Te Mängai Päho Funds Exciting Programme Range

4 July 2002

Te Mängai Päho Funds Exciting Programme Range For Mäori TV

Younger viewers are the big winners in the Te Mängai Päho announcement of $7 million of funding for productions to air on the new Mäori television channel.

Mäori Broadcasting Funding Agency chair Toby Curtis says the strong focus on programmes for youth and children goes hand in hand with the decision to take te reo Mäori into new areas such as the use of the language in sport.

“We’ve got youth sports programmes, ranging from those that focus on skateboarding through to others which will identify new sports terms for coaches, teachers and players.”

Other youth-orientated productions include:
 an insight into the rapidly changing technological world and how it relates to Mäori.
 a rangatahi (young people’s) show that recognises the hip-hop phenomenon in New Zealand and its transformation into a sound that is intrinsically Mäori.

“We also have productions aimed at helping children and adults learn to speak te reo, including a programme aimed at strengthening the skills of teachers and parents.”

Toby Curtis says funding has also been awarded to Mäori language lifestyle programmes, with travel, cooking, gardening, health, fitness and arts shows going into production. Other highlights include more films re-versioned into te reo Mäori and a series of archival footage which will recall the memories and messages of elders.

“The new range of programmes will have something for everyone. We are really excited about the range of programmes that the Mäori Television Service has agreed to broadcast on the new channel, and we’re sure viewers will be too.”

The new programmes, being made by independent production houses throughout New Zealand, will go into production immediately.

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