Rnz: Te Ahi Kaa

Children are much harsher critics than adults, that's what actor Nepia Takuira-Mita says with a slight chuckle. 'They will tell you how it really is, they will say, what was that? he adds. That's the experience of actor and performer Nepia Takuira-Mita, but he takes it on the chin because he enjoys what he does. As a graduate of South Seas Film and TV School, Nepia initally wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and get a career in the army. Today, Nepia is a performer with Te Rakau Trust, and is part of the Rotorua Kapahaka group, Te Pikikotuku o Rongomai. He talks about his role in the play Ngunguru I te ao, I te po, the use of te reo maori and why language is no barrier if the story can be told well.

Maria Walker directed the children's play Ngunguru I te ao, I te po, it's a play that is 95 percent in te reo maori and uses props, music and the odd English word to talk about the theme of the story. Having worked in theatre where Te Reo Maori is the dominant language combined with taking on Maori acting roles, has somewhat lead to a path of discovery for Maria to learn more about her taha Maori. She grew up in Wairoa and when Maori Trade Training began in Wellington, her family moved to Upper Hutt. For the past decade, Maria has worked in film, theatre and television, she is a graduate from Toi Whakaari, The New Zealand Drama School, and directed The Maori Vagina Monologues in 2013. Maria talks about the play and why te reo maori theatre should be performed internationally.

He Hono tangata e kore e motu, Ka pa he taura waka e motu. Unlike the rope of a waka, the bond of a human cannot be severed.

Toitu te kupu, Toitu te mana, Toitu te whenua. Hold fast to Maori culture, with language, with mana and without land, the essence of being Maori will be lost.

The stories of Hohepa Te Umuroa of Ngāti Hau (Te Ati Haunui a Pāpārangi), Khoi San Leader David Sturraman and Aborigine Musquito are woven into a documentary produced by Lorena Allam and Louis Mitchell from the Social History show Hindsight broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) Radio National.

Dr Leonie Pihama and Dr Jillian Tipene of Te Kotahi Research Institute at The University of Waikato provide a brief analysis into their scoping report commissioned by Manātu Tāonga (Ministry for Culture and Heritage) and Te Matatini ltd. Te Kotahi used kaupapa māori research methodologies to engage with focus groups who, in some cases are at the frontline of kapa haka. One main part of the report findings was that kapa haka is undervalued. Dr Pihama and Dr Tipene discuss the health, social and economic benefits of kapa haka, and the untapped potential of traditional maori performing arts.

Bridget Reweti is the 2014 Blumhardt/Creative New Zealand Intern, at the tail end of her internship at The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt she curated the recently opened exhibition Nuku: Symbols of Mana. The Pataka (storehouse) at The Dowse provided inspiration for the work that consists of all women artists, at the kūaha (doorway) of the pātaka is the image of a women breastfeeding, after thinking on her ideas for the exhibition, Bridget based it on mana wāhine, she takes Justine Murray through the space.

Riana Hautapu says Koha is about unconditional giving and receiving. It's based on this concept that she now runs The Koha Table, a weekly service where anyone can visit the front yard of her home at Cannons Creek and help themselves to clothes, Bric-a-Brac, shoes and donated food. Riana and Paula MacEwan run The Koha Table, Paula's is based at her home in Titahi Bay. it's all voluntary and word has travelled around their community of Porirua, so much so that nearby stores and organisations donate goods. Justine Murray is at their launch day.

Nōu te rourou, Nāku te rourou, Ka ora ai te iwi. With my basket and your basket the people with thrive. This week's whakatāuki is explained by Dr Leonie Pihama nō Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Māhanga, Nga Māhanga ā Tairi.

Henare Te Ua presents coverage of the 1986 Aotearoa Performing Arts Festival held in Christchurch. The winners of the competition at the 8th festival was Auckland based group Te Waka Huia. Highlights of their performance are featured.

Rowley Habib grew up in Oruanui on the outskirts of Taupo, he attended Te Aute Boys College where his writing was encouraged by his peers. A writer, poet and playwright Rowley was the first maori writer to write a drama for television, what eventuated was The Gathering. Rowley talks about the many people who encouraged his writing, his childhood and how he honed his craft by reading all the classic novels.  

Brother and Sister John Waaka and Mahora Wiston remember the dilemma their father Kuru Waaka faced when he was approached by Pakake Leonard to help establish the Whakarewarewa Village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI), Rotorua. At the time he had ten children and a pretty decent job. Their father took a risk, and it soon paid off. Today, Whakarewarewa Village and the nearby Te Puia (formerly NZMACI) are two separate entities. However John and Mahora remember both operating as one business.

Kia kawea tatou e te rehia. Let us enjoy the spirit of entertainment.

It was in the early 1960's that Māori came together to celebrate performing arts, the venue was held at the Tauranga Queens Elizabeth Memorial Hall. In 1970, Wiremu Parker (1914 - 1986) attended the event and talks about the various waiata sung by Waioeka of Opotiki, Ngāti Rangiwewehi and Ngāti Poneke. Turirangi Te Kani (1915 - 1990) addresses the crowd, and the then Minster of Māori Affairs Duncan Mcintyre talks about the importance of Māori Culture groups.

South Island iwi Ngai Tahu are hosting the 2015 Te Matatini, the annual National Performing Arts competition that attracts tens of thousands of people from around Aotearoa.  Marae, hotels, motels and homes will host up to 2000 performers from 45 groups. Christchurch is still in the re-building phase following the 2011 earthquakes, but chairperson of the Waitaha Cultural Council Trust Ranui Ngarimu says Waitaha Iwi are excited to host the event in just under two weeks' time, as she explains with Justine Murray.

Attending a couple of summer festivals is a good way to record a wide range of opinions on a certain topic, Justine Murray asks a few people which Kapa Haka group will get their support at this year's upcoming Te Matatini National performing arts festival held in Christchurch.

Kiwa Digital's Māori development advisor Nikora Wharerau and Illustrator Munro Te Whata discuss the process of taking traditional māori Purakau (stories) and publishing these on a digital platform. The recently launched four-part series, Ngā Atua Māori is a set of graphic novellas written by Rereata Mākihā, Waihoroi Shortland and Nikora Wharerau. Munro worked on the imagery and story-boards. The result is an interactive series available for download in the App store or Android for viewing on tablets. Justine Murray talks to the duo about the creative process, te reo māori and how other iwi can tell their stories in a similar way.

Mo tātou a Mo Ka Uri a muri ake nei. For us, and those that follow us. This week's whakatāuaki is explained by Ranui Ngarimu nō Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāi Tahu.

In this archival segment from 1989 Apirana Mahuika (1934 - 2015) talks about his role as the Chairperson of Te Runanga o Ngāti Pōrou, four years after it was established.

The Pintupi Nine is a family of two woman, their four sons and 3 daughters who were known as the last Aboriginal group to live as Hunter Gatherers in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia. The family lived like their ancestors did for thousands of years, and it was only by accident that they were found near Lake Mackey in Western Australia. What eventuated was a bit of a media circus, they were labelled 'The Lost Tribe'. This in-depth documentary was only made possible by a mutual relationship of trust and respect built up over time between the Pintupi Nine and the NG Media Radio Production team. Narrated by Daniel Browning, Executive Producers are Safia Desai and Alana Mahony.