Maori TV and Movies

WHANAU is an innovative and new short drama series designed to teach Maori language through situation and character dynamics. WHANAU is a gentle introduction to learning the Maori language. In each six-minute episode, Maori words are incorporated into the dialogue in easy steps to be absorbed along with the story. Every third programme is a Tutorial lesson that revises the Maori language learnt in the previous two episodes.

In a small New Zealand coastal village, Maori claim descent from Paikea, the Whale Rider. In every generation for over 1,000 years, a male heir born to the Chief succeeds to the title. The time is now. The Chief's eldest son, Porourangi, fathers twins - a boy and a girl. But the boy and his mother die in childbirth. The surviving girl is named Pai. Grief-stricken, her father leaves her to be raised by her grandparents. Koro, (the Chief) refuses to acknowledge Pai as the inheritor of the tradition and claims she is of no use to him. But her grandmother, Flowers, sees more than a broken line, she sees a child in desperate need of love.

Since its first transmission in 1987, Waka Huia has - in about 500 hour long episodes - captured for all time, the faces and voices of many kaumatua who are no longer with us. In the process we have created a vital and important audio-visual archive of Iwi and Hapu life and history. Waka Huia attempts to preserve the Maori language in its best form. It asserts a level of linguistic excellence that must be present in a society that is relearning its native tongue. In the course of its long production history, Waka Huia has travelled many thousands of miles to hundreds of marae and special tribal areas. It has recorded thousands of hours of korero with hundreds of our tupuna.

"There are a few moments in childhood that have a lasting impact. Not because they change the course of your life, or because they arrive with any great fanfare, in fact quite the opposite. Those are moments where an unexpected joy is found in the everyday, a moment of beauty in the ordinary. TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT captures one of those brief moments." While waiting for their parents, two boys and a girl meet in the carpark of a rural pub. What at first seems to be a relationship based on rivalry soon develops into a close friendship. We learn that love can be found in the most unlikely of places.

Marae is New Zealand television's longest running Maori current affairs, having first broadcast live to air in 1992. Hosted by Parliament Press Gallery journalist Shane Taurima, Marae screens 10am Saturday mornings on TV ONE. Marae is funded 100% by Te Mangai Paho

TVNZ is New Zealand's biggest free-to-air broadcaster and is also the nation's television public broadcaster. We operate two channels, TVONE and TV2. The TVNZ Charter provides a guide to our broadcasting responsibilities and makes it clear that TVNZ's role is to reflect and explore what it means to be a New Zealander. To New Zealanders, this unique and special responsibility means quality television that educates, informs and entertains through local home grown programming and the best of international programming.

The Maori Merchant of Venice, the Maori film version of the English bard William Shakespeare’s classic play The Merchant of Venice, brings an exotic look, a musically rich soundtrack and a unique cultural mix to Shakespearean tradition.

Te Karere aims to promote and use the Maori language five days a week during its 15 minute news bulletin on national television. Te Karere aims to satisfy its audience with a service that will convey Maori issues that are of National significance, whether it be Maori grieving the loss of their loved ones, celebrating their achievements, or voicing their concerns.

Screening between 4.00 PM and 5.30 PM every weekday, TAU KE is presented by Robynleigh and her gracious granny character who teach tamariki about the world as well as fronting a range of colourful, clever and creative children’s programmes aimed at k?hanga reo and kura kaupapa Maori.

Six Maori Battalion soldiers wait for night to fall in the ruins of a ruined Italian home. Forced into silence they keep themselves amused like any boys would, with jokes and laughter. As they try and ignore the reminders of war around them, a tohu (sign) brings them back to the world of the dying. They gather to say a karakia (prayer) to unite their spirits before they head back into the dark of war. Even at war…boys will be boys.