Maori Media / PEOPLE

Wena Harawira - MTV's Te Heteri Current Affairs host

2004-09-24T13:52:00.000+12:00

WENA HARAWIRA
Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāi Te Rangi,
Ngāti Ranginui

A pioneering female Māori journalist is the host of Māori Television’s new current affairs show - TE HĒTERI (Wednesdays at 9.00 pm).

TE HĒTERI is Māori Television’s first ever current affairs show. It is presented in both Māori and English and aims to shed light on issues facing the Māori and indigenous world. Stories are filed from a pool of the country’s leading Māori journalists as well as contributions from team members of Māori Television’s news programme Te Kāea.

Host Wena Harawira was a founding member of TVNZ’s Māori news programme Te Karere more than 20 years ago and its first female reporter / presenter. She went on to work for Mana News and Mana Magazine and became a published author and editor. Her TV experience includes reporting and presenting for TVNZ’s magazine programme Marae, sub-editing news bulletins for BBC Wales, researching and narrating several mainstream documentaries and producing a range of government, corporate and educational videos.

Hosting her own show is a major coup for Wena because it is the first time a Māori woman has hosted a bilingual prime time current affairs show in New Zealand.

“It’s an honour to host TE HĒTERI and I acknowledge all those who have battled with the crown to revitalise te reo Māori,” says Wena. “It is because of their efforts that we have the privilege to broadcast Māori issues in prime time in both Māori and English.”

Wena says she relishes the opportunity to travel the country to visit some of the rural areas and meet people who seldom feature on TV.

“We want to inform Māori about Māori issues nationally, locally and tribally. We also want to source indigenous stories from abroad to look at how other cultures are resolving similar issues.”

Join Wena Harawira on TE HĒTERI, Wednesdays at 9.00 pm.

Rongomaiāniwaniwa Milroy - MTV's Te kaea News Weekends Presenter

2004-09-24T13:50:00.000+12:00

Rongomaiāniwaniwa Milroy
Tuhoe, Te Arawa

Rongamaianiwaniwa presents Māori Television’s weekend news bulletins. Rongomaianiwaniwa was raised in Hamilton and her father Wharehuia made a point of ensuring the only language he spoke to her as she was growing up was Māori.

Her career has reflected her upbringing in te reo – as a kaiawhina at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manurewa in Auckland, as a presenter and voice for a collection of Māori animated cartoons, in her study of acting and for a Degree in Māori Development specialising in television.

Julian Wilcox - MTV's Te Kaea Sports Presenter

2004-09-24T13:48:00.000+12:00

Julian Wilcox
Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa,
Te Arawa

Julian presents the nightly sports segment on Te Kaea, and is also co-host of Maori Television's weekly sports show Nga Hau Tipua.

Julian first entered broadcasting as a Te Aute College student announcing for Hawkes Bay iwi radio station, Te Reo Irirangi o Ngāti Kahungunu. His work in radio continued with the Wellington iwi radio station Te Upoko O Te Ika while he studied at Victoria University.

In 2001 Julian joined the Māori news team on Te Karere providing news and political commentary from the Wellington region. He was the host for the Māori language sports programme on Auckland’s Radio Waatea and last year won the Māori Sports Media Award for best Māori radio sports commentaries in the Māori language.

You can catch up on daily sports news with Julian on Te Kaea at 8.30pm weekdays, and join him for Nga Hau Tipua on Mondays at 7pm.

Ngārimu Daniels - MTV's Te Kaea News Presenter

2004-09-24T13:47:00.000+12:00

Ngārimu Daniels
Tuhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whatua

Ngārimu fronts Te Kaea, Māori Television’s nightly news programme. Ngārimu has a background as a Māori language newsreader and reporter with the radio news service, Ruia Mai. She was a finalist in the 2002 NZ Radio Awards for the best newsreader – the first time a Māori language newsreader has been nominated for a mainstream award.

Ngārimu grew up speaking Māori in Ruatoki in the Bay of Plenty. When she was nine, her family moved to England for a year where she performed in a chorus of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Evita – her introduction to acting. Her film and television credits include an acclaimed performance as Pohia in the movie, The Māori Merchant of Venice and the Māori language television dramas Maui Potiki and Aroha.

Hon Parekura Horomia - Minister of Maori Affairs

2004-07-14T08:07:00.000+12:00

DPMC - Cabinet Office: Portfolios: Maori Affairs

Department:
- Te Puni Kokiri (Ministry of Maori Development)

Crown Entities:
- Te Mangai Paho (Maori Broadcasting Agency)
- Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Maori (Maori Language Commission)

Other Organisations:
- Maori Purposes Fund Board
- Maori Television Service
- Maori Trust Office
- New Zealand Maori Council
- Te Ohu Kai Moana (Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission)
- Waitangi Tribunal

Hon Steve Maharey - Minister of Broadcasting

2004-07-14T08:03:00.000+12:00

DPMC - Cabinet Office: Portfolios: Broadcasting

Department:
- The Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Ministry of Economic Development provide administrative support for this portfolio.
- The Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit (a unit attached to the Treasury) provides commercial and ownership monitoring in respect of Television New Zealand Ltd and Radio New Zealand Ltd.

Crown Entities:
- Broadcasting Commission (New Zealand On Air)
- Broadcasting Standards Authority
- Radio New Zealand Ltd (including Radio New Zealand International)

Other Organisations:
- Advertising Standards Authority
- National Pacific Radio Trust

Radio bridge between races loses its linchpin (About Henare Te Ua retirement)

2004-07-12T10:22:00.000+12:00

From New Zealand Herald News - NZ - Radio bridge between races loses its linchpin

27.09.2003
By RENEE KIRIONA

One of New Zealand's only radio programmes known for bridging the gaps between Maori and Pakeha will run its last show tomorrow.

Whenua, produced by Radio New Zealand, made its last cut when crew and supporters gathered in RNZ's Auckland studio yesterday.

The one-hour, magazine-style current affairs show has run for eight years but came to an end because of the retirement of one of its presenters, veteran Maori broadcaster Henare Te Ua, 71.

RNZ Maori programming manager Paul Bushnell said the show helped put New Zealanders "in touch with each other".

"A lot of our listeners, both Pakeha and Maori, are really upset that Whenua will be going off air," he said.

Mr Bushnell described Te Ua (Ngati Porou) as having "phenomenal experience" in the industry, spanning more than 40 years.

"Henare brings amazing mana to his job because he has the ability to move between worlds and bring those two worlds together to interact in a positive way.

"He is the last of his generation of broadcasters and if you were to ask me who is the best Maori broadcaster, or broadcaster in general for that matter, I would say he is."

For Te Ua, the show was a major highlight of his career.

"I've become accustomed to explaining Maori culture to a non-Maori audience and communicating across the cultures," he said. "My attitude has always been, if you want to come along on a cultural journey with me then I will guide you."

Te Ua is also known for his contribution to the Maori community. As a tribal elder he accompanied Te Maori exhibition in the late 1980s.

But this will not be the last listeners hear of Te Ua, who plans to do some part-time radio work.

The show's other presenter, Libby Hakaraia, plans to produce and direct television documentaries with award-winning documentary-maker Rhonda Kite.

Over the years, most well-known politicians, celebrities, artists, activists and "almost anyone who was anyone" had appeared on the programme, Hakaraia said.

"I think what people liked about Whenua was that it didn't go down the usual track.

"There were a lot of times when instead of asking the hard questions we would ask them about their whanau, what they liked to eat and their upbringing," she said.

Whenua would be replaced by three programmes, totalling 114 minutes, running consecutively each Sunday starting at 5pm.

Those shows would look at Maori music, current affairs and Maori history based on RNZ archival material which would be compiled by Mr Te Ua.

The last show of Whenua, a two-hour special, will be broadcast at 5pm on National Radio tomorrow.

Wiremu Kingi Kerekere

2004-07-12T10:09:00.000+12:00

Biography from Creative New Zealand - Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa

Wiremu Kingi Kerekere (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki ki Turanganui a Kiwa, Ngai Tai ki Tainui, Ngati Pukeko ki Maatua). Wiremu (Bill), who grew up at Waihirere and lived in Gisborne, made an enormous contribution to Maori performing arts. He composed many songs, and was a renowned tutor who worked with Waihirere, Ngati Poneke and Te Kahui Rangatahi culture groups. He also served on the Mangatu Blocks committee, worked in radio for 20 years, and organised many major Maori events. Wiremu and his wife, the late Mihiata Parata Kerekere, touched the lives of many people - young and old, Maori and Pakeha - with their aroha, wisdom and dignity.

Parker, William Leonard 1914 - 1986

2004-07-12T09:53:00.000+12:00

From Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 16 December 2003
* The original version of this biography was published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume Five (1941-1960), 2000
© Crown Copyright 2000-2004. Published by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington, New Zealand. All rights reserved.

Walker, Piripi. 'Parker, William Leonard 1914 - 1986'
Ngati Porou; adult educationalist, broadcaster, university lecturer, community leader

William (Wiremu) Leonard Parker was born at Makarika station near Waipiro Bay, on the East Coast, on 4 February 1914, the son of Ngati Porou parents William Leonard Parker, a farmer, and his wife, Te Oharepe Ruta (Ruth) Collier. Bill was educated at Hiruharama Native School and attended Te Aute College (1930–36), where he became a prefect and captain of the First XV. He occasionally worked on the Te Aute farm during holidays to offset fees. Family members looked up to him as the matamua (senior member), and recalled his early sense of responsibility and his deep love of his family. From his father, who was self-taught, a prodigious reader and a Herculean worker, he learned the discipline of hard work and reading.

The family had respect for both Pakeha and Maori knowledge and Bill developed a sense of the strength of Maori traditions. He later used to show students his missing little finger, which was amputated in a childhood accident, and tell of how his grandmother quickly insisted that it be buried as an honoured part of his body, in an appropriate place and with appropriate Maori ritual. Neither he nor any of his friends would dream of swimming where the taniwha were to be found. From listening to marae debates he established the basis of his expertise in Maori culture and language. He was to model himself on figures of authority among both Maori and Pakeha, especially those whose knowledge meant that their words commanded respect. He learned much about mediating between these worlds and between the old and modern Maori worlds by listening to the talk of Apirana Ngata.

After leaving Te Aute College, Parker began a BA degree at Victoria University College in 1937. He and his friend, Henare Ngata, lived at Weir House and suffered from the cultural strangeness of Wellington and university life. They found it hard to settle at their studies, and Parker left to join the Department of Education in 1938.

On 17 May 1940, at Wellington, Bill Parker married Matakaihoe Josephine Takarangi, a dental nurse, of Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi. They were to have a daughter and two sons; another daughter died in infancy.

Parker had assiduously practised his use of Maori, and was a model speaker and writer. In 1943 he was appointed New Zealand’s first Maori news broadcaster after being recommended by Maori MPs to the cabinet. He became a household name in every Maori community in the country, and built up a reputation as a skilled journalist and broadcaster, and as a highly respected and admired exponent of the language. He covered the arrival back in New Zealand of the 28th New Zealand (Maori) Battalion in 1946 and provided the poroporoaki (farewell) to Ngata on his death in 1950.

Bill Parker also enjoyed debate. He became a leading figure in Maori intellectual life at a relatively early age and was able to debate all matters Maori with authority. He appeared at the fledgeling Maori students’ conferences in the 1950s and was held in a good deal of awe by the participants. He contributed to the discussions and was regarded as a particularly perceptive kaumatua. There were conflicts, however. He upset some Ngati Porou who believed that the individual’s strongest loyalties were to the hapu and iwi, and that Maori in the city should be seen frequently on their home marae. He was prepared to debate dogmatic traditions and strictures, and often did. In addition, the circumstances of the difficult choice to sell the family farm on his father’s death created some ill feeling towards Parker from some of his Ngati Porou kin in later years.

In the late 1940s he and his family moved to Auckland, where Parker continued to work for the Department of Education and became involved in the administration of Maori schools. However, he was unable to settle in to the department in Auckland, and Matiu Te Hau was a major influence in steering him towards the field of adult education. When a vacancy came up in Wellington in 1950, the family moved back, and Parker became a tutor in adult education at Victoria University College. He became a lecturer in 1964.

Bill Parker now became a familiar figure in Maori communities throughout the lower North Island. Through his lectures he shared his knowledge of and insights into Maori culture, introduced courses and ran programmes in matauranga Maori (Maori knowledge). As part of this work, Parker decided to try re-educating an entire community in the full range of matauranga Maori , from marae-based courses on the language to practical skills in the various arts. He chose the Ngati Parewahawaha community at Bulls and worked with them over a period of 10 years. In that time they built and opened the carved meeting house Parewahawaha. Parker himself was responsible for urging the people of the community to decorate the house in the traditional manner, rather than proceeding with plans for a plain house. He remarked to a kaumatua of Ngati Parewahawaha, ‘That house you are planning will be no different from my father’s woolshed’. Two notable carvers, Hapai Winiata and Whetu-marama-o-te-ata Kereama, emerged out of this programme.

From 1967 Parker worked alongside Te Kapunga (Koro) Dewes and Hirini Mead teaching Maori at Victoria University of Wellington. Because of his knowledge and experience in things Maori, Parker was a leader in postgraduate teaching. His counsel as a Maori language expert was wise and trusted; many of the country’s writers on Maori studies and Maori history consulted him in this period. He himself wrote for Te Ao Hou and other publications on proverbs, waiata and his other areas of interest. Regarded as one of the foremost translators of Maori, he was an editorial consultant and translator to numerous projects, and a member of the committee that revised H. W. Williams’s Dictionary of the Maori language and of the Advisory Committee on the Teaching of the Maori Language. In 1985–86 he acted as a Maori adviser to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography project; he was influential in commending the project to Maori groups, and in assuring them that the language would be treated with respect.

Bill Parker’s association with broadcasting continued until his death. From 1964 he compèred a weekly radio series, ‘The Maori Programme’. In 1981 he was a consulting editor and major contributor to David Somerset’s radio programmes, later published as a booklet and three tapes entitled Whaikoorero: ceremonial farewells to the dead. It is a highly regarded addition to the bilingual literature of New Zealand. He continued to broadcast book reviews, but his major contribution in later years was to the staff training programme for both radio and television. His services to the development of broadcasting in New Zealand were recognised in 1986 by the establishment of the Wiremu Parker Scholarship for Maori trainees by the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand.

Parker was a member of numerous professional bodies and national committees, including the Maori Purposes Fund Board from around 1965, the Polynesian Society, the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of New Zealand, the UNESCO education sub-commission, and the National Development Council. In 1972 he visited Australia, South Korea and Japan, where he was deeply impressed by Japanese artists and craftspeople. He spent a refresher leave in Wales, and became pessimistic about the survival of Welsh in a supposedly bilingual country. He was made an MBE in 1976.

Parker retired from Victoria in 1980, but continued to teach part time. He was one of the team who began building a marae, Te Herenga Waka, on campus. After his retirement, he was awarded the title of ahorangi (professor). An attempt by Mead to encourage Parker, then in his mid 60s, to complete a postgraduate degree, was rejected by him, with the comment that he was too old to become a student again and that it was best for him to enjoy being an elder.

Parker died in Lower Hutt on 10 November 1986 after suffering from cancer of the pancreas. He was awarded an honorary LittD by Victoria University on his deathbed. His tangihanga was held at Pipitea marae, Wellington. He was later buried at the Te Puni cemetery in Petone alongside his infant daughter. He was survived by his wife and children.

PIRIPI WALKER

Brown, K. ‘Wiremu Parker’. Evening Post. 6 Sept. 1986: 16

McGill, D. ‘Kua ngaro te korero’. New Zealand Listener. 2 Oct. 1964: 10–11

Nixon, J. ‘Spirit voice’. New Zealand Listener. 18 Oct. 1986: 44–45

Obit. Evening Post. 10 Nov. 1986: 1

Moana Durie-Sinclair - Coordinator For The Indigenous Media Network

2004-07-02T19:38:00.000+12:00

Moana Durie-Sinclair is an international lawyer and journalist and is currently working with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, where she is coordinating a project on indigenous media. Building and developing a network of indigenous journalists is one of her main tasks.

Durie-Sinclair is from four on her mother's side (Rangitane, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Kauwhata, Ngati Tahu), and one on her father's side Ngati Maniapoto. Moana graduated from Auckland University with a BA, LLB and LLM (Hons) in International law and Indigenous Peoples Rights, she holds also a Teachers Diploma, and a Diploma in Journalism.

She served as Press Secretary to the Hon Sandra Lee, Maori Minister of Conservation, helping to write speeches, and co-ordinate her relations with Print Radio & Television.

To see full profile, go to Indigenous Media Network, Moana Durie-Sinclair webpage.

Hon Parekura Horomia, Minister of Maori Affairs

2004-07-02T11:54:00.000+12:00

Portfolios
· Minister of Maori Affairs

Other Responsibilities
· Associate Minister of Social Services and Employment (Employment)
· Associate Minister of Education
· Associate Minister of Fisheries
· Associate Minister of Tourism

For full biography go to Executive Government web pages.