHAMPS – Sunday February 10 at 3.00 PM

The final of three one-hour specials featuring highlights from the National Waka Ama Club Sprint Championships hosted by Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa at Lake Karapiro in January.

NGA AHUREI O TE RAUMATI – Sunday February 10 at 8.30 PM

The performances and personalities of New Zealand’s summer festivals. Tonight: The Womad international festival in Taranaki where top international artists like Femi Kuti and Mariza playing alongside Maori performers like Whirimako Black and Wai.

THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL (SUNDAY FEATURE) – Sunday February 10 at 9.00 PM

An enchanting film that follows the adventures of a family of herders in Mongolia’s Gobi region who face a crisis when the mother camel unexpectedly rejects her newborn calf after a particularly difficult birth.

MAORI TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS

NATIVE AFFAIRS: SUMMER SERIES (CURRENT AFFAIRS) – Monday January 21 at 8.30 PM

Maori Television’s current affairs series presents the highlights of 2007. Tonight: Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu Te Heuheu; Tainui kaumatua reflect on their lives with the Kingitanga; Polynesian ariki meet in Tahiti; and the contentious Te Arawa treaty negotiations is the panel discussion.

ITI POUNAMU (NZ SHORT FILMS) – Monday January 21 at 9.30 PM

Brown Sugar: The final in this season of New Zealand short films – hosted by Ainsley Gardiner and Tearepa Kahi – is the story of three Polynesian girls confident in their identities who are about to perform their first ‘upmarket’ gig.

FORGOTTEN BRAZIL (INTERNATIONAL DOCO) – Tuesday January 22 at 8.30 PM

Far from the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and the futuristic buildings of Brasilia, the Nordeste (north-east) region of Brazil has a unique and fascinating history. Meet Jose Almeia dos Santos, a Sertanejo – one of those horsemen forgotten by time who still roam the Sertao plains.

TAKU WAHINE PUROTU – Wednesday January 23 at 8.00 PM

Rongomaiwahine : The serial philanderer Kahungunu became obsessed with Rongomaiwahine after hearing of her great beauty and finally seduced her to produce the great tribes of Kahungunu and Rongomaiwahine. The meeting house is at Mahia Peninsula in the Hawkes Bay.

TRUTH ABOUT MAORI (NZ DOCO) – Wednesday January 23 at 8.30 PM

All Maori can sing and play guitar, can’t they? This tongue-in-cheek documentary looks at modern day Maori myths and puts a few choice ones to rest once and for all.

NBL: HARVEY NORMAN NZ BREAKERS – Thursday January 24 at 8.00 PM, repeats Saturday January 26 at 1.30 PM

The NZ Breakers are back on home turf this week when they take on the West Sydney Razorbacks at Auckland’s North Shore Events Centre in round 19 of Australia’s Hummer Championship NBL.

BASSLINE (NZ MUSIC) – Friday January 25 at 8.30 PM

Shapeshifter: Exclusive live performance plus back stage with the boys during the Auckland leg of a national tour. Four music students from Christchurch formed this band in 1999 which has gone on to produce four albums and win countless awards.

WORLD HIP HOP CHAMPS 2007 – Saturday January 26 at 7.00 PM

The funkiest, phattest street dancers in the world – including Kiwi crew Dziah – feature in this five-part series which captures all the action from the World Hip Hop Dance Championships.

2008 NATIONAL WAKA AMA CLUB SPRINT CHAMPS – Sunday January 27 at 3.00 PM

One of the world’s fastest growing water sports returns to the small screen in the first of three one-hour specials featuring highlights from the National Waka Ama Club Sprint Championships to be hosted by Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa at Lake Karapiro in January.

NGA AHUREI O TE RAUMATI – Sunday January 27 at 8.30 PM

The summer festival series focuses on the Parihaka Peace Festival in Taranaki and features behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with organisers and performers such as Kora, Katchafire and Batucada Sound Machine as well as up-and-coming acts Homefire Burning and Big Belly Woman.

BLOWING UP PARADISE (SUNDAY FEATURE) – Sunday January 27 at 9.00 PM

A story of liberty, equality and radio-activity – in 1966, the French began 30 years of nuclear testing on the atoll of Moruroa in French Polynesia and former test site workers and French military personnel now suffer from a range of cancers associated with radiation.

TVNZ Captioning has achieved its target of captioning over 200 hours of programming each week, an increase of over 300% since 2000.

TVNZ Head of Emerging Business, Jason Paris, says that this is a significant achievement for the captioning service.

“TVNZ Captioning provides a highly valued service and is an important part of TVNZ’s role as New Zealand’s public service broadcaster.

“Captioning over 200 hours of programming each week is a milestone testament to the hard work and dedication of the captioning team.”

TVNZ Captioning is funded by NZ On Air and provides captioning across TV ONE, TV2, TVNZ 6 and TV3. It adheres to a number of mandates from NZ On Air, including minimum captioning requirements for prime time coverage, news bulletins and children’s programming.

NZ On Air’s Chief Executive, Jane Wrightson, says that the provision of captioning is vital for a significant number of New Zealanders.

“NZ On Air is pleased to fund such a valuable service and is delighted with the achievement of 200 hours of weekly captioned programmes” says Ms Wrightson.

“The dedication of the TVNZ Captioning staff, working to improve and extend captioning services, is admirable.”

Increased funding for the service in recent years has enabled TVNZ Captioning to incrementally build on its captioning provision.

Captioning runs through the Teletext service, and is accessible on Teletext page 801. The captioning service is primarily used by deaf and hearing-impaired viewers, but is also useful for viewers with English as a second language.

For more information about TVNZ Captioning’s service, please contact Captioning Manager Anna Donald on (09) 916-7787 or visit www.tvnz.co.nz/captioning.

TVNZ has announced the presenting team for the ONE News content that will screen on TVNZ 7, the company’s second digital channel, which launches on the Freeview platform on 30 March, 2008.

TVNZ 7 will be a factual channel, broadcasting news programmes, documentaries (both new and historical), and programmes which debate and analyse current events.

The new channel will have around 30% news content, produced out of TVNZ’s Auckland newsroom. Ten-minute ONE News bulletins will be broadcast every hour, on the hour, from 6am until 11pm. The breakfast zone will be dedicated to news, with rolling, updated ten-minute bulletins broadcast continuously between 6am and 9am.

TVNZ 7′s flagship news programme will be a non-commercial hour which will screen nightly at 8pm. The evening news hour will be co-anchored by ONE News Tonight host Greg Boyed and Geraline Knox, a lawyer and broadcaster who presented news bulletins on Malaysia’s news channel, NTV-7.

A team of dedicated producer/presenters will anchor the ONE News bulletins that run throughout the day. The new team brings together extensive local and international news experience, and includes Fiona Anderson, Ben Christie, Jenny-May Coffin, Rochelle Gillespie, Tiffany Hardy, Sandra Kailahi, Glen Larmer, Phil McGrath, and Sonia Madigan.

TVNZ Head of News and Current Affairs, Anthony Flannery said that he was delighted by the breadth and depth of the TVNZ 7 team.

“ONE News on TVNZ 7 is a further extension of our commitment to providing the very best news and current affairs to New Zealanders, anytime and anywhere,” he said. “As New Zealand’s dedicated free-to-air factual channel, TVNZ 7 will be a place where Kiwis go for information, discussion and analysis of the issues that are important to them.

“This team ensures they will find the very best news content, continually updated on the channel.”

The last time we saw Toni Warner , she was flying through the air in a spectacular car crash that surly no one could survive.
While all anyone could talk about was Joey’s masking of the Ferndale Strangler, the fates of Toni, Guy and the kids Tuesday and Harry all hung in the balance.
Tomorrow night when Shortland Street returns to our screens, we will find out who – if anyone – survives the smash.
For Actress Laura Hill, who plays Toni, it was strange to be back form her six month sabbatical straight into the peak of the serial killer storyline.
That was the weird thing, there was this amazing car crash but everyone was like JOEY, I’m like, “hello! I could be dead in the car here,” Laura laughs. It was good to know that people were getting into it )the serial killer plot_ “its great for the show/
While her character spent the last six months on the run from husband with his brother Guy, and the kids, Laura took time to recharge her batteries.
She holidayed in Fiji and London and also indulged herself in theatre.
I has a great beak,” Laura told Stars. “I had a few days to let myself know I was on holiday mode, then I went to Christchurch and did a play at the court theatre Babylon height by Irvine Walsh, who did trains potting. I payed a Irish dwarf! It’s set in the 30’s around a group of people who play Munchkins in the Wizard of oz, We were all playing little people with oversized sets.
It was very different to Shortland Street which was great. It made a real change.

I was dressed in a 1930’s outfit and wearing a wig – some people didn’t recognise me.
“then I went to London for seven weeks. I just hang out and saw lots of shows. I have a couple of very good friends over there. It was antistatic
For Laura, pursuing outside interested helps her keep her character of Toni fresh after six years.
“ A lot of actors on the show have other projects.” says Laura. “it’s a fantastic way for people to keep themselves fresh. It keeps you rounded.
After playing Toni for so long, Laura says she feel protective of her character.
It’s not that you cant draw the line, because obviously you can But you do get a little protective of them.
It’s come down to an acting thing. You’ve got to play your character with conviction and believe in what you do, if you are not going to believe in them, the audience won’t.
Running away and taking Harry out of school might seem a strange move for Toni but Laura explains her character’s actions.

The first few months were great and Guy was exciting. But her had this downward spiral and Toni was trying to hold it together and see glimpses of the Guy she loved.
“with Chris coming back and Guy saying to get in his car, it’s been desperate situation. She has to stick with it otherwise it means she made a dumb choice.
“getting in the car – it’s the devil you know or the devil you don’t.”
We’ll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out what happen but Laura has her own wish for Toni for 2008.
Toni should win the lottery and go and grow olives in Tuscany and we should see that on location! She laughs

Helena McAlpine Joins the C4 Team.

C4 is pleased that Helena McAlpine will be the new host joining Special Features for its new season. Helena replaces Jane Yee and joins current co-host Phil Bostwick along with our regular presenters DJ Sir-vere, Jono Pryor and Nick D

A UK native Helena moved to New Zealand 7 years ago and has worked in numerous radio roles since moving here, most recently at The Edge radio network

An avid shopper of vintage clothing, Helena has also clocked up 43 hours of solo flight time, loves live music and says her weekend starts on a Thursday!

Special Features this year will continue to bring you a smorgasbord of all things Special, keeping you up to date with all the latest entertainment news, music, events, interviews, fashion and whole lot more..

Helena will make her C4 debut on the 2008 Big Day Out Special on Saturday January 19th 8.30pm and her debut on Special Features when the show returns on Thursday January 31st at 8.30pm.

Dancing With The Stars is returning soon and TVNZ has confirmed the final four stars who will take to the floor in February.

Former Silver Fern Temepara George, actor and restaurateur Geeling Ng, radio DJ and musician Peter Urlich, and World Surf Ironman champion Cory Hutchings, will team up with professional dancers for this year’s series.

The final four will join boxer Monty Betham, actor Miriama Smith, radio and TV presenter Martin Devlin, and performer Tina Cross, who were confirmed in December.

Dancing With The Stars continues to capture the imagination of the nation, with its audience share (All People +5) growing each year since it started in 2005. An average of 51.3 per cent of the available audience watched each episode of the 2007 series. The 2007 final was watched by 56.4 per cent of the available audience. Dancing With The Stars has now raised more than $1million for New Zealand charities.

Dancing With The Stars is a BBC format.

TVNZ today announced that The National Bank will exclusively introduce the ONE News Updates which screen daily at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.

The multi-year partnership, which begins on Monday 14 January, also covers ONE News Updates across a range of TVNZ’s new media platforms, including tvnz.co.nz, tvnz on-demand, pod-casting and portable video content for mobile.

TVNZ Head of News and Current Affairs, Anthony Flannery, said he was delighted to be working with The National Bank.

“As one of the country’s most iconic brands, The National Bank is a perfect match for ONE News,” he said. “The strength of this partnership also demonstrates the market’s confidence in the ONE News brand; New Zealand’s leading news service.”

Dave Walker, Head of Advertising Sales at TVNZ described The National Bank as the ideal partner for ONE News.

“Key factors in the decision to enter into this new partnership were the credibility of The National Bank brand, its excellent track record of involvement in the community, and the Bank’s commitment to embracing our new media strategy” he said.

“Media buys of this nature have proven to be highly effective in terms of audience reach and will significantly enhance our share of voice” said Craig Sims, Managing Director of The National Bank Retail Banking.

“ONE News is a great brand fit for The National Bank, and we saw this as an excellent opportunity to build on our consistently strong customer service proposition” said Sims.

“We’re particularly looking forward to the opportunities afforded by TVNZ’s focus on new media to provide news anywhere, anytime. This complements our own investment in mobile and web banking channels.”

ONE News ended 2007 in a strong position after two months of year-on-year growth in total viewership, and in the all-important 25-54 demographic.*

In November 2007, ONE News at 6pm boosted its total audience by 7% (over 38,000 viewers), and its 25-54 audience by 6% (over 10,000 viewers) compared with 2006 ratings. ONE News continued to build its audience in December, boosting its total audience by 8% (over 44,000 viewers), and its 25-54 audience by 14% (more than 20,000 viewers) over the 2006 figures.

Overall, ONE News ended the year with an average 2007 rating of 14.2 (548,000 viewers), around 200,000 more viewers than 3 News, and was neck-and-neck with 3 News in the 25-54 demographic. Both bulletins had an average 2007 rating of 10.6 in 25-54, equivalent to 183,907 viewers.

*All ratings data sourced from AGB Nielsen