Sunday, 13 April 2008
13 April 2008
13 Paenga-whawha (April) 2008
Waihoa ra kia takitahi ana nga whetu o te rangi
This whakatauaki is voiced by Rangitunoa Black
Interviewed in the midst of hosting the first World Indigenous Television Broadcasting conference, Maori Television CEO Jim Mather talks enthusiastically about the significance of the event, and what his organisation has achieved in the four years it has been in existence. For more information about the conference, including video clips of the highlights, and full speech notes go to World Indigenous Television Broadcasting.
Te Ahi Kaa's second interview is with John Walter Jones, who heads S4C, the television channel which uses, celebrates, and promotes the Welsh language. At the time the idea of a Maori television channel was being actively talked about in the 1980s and 1990s, a number of Maori broadcasters visited Wales to see how S4C was tackling the job of rescuing a language from extinction.
At the same time that the Welsh broadcaster was celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2007, Australia's National Indigenous Television was launched. Based in Alice Springs, staffed by 19 people, NITV broadcasts 24 hours of programming per day aimed at reflecting the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities. Maraea Rakuraku talks to its head Patricia Turner.
And from the United States of America, Frank Blythe of the Eastern Band Cherokee/ Sisseton - Wahpeton Dakota peoples offers his perspective on working inside the indigenous television industry.
A few weeks ago a rental car billboard was removed after objections from Te Taura Whiri i te reo Maori, the Maori Language Commission. Displaying the names Whakatane, Whakamaru, and Whakamoa, it advised its customers that they could also "visit any whaka." Te Taura Whiri Chief Executive Huhana Rokx didn't like it, but wanted to do more than just complain. She explains her position to Maraea Rakuraku.
Tracey Tawhiao (Ngai te Rangi, Whakatohea me Tuwharetoa) talks about her fulltime career as an artist and manager, including her involvement with House of Taonga of which the Heart Music Collective is a part.
