As Te Reo heads towards its second birthday, the 100 per cent Maori language channel – for fluent reo speakers – is proud to announce a fantastic line-up of new programmes in 2010.
Te Reo has also extended its schedule by an hour per day, broadcasting from 7.00 PM to 11.00 PM daily. The extra hour is part of a longer term strategy to develop Te Reo as the key television channel for fluent Maori speakers.
“Te Reo ensures that fluent speakers and learners of the language are able to watch and enjoy television programming that is in the Maori language and does not include the distraction of subtitles,” says Te Reo head of programming, Eruera Morgan (Te Arawa). “As a new entity, the channel is continuously developing as we enhance the schedule through improved programming diversity and quality as well as extending our on-air hours.”
Kicking off the year, Te Reo will introduce iwi programming via NGA PARIKARANGARANGA O TE MOTU – a 100-episode journey that screens on Sundays at 9.00 PM. “What is unique and exciting about this show is that it is in the hands of iwi themselves, and whatever iwi want it to be in terms of style and content of their programme,” says Morgan. “The show aims to give viewers the rare opportunity to hear their own dialect. It also provides insight into iwi connections and knowledge, and those living away from home get to hear what’s going on.”
TAMA TU, TAMA ORA, screening on Sundays at 7.30 PM, is a new health issues show that takes it title from the famous proverb, tama tu tama ora, tama noho tama mate (to stand is to live, to lie down is to die). A new programme that targets the health issues that affect Maori, it features both mainstream and alternative methods of treatment.
AKO is a new intermediate language learning series that sets out to break new ground. Screening from March 29 (Monday to Friday at 8.00 PM) and aimed at conversant te reo speakers of all ages, AKO is the only televised Maori language course taught in te reo.
Set in a classroom, the teacher is Pania Papa (Tainui), who has six students in her class, all at varying skill levels. Papa, who worked on Te Ara Reo, a learning pathway used by Te Wananga o Aotearoa, says: “I’m passionate about language revitalisation and I hope AKO will help raise the proficiency level across the board. There is a lot of focus on beginner level te reo speakers, but we want to provide something to those who have shown a commitment to getting themselves fluent.
“The idea is that the audience becomes part of the class,” she says. “It has a grammar focus, which will go a long way to improving accuracy.” Perfect for those with a busy schedule, AKO helps people learn in the comfort of their living rooms, and the show can also be viewed on demand at www.maoritelevision.com.
HE IWI WHAKAPONO, on air from April 25, investigates a range of religions that have impacted on Maori, and is presented by Ruia Aperahama. Starting with the missionaries, this show explores how different faiths, from Anglican to Baha’I, Catholic to Ratana got a foothold in their communities.
TE KAUTA (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8.30 PM, from March 29) is a risqué chat show with kaumatua and kuia, as they gives audiences a rare peek at the ‘hard case’ stories, naughty secrets and embarrassing moments from the good old days. Morgan says: “It shows all those things that you never see on television. This includes things like confessions about their first kiss and early coming of age encounters. It’s basically Maori humour in its true essence, in our native language, as it has never been captured before.” Led by hosts Menu Hibbs and Kingi Biddle, this show is a chance to be transported back to a time of dance halls and picture theatres, when everything happened in the back of the marae, from playing cards to peeling potatoes.
Old favourites returning to the schedule include MANU KORERO 2009 (Sundays at 7.00 PM), featuring all the action from last year’s national secondary students’ speech competition. The contest is seen as a breeding ground for many future leaders, from Donna Awatere, the first winner, to politician Shane Jones and television presenters Matai Smith and Julian Wilcox. Morgan says: “Speechmaking and oratory is the backbone of our culture. Coming from a culture of storytelling, genealogy and mythology, whaikorero has been a part of our culture for generations. It is imperative that we nurture our future leaders.”
Also returning is Waihoroi Shortland’s TE TEPU, the only current affairs show entirely in te reo Maori. It screens on Thursdays at 9.30 PM.
Immerse yourself in the reo, stay informed and be entertained – tune into Te Reo in 2010.
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