Whanau Reconnect with Their Origins on New Programmme

Wednesday August 1 2012

Whanau Reconnect with Their Origins on Maori Television’s Tatai Hono

Six people embark on fascinating journeys to discover their family roots in the latest season of TATAI HONO, starting Saturday August 4 at 8.00pm on Maori Television.

The 13-part series helps people who have lost the knowledge of their tribal affiliations, language and culture to reconnect with their Maori origins.

Producer Nicola Smith, of Brave Star Films, says the series gives people the opportunity to explore their history, tribal affiliations, language and tikanga with the help of experienced researchers.

She says viewers will also be able to gain the tools and inspiration to begin their own journey.

“For each of us, knowing our heritage is central to our identity. For those that have lost that connection – discovering or rediscovering that heritage can be a restoration of dignity, security and humanity.”

This season features Maori from all walks of life including:

- Darrell Lim Yock, from the Bay of Islands is of Maori and Chinese origin.

- Stacey Glassie, from Taranaki wants to find out about her father’s whakapapa

- Hockey player Bevan Hari, from Auckland, who is part Indian and part Maori and wants to reconnect with his Maori side

- James Northcott, from Hastings, who knows little about his heritage after being put into foster care at a young age

- Stacey Taylor, a 24-year-old urban Maori who lives in Auckland with her rapper partner Peter aka Sikeone and their young son

- Murray Bain, of Napier, who was discouraged from asking about his Maori side as a child.

The eighth season of TATAI HONO premieres on Saturday August 4 at 8.00pm. Tune in to follow the journeys of those reconnecting with their past.

ENDS

Meet this season’s six participants:

Darrell Lim Yock – Bay of Islands

Darrell is of Maori, Chinese and Pakeha ancestry and was raised in Ohakune, where he was from a family of market gardeners. Darrell was teased for being Chinese and never felt like he fitted in. He wanted to embrace his Maori side but this was discouraged. He always wished he knew his whakapapa so that he could be proud. Darrell admits having suffered from clinical depression, something he attributes to not having any sense of identity.

Stacey Glassie nee Taingahue – Taranaki

Stacey was born in Taranaki and raised with her mother and her younger brother Nathan. Stacey’s dad died of an asthma attack when she was just two years old. Her mother seldom mentioned her father to Stacey and Richard so they know very little about him or his whakapapa.

James Northcott – Hastings

James was born in the King Country. He and his three sisters went into foster care when they were young after their parents separated. James knows very little about his whakapapa – he does not know the correct name of his mother or the heritage of his father. He now lives a solitary life in Hastings where he runs a karaoke business.

Stacey Taylor – Tamaki Makaurau

Stacey Taylor is a 24-year-old urban Maori who lives in Auckland with her rapper partner Peter aka Sikeone and their young son Teyshon. Her whakapapa Maori descends from her mother’s side but she was brought up away from her haukainga and feels that there was a disconnection with her iwi and culture.

Bevan Hari – Tamaki Makaurau

Bevan’s father is Maori and Pakeha and his mum is Pakeha. Bevan’s grandmother was Maori and his grandfather was Indian. His nan died young and his grandfather remarried an Indian woman at which point the Indian culture became predominant. Bevan played hockey for New Zealand from 1997 until just before the Beijing Olympics, for which he wasn’t selected. He continues to play representative hockey for North Harbour and he is a member of the New Zealand Maori team. He wishes he knew his whakapapa like his team mates on the New Zealand Maori team.

Murray Bain – Napier

Murray is of Maori and Pakeha descent, but was never exposed to Maori culture. As a child Murray remembers asking his mother if he was adopted because he didn’t fit in, but he now sees that it was because he was not in contact with his Maori side.

Billings for episodes 1 - 7

Episode 1: August 4

We meet Chinese Maori Darrell Lim Yock from Haruru, who grew up in a community of market gardeners in Ohakune. We also travel to Taranaki to meet Stacey Glassie, whose father died when she was just two years old, taking with him Stacey’s connection to his unknown whakapapa.

Episode 2: August 11

Stacey and her brother Nathan are surprised to hear some stories about their father from whanau members and an old friend, while Darrell meets up with some whanau members who live just down the road.

Episode 3: August 18

Darrell finally takes his first steps on to his grandmother’s marae with his whanau at his side. Stacey and Nathan are shocked and amazed by what they learn in Rotorua about their father’s whakapapa.

Episode 4: August 25

We bid farewell to Darrell Lim Yock as he continues his search for knowledge about his whakapapa. Stacey and Nathan finally arrive at their deceased father’s marae, supported by whanau from across New Zealand and Australia.

Episode 5: September 1

We say goodbye to Stacey and Nathan as they head back to Taranaki. We also meet James Northcott, a 74 year karaoke enthusiast who spent his childhood in and out of foster homes old as he begins his search for answers about his mother’s tribal whakapapa.

Episode 6: September 8

We meet urban Maori Stacey Taylor, who yearns to understand where she is from so that she can hand down the knowledge to her young son. And we catch up with James as reconnects with whanau he hasn’t seen in years as he continues his search for information and answers.

Episode 7: September 15

James Northcott heads south to his mother’s marae with the support of his long lost sister. Stacey Taylor visits her Nan and other whanau members in search of more information about her whakapapa and the place that her Nan was raised.

ends

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