Current Affairs Spotlight On Maori Military Chief

Current Affairs Spotlight On Maori Military Chief

A frontrunner for New Zealand’s highest military post, the upcoming census and a renowned Maori weaponry course come under the spotlight in Maori Television’s flagship current affairs show, TE HETERI, this Wednesday February 1 at 8.00 PM.

The half-hour bilingual programme – presented by leading Maori broadcaster Wena Harawira – informs both Maori and non-Maori about Maori issues nationally, locally and tribally, as well as including indigenous perspectives from abroad. Stories are filed from a pool of the country’s senior Maori journalists including Erana Reedy and Paul Diamond.

This week’s programme profiles Major General Jerry Mateparae (Ngati Tuwharetoa) who is the highest ranking Maori officer in the New Zealand Defence Force and the youngest military chief as head of the New Zealand Army. Mateparae is now a frontrunner for the country's top military post as Chief of Defence Force.

Next, Harawira talks with Tamati Olsen – the man overseeing the Maori component of Census 2006 – about the implications of the upcoming census on March 7. Held every five years, it provides a ‘snapshot’ of how many people live in New Zealand and the number of dwellings, or houses, there are in the country as well as a range of other useful information. According to Harawira, one of the major outcomes will be confirmation that the Maori population is on the rise, signalling a probable change in government policies for Maori.

Finally, TE HETERI visits a Maori weaponry course for men held on Mokoia Island in Rotorua. Graduates and teachers recently celebrated a milestone – the 100th training camp learning the traditional art of taiaha.

Tune in to TE HETERI on Maori Television every Wednesday at 8.00 PM.

Ends

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