Temuera's $1.1 million 'Happy Hour'

Temuera Morrison is becoming a variety show host in his forthcoming series Happy Hour.

Temuera Morrison is to front a taxpayer-funded variety show on TV One.

The eight-show light entertainment series entitled Happy Hour has received $1,182,822 in funding through New Zealand on Air's Maori programming strategy Te Rautaki Maori.

The funding announcement said the show promises "a wide spectrum of Maori entertainment" and would be "in the tradition of some of our most loved Maori entertainers, with the multi-talented Temuera following in his uncle Howard's footsteps."

The show will be recorded in front of a live studio audience.

Morrison was last seen on television in reality show The Life and Times of Temuera Morrison which was also funded by NZOA to the tune of $425,000.

It followed the actor as he tried to reignite his Hollywood screen career.

The funding decision released today also announced backing the one-hour documentary Hikoi - about the 1975 land march - with a budget of $232,513.
It will also screen on One.