Waiariki journalism reunion

Lawrence Wharerau was part of Waiariki Institute of Technology's first intake of bicultural journalism students.
Now he is a film archivist for the New Zealand Film Commission and has just returned to Waiariki for the course's reunion.
Waiariki, then known as Waiariki Community College, launched the country's first fulltime Maori journalism course more than 25 years ago in response to a shortage of bicultural reporters.
The reunion, Maori Journalism in Aotearoa - Past, Present and Future, brought together past pupils and tutors and other interested parties whose work involved Maori issues, media and communications. More than 100 people attended at Tangatarua Marae at the institute's Mokoia Drive campus on Saturday.
Mr Wharerau, from Wellington, credited the journalism course with helping him to get to where he was today. He said he'd enjoyed a successful career which had also involved working in radio and television.
The journalism course had opened doors to an array of opportunities.
"There were a number of people who chose not to go with journalism strictly."
The reunion was a great opportunity to catch up his old course mates and tutors. "Our course was one of the few that kept in touch."
He said it was also great to acknowledge and recognise the people who had helped shape his career.