Waiata wanted for diabetes

Media release - Embargoed Until Delivery Of Speech
By Minister Of Heatlh, Hon Annette King, 9.30AM , 30 June 2000

Waiata wanted for diabetes

A waiata (Maori language song) competition is part of the Health Funding Authority's new community-based "Get Checked" Diabetes Aotearoa campaign.

Anyone can enter. They just need to compose a waiata (song) in Maori about diabetes and the importance of managing it. There is a prize of $1500 for the senior section; and $1,000 for the junior section which is co-sponsored by TV3’s popular children's Maori language programme "Pukana".

“Maori have always used song as a major form of communication,” says Health Minister, Annette King. “This waiata competition builds on that tradition. It’s an innovation to support Maori with diabetes and a bit of fun. We hope to get lots of entries.”

The senior competition will be judged by Mina Ripia, who has won Mana Maori and Te Reo Maori categories at the New Zealand Music Awards. She has a personal association with diabetes.

"My father recently died from diabetes and I realise how important it is to get control of diabetes in the Maori community,” Mina says. "That's why I was very pleased to be asked to judge this competition."

The junior competition will be judged by the team at "Pukana", TV3’s Maori language programme for children on Sunday mornings.

The waiata can be in any style - traditional or modern. But it must not be longer than 3 1/2 minutes and it must be entirely in Te Reo Maori.

Entrants will need to record their waiata on cassettes for the judges. The competition will run through July until 31 August. "We hope the winning waiata will become well-known and be used throughout the campaign at hui and other public meetings," says HFA spokesperson, Marama Parore-Katene.

Entry forms are available from local Iwi Radio Stations. Or write to Diabetes Waiata Competition, PO Box 12102, Wellington. Entry forms are also available from the Health Funding Authority’s website: www.hfa.govt.nz.
___________________________________

For more information please contact:
Health Funding Authority ph (04) 495 4335 or 0800 ENQUIRE (0800 367 8473)

© Scoop Media