PRESS RELEASE

2007 New Zealand Media Peace Awards

Maori Tv Company Joint Winners Premier Tv/Film Award With Takatâpui.

Friday 09 November 2007

The New Zealand Media Peace Awards announced the boundary breaking gay, lesbian and transgender series Takatâpui as joint winner of the Premier TV/Film Award, at its annual ceremony in Auckland, Thursday night (08 November 07). Takatâpui’s winning entry focused on Hate Crimes and detailed the unsolved murder of Stanley Waipouri apparently bashed to death because of his homosexuality. The programme dealt with the subsequent grief and anger felt by Stan’s whanau as they battled to get their brother and friend’s death further investigated by police.

The New Zealand Media Peace Awards seek to recognise media professionals and students who actively contribute towards reducing conflict, addressing differences and counteracting prejudices in our society and in the wider world.

Takatâpui, made by multi-award winning Maori Production Company FRONT OF THE BOX PRODUCTIONS is the world’s first indigenous gay, lesbian and transgender series, and screens on Maori television. It is funded by Te Mangai Paho. Takatâpui is Produced by Jude Anaru, the Media Peace Award is her second for the year, having picked up New Zealand On Air’s free Speech Award for the irreverently controversial political commentary series ‘The World According to Willie and JT’ (TV1).

FRONT OF THE BOX PRODUCTIONS is known for its ‘conflict’ programming, its popular TV1 series ‘Eye to Eye with Willie Jackson’ is the only independently produced current affairs programme with a Maori perspective.

Executive Producer, Claudette Hauiti says, ‘Communities need to work through conflict in order to find common ground. It’s surprising how similar seemingly opposing groups’ goals and aspirations are once issues and agenda are allowed to be voiced and worked through.’

Front of the Box Productions’ also achieved a Highly Commended Award at the NZ Peace Awards for its documentary ‘Taa Moko’. Directed by Kim Webby the made for TV1 documentary looks at the use of taa moko by both Maori and non-Maori and will screen at the Oceania Film Festival later this year. Also featuring overseas for FRONT OF THE BOX PRODUCTIONS is the poignant ‘Tarnz’s Story’ (TV1). Directed by Makerita Urale, the half hour documentary is one girl’s account of life as a teenage gangster and is a finalist at the 2007 Winnipeg Aborigine Film Festival.

ENDS

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