Newsmaker: Kiri Danielle

Newsmaker: Kiri Danielle

This week's Newsmaker is Kiri Danielle, a local TV personality who has been rummaging through piles of dumped rubbish filming for a new Maori TV show.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born in Palmerston North, the oldest of five children to Denis and Liz Paku. I grew up in Levin and was sent to Otaki for schooling followed by Turakina Maori Girls College in Marton where I was head girl, a year in Japan as an AFS student then law at Waikato University.

I didn't finish, it just wasn't my cup of tea - but it did set me up well to know my rights and know how the legal system works. I was drawn instead to television, something I've always wanted to do.

Mum remembers me pretending to host cooking shows in the kitchen from a young age. My first TV role was with Discovery Channel in 2001. Soon afterward I left TV to start a family and out of loneliness also joined the Jehovah's Witnessess.

I basically lived under a rock until 2010 when I decided it was time to free myself. I was married at the time, and left both the marriage and the religion at the same time.

What is your current job and what does that involve?

I'm national ambassador for WERO, a group stop smoking competition developed by Dr Marewa Glover at Auckland University. I travel around the country encouraging smokers to release themselves from their addiction - like I did. We encourage marae, sports teams, kapa haka groups and entire families to quit together - I love it.

You were filming for a Maori Television series this week in Rotorua that aims to out illegal rubbish dumpers. Tell us about the series and why you think it's going to be a great show?

I think the show will be great because it will entertain and hopefully change the nation. We have a beautiful country which is slowly being ruined. I want to stop that - and reverse it instead. We are far too beautiful not to save.

What do you love about the media industry?

I love the people I meet, the stories I hear and I love the ability to influence the public in a positive direction. I don't love living in a fish bowl - but that comes with the territory and I always make time for people that want to talk or ask for help with their good causes.

You were the MC with Tamati Coffey at the Te Arawa Regional Kapa Haka Championships at the weekend. How was that?

The kapa haka was amazing - such a high standard and I was extremely humbled to be asked to MC.

It's really nerve racking standing up in front of people on stage - but I do it because it's a challenge and because I respect the people who asked me - it's a huge privilege and one I take seriously.

You are the voice that welcomes visitors and locals to Rotorua at the airport. How did that come about?

I heard the bad pronunciation of the name "Rotorua" and knew I could do something about it. I offered to do it for free.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?

Hopefully I'll have a better car - at the moment I drive a bomb that is always breaking down. I'd like to have financial freedom and own a chain of early childhood centres and a production company so I can keep sharing stories with the nation.

Tell us three things about yourself most people wouldn't know about you?

I drive a bomb. I love waterfalls - and I shop at Savemart.

People sometimes think I must be rich - I'm far from it - many of the kaupapa I support I do for free because money shouldn't be a barrier to it getting done.

The knowledge I will leave this earth having done what I could to make it a better place is payment enough.