Rnz: Te Ahi Kaa

Justine Murray meets Professor Piri Sciascia and Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, who received Te Waka Toi Awards for their contribution to the arts this year.

For over four decades kuia Elizabeth Mana Hunkin (Ngati Kahungunu) and Hokimoana Te Rika-Hekerangi (Tuhoe) have been teaching te reo Māori with –  Te Ataarangi - a learner-friendly language method which uses Cuisenaire rods (rakau).

Author Patricia Grace was honoured for her work at the recent Te Waka Toi Awards in Rotorua. Justine Murray sat down for a chat with Patricia in Rotorua, where she talked about her mission to complete her late husband's memoirs and complete a short story anthology.

Melanie Nelson and Alex Hotere-Barnes have had different pathways in learning te reo Māori, for Melanie it began in high school at Motueka and for Alex it began when his father enrolled him and his twin brother into Kohanga Reo. As adults both have remained committed to their own personal development of language fluency and any kaupapa associated with te reo Māori. Melanie and Alex have met some challenges and discouragement along the way, they share their story with Jerome Cvitanovich.

Jerome Cvitanovich returns with this series about pakeha whose work is largely associated with the maori language, education and customs. This week he talks to veteran actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand who embarked on a journey of learning the language ten years ago.

Jerome Cvitanovich resumes his series about pākeha who work with the Māori language, education and customs. Mark Bradley came to New Zealand to play rugby and became 'obsessed' with te reo Māori. Today he is the principal of a Wellington-based Māori language school, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Nga Mokopuna.

Te Ahi Kaa analyses the proverb Tangata ako ana i te whare, turanga ki te marae e tau ana' (A person who is taught well in the home will stand collected on the marae).

Wynae Tukere has worked in the dining hall at Turangawaewae Marae since she was ten years old. Today she is second in charge and oversees the food prepared and served to several thousand people over the week-long 10th Coronation of King Tūheitia. Te Ahi Kaa takes a look behind the scenes.

In part three of this four part series, Te Ahi Kaa seeks out a variety of interpretations of whakatauki or proverbial sayings. This week, Moea he tangata ringa raupa (Marry a man with calloused hands) is explored.

In part two of this four-part series, Te Ahi Kaa seeks out a variety of interpretations of whakatauki or proverbial sayings. This week, Kaua e mate Wheke me mate Ururoa (Do not die like an octopus, instead die like a hammerhead shark) is discussed further.

In part one of this four part series, Te Ahi Kaa seeks out a variety of interpretations of whakatauki or proverbial sayings, this week Kaore te kumara e korero ana mo tona ake reka, The Kumara doesn't brag about it's own sweetness, is discussed further.

Former Spectrum producer Alwyn Owen remembers a few stories he produced for the long-running series that ends on July 24. He recalls spending time with the late Dame Whina Cooper where she talked about her story of life, love and land.

The producers pf documentary series Spectrum covered a range of stories that captured the essence of the country over 44 years. Te Ahi Kaa digs into the Spectrum vaults and features stories from Alwyn Owen and Jack Perkins. Alwyn (Hop) Owen visited Te Araroa in 1989, a year after Cyclone Bola, he is there to capture impressions of the small East Coast township. He is at local rugby match between Hikurangi and Combined (Te Araroa and Ruatoria), he talks to the tea ladies fundraising for their marae, and meets a couple of pig hunters heading out into the bush under a full moon.

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori - the language is the very essence of being Māori. To acknowledge Māori Language Week Te Ahi Kaa features an archival recording of Sir James Henare from 1984 and Te Pou Theatre actors talk about staging Purapurawhetu in te reo Maori to mark Matariki and Māori Language Week.

In part three of this series, Ezekiel Raui, Rongomaitawhiri Ah-Ching and Mauriora Tawaroa Takiari are three young people who each balance University Study and their work in suicide prevention.

We meet people who have lost whanau to suicide and others who work in their community to promote awareness and empower young people - Haley Grace-Hollis, Colin Taare, Matthew Tukaki and Ngahihi o te ra Bidois.

Former comedian Mike King and hip hop artist King Kapisi talk about their work with young people towards reducing suicide rates.

In a 1991 episode of Directions Graham Lattimer (1926 - 2016) talks about his life in the Far North.

Dr Simon Allan says hospice is much more than a place where people come to die and that nurses are the heart of the Hospice. Justine Murray visits the aptly named Arohanui Hospice in Palmerston North.

Dr Michael Brown, Curator of Music at Alexander Turnbull Library, talks about his research on the Māori strumming style.