Throng

A moko artist, a composer and a celebrity chef are just three of the artists profiled in the new season of Maori Television’s art show KETE ARONUI – starting September 19 at 8:00 PM.

Now in its eighth year, KETE ARONUI covers the creative spectrum - from carvers and film-makers to writers, painters and glass blowers - to get to the heart of Maori art.

A unique blend of culture and creativity, the show pays tribute to contemporary Maori artists, but also celebrates the traditions and culture that makes their work Maori.

Each of the 13 half-hour episodes focuses on an established or emerging artist as they talk about their life and work, their passions, achievements and aspirations.

This latest series of KETE ARONUI, produced by Kiwa Productions, kicks off with a profile of acclaimed photographer John Miller.

Influential Maori musicians of past and present largely unrecognised for their contribution to Maori music are profiled in an inspiring new documentary series on Maori Television.

UNSUNG HEROES OF MAORI MUSIC premieres on Maori Television on Friday, September 3 at 8.00 PM.

The 13-episode series begins with the music of Ratana and explores how the Whanganui brass band sound influenced Maori musicians and entertainers.

UNSUNG HEROES OF MAORI MUSIC tracks the developments in Maori music, with each episode profiling successful musicians and entertainers such as Tai Paul and Rim D Paul, and show band giants Mary and the Maori Hi Five, who hit the big-time overseas.

The musicians and entertainers tell their stories and explore the issues they faced being Maori musicians in Aotearoa and abroad.

A new documentary is set to screen that paints a picture of class war between two of our biggest sporting codes – rugby league and rugby union. WEEKEND WARRIORS screens on Maori Television on Saturday August 28 at 8.30 PM.

Rugby league has a strong and proud tradition in many parts of Aotearoa, and Auckland Rugby League in particular has given the sport dozens of its heroes, and thousands more fans.

Yet some big names in the sport believe the code is treated like the poor relation compared to rugby union – an overhang of the sport’s origins as a working class sport.

Some ask why so many secondary schools continue to emphasise competitive rugby union, yet only a few offer rugby league as a school sport. They say something as basic as securing a field for a game can be harder for league than for union.

The much-anticipated pool draw for Te Matatini – the biennial kapa haka national competition – will screen in a live and exclusive television broadcast on Maori Television’s daily news bulletin, Te Kaea, this Thursday August 12 from 7.30 PM.

The live draw will take place in Gisborne, which will host the competition in February 2011, and Maori Television will have a crew on hand to relay pool information to viewers at home. Te Matatini chairman Selwyn Parata will draw the teams.

The full draw will run within the news bulletin.

October 15th 2007 is a date etched into the memories of all Tuhoe, and many other New Zealanders.

This was the day New Zealand Police launched anti-terrorism raids on the people of Tuhoe, in the valley of Ruatoki and beyond.

With extraordinary access and filmed over a two and a half year period, the aftermath of the raids is explored in OCTOBER 15, screening on Maori Television on Saturday August 7 at 8.30 PM.

OCTOBER 15 is an intimate record of how events touched the lives of the people in the days, weeks, months and years following the raids.

“We filmed as the people rebuilt their lives and addressed the after-effects of the raids on their children,” says producer Pietra Brettkelly. “On a more political level, we also followed Te Kotahi a Tuhoe, the group led by Tamati Kruger that sought to take civil action against the police.”

Power-punching David “Tuamanator” Tua isn’t looking past his opponent Saturday night, former world title challenger Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett, despite being mentioned as a future opponent for world champions David Haye and the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.

Tua trained in Jersey City, New Jersey to prepare for Saturday night’s 12-round main event fight on the “T-N-T at the Tropicana” pay-per-view event, presented by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, at Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

New Zealand’s national indigenous broadcaster, Maori Television, will present exclusive, live and free-to-air coverage of Tua’s fight on Sunday July 18 from midday (New Zealand time).

Tua (51-3-1, 43 KOs), rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Organization, hasn’t fought in Atlantic City for eight years, however, he’s undefeated fighting there in 13 fights with 12 knockouts.

Maori Television presenter Te Hamua Nikora who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour has now been advised that he has been accepted for a public health operation early this week.

Te Hamua has been recovering from testicular cancer and has diabetes. He is clear of the cancer but one of the complications was that a previously undiagnosed non-cancerous tumour on his pituitary gland has split.

The tumour has to be removed and fans and friends of Te Hamua have been fundraising to help pay for his brain surgery. A charitable trust called Haati Nati Hauora has been set up and money raised will now be donated to support services for Maori men with prostrate cancer.

The contact for the charitable trust is Moko Templeton on +64 21 494 549.

An English masters student has travelled to New Zealand to study the success of Maori Television among non-Maori viewers.

Richard Turner is fascinated with the way Maori Television has drawn in local audiences and will study the network’s success for his thesis research.

The Brit watched Maori Television online while he was in the UK for his media studies and has come to Massey University on a scholarship to conduct further research on why ratings are showing three-quarters of the channel’s audience is non-Maori.

Turner has developed two possible theories.

"One is that they are so disenchanted with the mainstream ... they are looking for an alternative. They want some homegrown programmes, things that are about themselves."