New programmes to feed the appetite for serious topics

13 May 2016

New programmes to feed the appetite for serious topics on TV and online

There’s plenty to stimulate brain cells and discussion in the new line up of programmes funded by NZ On Air in the last round of the financial year.

A new science-based one-hour programme for Prime is All In The Mind. It will explain the structural differences between male and female brains while injecting a large dose of common sense and humour into neuroscience. Kiwi brainpower will continue be in the spotlight thanks to a new series of University Challenge.

Also on Prime, will be a new 10-part series that follows the working lives of a Māori whanau in the high stakes forestry business and the dangers they face every day. The Loggers is a Rautaki Māori series.

New Zealanders loved seeing themselves on screen in Decades In Colour. The historical snapshot of New Zealand made from home movie footage, will be back with another season, after delighting audiences on Prime in season 1.

The sensitive but important subject of Māori youth suicide will be traversed in Maui’s Hook – a docu-drama about a number of whanau and their journey to acceptance and recovery after losing family members to suicide. It will screen on Māori Television.

And a new observational series for an online audience takes us into the lives and challenges of the children of Pacific clergy. Portrait Of Poly PKs gives a glimpse into the role religion plays in Pacific communities, through a series of 15 minute documentaries on The Coconet.tv.

“Our role is to reflect New Zealand, its culture and diversity. These projects funded in this round certainly do reflect a range of views of New Zealand, New Zealanders , and the issues we face,” said NZ On Air Head of Television Glenn Usmar.

Funding details

Decades In Colour 2, 3 x 1 hr, Greenstone TV for Prime, $579,743 (Platinum Fund)
The Loggers, 10 x 30 mins, Great Southern Television for Prime, $463,877
University Challenge 2016, 15 x 30 mins, Cue Productions for Prime, $313,432
Grand Designs 2, 4 x 1 hr, Imagination Television for TV3, $360,000 (additional)
All In The Mind, 1 x 1 hr, The Gibson Group for Prime, $197,650
Maui’s Hook, 1 x 1hr, Kura Productions for Māori Television, $78,800
Portrait Of Poly PKs, 5 x 15 mins, Tikilounge Productions for TheCoconet.tv, $64,902
Sisters, 6 x 30 mins, Rogue Productions for Māori Television, $32,197 (additional)

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