Rnz: Te Ahi Kaa

What defines the act of decolonisation? Is it a state of mind or is it detaching from the dominant culture? In episode six of the talk series 'Urupounamu' the hosts break down what decolonisation means to them.

When is Māori Art – Not Māori Art? Singer Songwriter Ria Hall, and Spoken Word Artist Te Kahu Rolleston bring their thoughts to the table.

Do you choose to use an English name instead of putting up with mispronunciation of your Māori name? On episode four of the talk series Urupounamu the hosts find out that quite a few people do just that especially when It comes to ordering takeaways on the phone. Join Justine Murray, Ngairo Eruera and Te Kehukehu Patara as they analyse the social media responses to the question - and explore the issue further.

Is there a magic number to suggest that a young person is mature enough to vote? In this week's kōrero session the hosts talk about the issue to lower the voting age to 16. Some students from a local wharekura agree that it should while others are happy with the status quo. Join the talk series Urupounamu with Justine Murray, Ngairo Eruera and Te Kehukehu Patara about whether age determines maturity when it comes to voting.

What's on your Māori music Mixtape? - Justine Murray, Ngairo Eruera and Te Kehukehu Patara discuss music genres, the rich compositions from kapahaka, the legacy of Prince Tui Teka and the latest compositions by Maimoa. In light of the upcoming Waiata Māori Music Awards, the trio get a bit nostalgic reminiscing about the waiata that are a staple on their music playlists.

Urupounamu is a six-part talk series on Te Ahi Kaa hosted by producer Justine Murray, Māori language teacher Ngairo Eruera and Te Kehukehu Patara. The series is a collaboration between Tauranga based iwi radio station, Moana Radio and RNZ. On episode one, the trio talk about speaking Te reo Māori in places where they feel most comfortable, and what it means to nurture the language in the home.

As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori wraps up, producer Justine Murray finds out how a regular coffee catch up with whanau speaking only in te reo Māori has benefited  a core group of kaumatua.  Professor Poia Rewi is the recently appointed head of the Māori language Board - Te Mātāwai and discusses the strategies Maihi Māori and Maihi Karauna, and to end the show Māori language educator Tiare Te Pana talks about the importance of good kaiako (teachers) when it comes to learning te reo Māori.

Trainee Doctor Emma Espiner recalls the work she and her colleagues undertook during the first Covid-19 lock down in March this year. Te Ahi Kaa features the final episode of the podcast  'Getting Better - A Year in the Life of a Māori medical student.

Te Ahi Kaa features episode six of Getting Better - A year in the life of a Māori Medical Doctor. Presenter and Trainee Medical Doctor Emma Espiner heads home to Kuku Beach in the Horowhenua and receives her taa moko from her Uncle Tipi. While there, she heads to Levin and visits GP and Poet - Glenn Colquhoun who runs a free health service clinic.

Why are there so few indigenous surgeons and why does it matter? Emma Espiner is in Whangarei and has a frank conversation with Dr Maxine Ronald, one of the few Māori surgeons in Aotearoa. Emma attends the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education - or LIME medical conference in Otautahi - Christchurch attended by surgeons from indigenous communities all over the world.

Emma Espiner learns more about how a South Auckland training academy that is more than sports training, it's about developing life skills and resilience in its young students. Dr Vaaiga Autagavaia grew up in South Auckland, and now coaches the Rugby League team at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in Ōtara, Emma meets a few of the league players who share their aspirations.

Emma Espiner is in the Northland with Dr Kyle Eggleton who runs a weekly clinic in the remote outpost of Tuparehuia, he talks about his own method of drawing to break down the power inequities between the doctor and patient relationship. In Kamo, Lynette Stewart and Sharon Russell discuss their challenges of their work at small Māori health provider, Ki A Ora Ngatiwai.

In episode one of Getting Better - A Year in the Life of a  Māori Medical Student, Trainee doctor Emma Espiner is with the Wallace whānau whose lives changed after Colin Wallace suffered a stroke. Their story and some of the themes it raises is discussed with Curtis Walker, the first Māori chair of the NZ Medical Council, and South Auckland GP and Waitangi Tribunal claimant Dr Rawiri Jansen.

Māori Astronomer Dr Rangi Mataamua won the top communication prize at the recent Prime Ministers Science Awards, not bad for someone who failed fourth form Science at Hato Paora College. In the lead up to the rise of Matariki also known as Pleides on the 13th of July. Te Ahi Kaa joins Dr Mataamua for a kōrero about his extensive research that began with a manuscript, his rise in popularity on social media, and his mission to set up a Māori Astronomy school.

In November of 2018 Claire Taipari's regular mammogram came back all clear, but just one week later she felt a lump on her breast and decided to get it checked.  After tests, three cancerous tumours were detected, a fourth one was found when she underwent surgery.  Claire is keen to share her story, while a mammogram is very good, sometimes it may not detect tumours for a number of reasons. Claire alongside her husband Greg, share their story.

While working as a Senior Ministerial Press Secretary in 2015, Greg Taipari couldn't shake a persistent cough, after seeking medical advice he was eventually diagnosed with throat cancer. He kept the diagnosis a secret even from his family, and underwent radiation therapy alone. In a sit down chat with Justine Murray and Te Kehukehu Butler, Greg is candid about why he decided to 'go alone' and why it's important for whanau living with cancer to do their own research and always ask questions.

As part of this years Queens Birthday Honours, Te Ahi Kaa features this encore presentation.  Visual Artist, composer and Taa moko practitioner Sir Derek Lardelli talks about the resurgence of ta moko and the on-going work at Toihoukura the School of Maori Visual Arts. Dr Maureen Lander was honoured for her contribution to Māori Arts and was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, she talks about growing up in Te Tai Rawhiti, and the genesis of her travelling art installation whakapapa flat pack.

Master Carver Clive Fugill was part of the first student intake at the carving school based at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua. Clive finished High School in 1966 and had two career options, study anthropology at University or go to carving school, he chose the latter, but first he had to convince a board that he was Māori. His story features in this weeks episode of Te Ahi Kaa.

Business communities are facing financial hardship in the wake of COVID 19, arguably with border and travel restrictions, none more so than Tourism. This week Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited Te Puia - formerly known as the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua. The history of the Institute goes back to 1963 - established to preserve and foster the Māori arts. Today, Te Puia it's a well-known tourism spot, from the bubbling mud pools to the legacy of the guides Te Ahi Kaa delves into the archival fault and features an insight it's history.

Para Kore is a waste and recycling initiative that works within Māori organisations to reduce waste. It began over a decade ago and has spread to almost four hundred marae across the country. From the Te Ahi Kaa archive vault - Justine Murray visits Kirikiriroa marae in Hamilton to find out how it works with Pine Campbell.