This queen keeps up the mystery

Maori telly's idea of reality television never fails to amuse. Literally, of course, they get it right.

Koroneihana 2005 was no exception. This two-part series which finishes tonight, at 6.30, involved quite some dedication to the subject. Koroneihana, or Coronation, went behind the scenes of the celebrations to mark the 39th year of the reign of the Maori Queen, Dame Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu. Of the Queen, we saw very little.

This was both disappointing, and somehow encouraging.

To most Pakeha, this Queen is a more enigmatic figure than the tiara-ed one who rules from afar and whose family's exploits we know far more about than we ever wanted to.

The Maori Queen, a tiny, elegant woman with more poise than a crown-load of precious gems can bestow, has retained a truly regal aura of mystery. Although that may not be the case to Maori. And I think I glimpsed her having a good old knees-up at the Kaumata Cabaret, although this may have been wistful thinking.

But to get back to the reality aspect. Of course almost all reality TV is scripted and manipulated. This is because most reality is mundane.

The makers of Koroneihana know this. That is why they resorted to that old standby: plenty of sped-up footage of people setting tables, polishing floors, weeding and so on.

The two-parter promised to show the long hours and effort which went into the celebration, over a number of days. It also promised a little cheeky darkie humour, for which, presumably, they won't have to apologise to Kofi Annan.

Presumably because, despite all the endless committee meetings being held in English, much of Koroneihana was in Maori and the jokes were way beyond me. Not that this mattered. There was more than enough of interest. Amazingly, there are few dramas.

You imagine that most people would be a bit upset if they had made up beds for hundreds of people only to find that they had decided not to stay the night. Or when, as happened in the second episode, one of the teams fails to turn up to play a game of league.

No one is too worried. Being Maori, says the sports co-ordinator, we adjust, we take things as they come So, no tantrums then, manufactured or otherwise.

There were some candid shots: Parekura Horomia dozing; the PM with a lovely crocheted blanket on her knee.

You do wonder whether there was some agreement made about how much filming of the Queen was permitted. And by its very nature TV is manipulated by the editing process.

But this is old-fashioned television. It moves at a gentle pace. No amount of sped-up footage can alter that.

A reality show which shows people washing dishes, sitting at powhiri, eating kai may not sound exciting. But then, does anything real ever really happen on real reality TV?