New year of te reo on air

There have been "lots of teary moments" during Maori Television's first year on air, says head of programming Tawini Rangihau. But the channel is putting its past problems behind it as it celebrates its first birthday today.

"It's been a year of learning and hard work. And one I will reflect on for time to come," she says.

AC Nielsen has yet to release ratings for the channel as there are not enough viewers - just under 4 per cent of the population must watch for eight consecutive weeks for the numbers to register - but the company says it's a case of when, not if, the channel reaches the threshold.

Rangihau is confident viewership will grow when Maori Television launches its new schedule in time for the Maori New Year in June.

There are plans to reach more viewers by introducing English subtitles in the news and adding more entertainment and reality programming.

One of the most popular shows to make a comeback will be Maorioke, the talent quest that gives NZ Idol a run for its money.

Unlike its mainstream counterpart, Maorioke doesn't attract a huge studio audience - or discriminate against age - and the stage is set against a backdrop of native ferns rather than glaring blue lights.

Also returning is Coast, the live music show that invites its studio audience off the street, and Kai Time On the Road, a relaxed cooking show fronted by a couple of blokes who love to korero: "I know how to hook up some quail, bro. With a double-barrel shotgun." Cue Billy T-style laugh.

Maori Television's skew towards younger viewers is just as apparent on gameshow Mind Your Mohio. As well as questions on Maori mythology and New Zealand geography, contestants are asked, "Which Kiwi entertainer said 'Not many, if any?"' and "What's the name for a single serving of hot chips in a typical Kiwi fish'n'chip shop?"

But if those series represent the fun face of Maori Television, Korero Mai is the channel's educational backbone.

The programme aims to teach te reo Maori so it can be used in everyday language. Host Piripi Taylor introduces a general theme, then examples are played out in the soap Aakina.

Producer Viv Ngatai says feedback has been "100 per cent positive" and that many viewers request copies of the text.

"People have really enjoyed the freshness of the format. It's just so nice to see something that's not a copy of something else."

Not all of Maori Television's programmes can claim to be quite so original. Tuku Morgan's chat show, Matua Whangai, was pulled off air in September after London-based Hat Trick Productions complained that it was too similar to its The Kumars at No 42. Hat Trick later decided it did not infringe their rights and took the matter no further, but Maori Television has indeed mastered the art of giving popular mainstream series a Maori facelift.

Even so, watching three elderly kuia become overwhelmed with emotion as their deteriorating Bay Of Plenty marae gets a much-needed make-over care of the DIY Marae team, it tends to put the mainstream reality shows in perspective.

With children's programming taken care of with a range of animated series, including a te reo version of The Adventures of Spot, it seems the only real hole in the schedule is a signature drama series.

There is not enough money, says Rangihau, but the channel is looking at developing Aakina into a standalone soap opera, which is likely to compete with Shortland Street on TV2.

Says Ngatai: "The story is as important as the language because it's what makes people able to relate to it in context."

Things are also on the move for Te Kaea, the channel's flagship nightly news bulletin, which screens at 7.30pm. This year there are plans to expand the team of 15 reporters covering Auckland, Wellington and Hastings with extra posts in Rotorua and Kaitaia.

Rangihau says the biggest achievements so far have included the coverage of the foreshore and seabed hikoi and the Waitangi celebrations, and "the fact we've been very visible and accessible to Maori communities. We've shown them, yes, Maori Television is a reality and we mean to go on as we started."

"Those stories I'm particularly proud of because the people there were finally happy the [coverage of] Waitangi reflected how Maori celebrate Waitangi, not just the politicians arriving and the protesters.

"We spent a lot of time at Waitangi this year and actually had to lend a hand to the other mainstream networks who couldn't get a live signal. They lined up to use our fibre-optic line. That for us was a biggie."

Maori Television will also continue to screen documentaries on indigenous cultures from outside New Zealand, feature films and archival programmes. It is also likely to screen daily coverage of significant Maori events, such as the national Kapa Haka competition.

To celebrate today's birthday, the channel will look back at the highlights of the year and screen several specials, including New Zealand movies Stickmen and Flight Of The Albatross in te reo Maori, and the Oscar-nominated short film Two Cars, One Night by Maori film-maker Taika Waititi. The broadcast starts at the earlier time of noon.