PUBLICITY RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Maori Television Election Coverage : A Night Of Celebration
Maori Television has taken up the wero and is proud to announce its inaugural election night coverage for 2005.
The channel is preparing for an exciting election night live broadcast on Saturday September 17, starting with the
broadcast of news programme Te Kaea at 7.30 PM. The election night coverage proper will kick off with the live broadcast
of TAARIA TE WAA at 8.00 PM.
Presented by the talented and gifted team of Temuera Morrison, Moana Maniapoto and Stacey Daniels, the 3.5 hour
programme will be broadcast in a dynamic format from Maori Television’s Newmarket-based studios and a second location in
Rotorua.
In addition, the programme will feature live links via satellite to journalists stationed in the Maori electorates to
ensure maximum coverage of the results that are most pertinent and relevant to Maori.
However, the channel is adding its unique celebratory flavour to its election night coverage. As up-to-date results
filter through, the special will be spliced with entertainment from some of New Zealand’s finest acts and interviews
with well-known guests from the entertainment and sporting worlds.
TAARIA TE WAA will be anchored at Maori Television by Temuera Morrison who will host visitors in the main studio, while
Moana Maniapoto will also be stationed at the Auckland studios to anchor a live panel forum comprised of leaders from
the education, political and legal areas who will analyse incoming results.
Stacey Daniels will be providing live and up-to-date coverage from the Maori stronghold of Rotorua and journalists have
been assigned across the nation to report live from key Maori electorates.
As the serious business of determining New Zealand’s next government rolls on, so too will the programme’s mood of
entertainment and festivities. Included in the line-up are one of New Zealand’s foremost reggae acts, Whakatane-based
whanau band Kora, and Grey Lynn-based flax roots six-piece The Midnights.
Election coverage will also feature past political moments in time pertinent to Maori, such as the 1975 New Zealand Land
March led by Dame Whina Cooper and the events of Bastion Point.
TAARIA TE WAA is a key part of Maori Television’s overall election coverage strategy, branded as Kowhiri 05, which has
included programming specials and TNS research results of all Maori electorates that have been broadcast on Te Kaea in
the weeks leading up to the election.
Maori Television chief executive officer Jim Mather says “this election is going to be hugely significant for Maori. It
will also be the first general election covered by Maori Television and we will be ensuring that all policies and issues
of relevance to Maori are comprehensively addressed.”
TAARIA TE WAA broadcasts live on Maori Television on Saturday September 17 at 8.00 PM.
ENDS