Rnz: Te Ahi Kaa

Lynda Chanwai-Earle reads the poem Now and Then by Tauranga Girls College student, Emily McCarthy.

Patrick Nicholas talks about the history of the Battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) – the reasons that lead to the battle and the strategy taken up by its leaders that lead to the defeat of the British troops. Excerpts from the 1974 Spectrum programme, All the Queens Men, features.

Mana Tu, Mana Toa, Mana Ake Ake. We will stand as strong as warriors forever and ever. This week's whakatauki featured as part of the haka powhiri at the 150th commemorations of the Battle of Gate Pa.

Coverage of the 150th commemorations of the Battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa), with experience of the commemorations and insights into the historical events. 

Boarding at Turakina, being a loved whangai brought up by her grandparents and even hairdressing! Yes, hairdressing has all contributed to the force that is Toni Huata. Maraea Rakuraku spends time with the musician at her Wilton whare.

Talk about the power of transformation. Tipene Harmer aka Tipene is an example of it from his studio, that was a former milking shed to working alongside musos Dam Native, Tyna and Scribe as a bonafide Hip Hop Artist.

For anyone who negotiates a number of cultures within their whakapapa it can be tricky (or not) figuring who you are or where you belong. Attending the Second M­āori Indian hui in Rotorua in March Maraea Rakuraku heard many stories of Māori Indian (as they prefer to be called) whose parents or grandparents assimilated into New Zealand culture by marrying into whānau Mōri. Sita (also known as Winsome) Emery was 56 years old before she started using her Indian name. She shares her story as too a man whose, grandparents found love across the potato fields of Pukekohe.

Kia pēnei te māroro o te kākahu me te mangemange. Let your clothes be made as strong as mangemange that never wears out.

Te Taiwhenua Trust in Ruatāhuna is determined to build the capacity of its community and its seems harvesting honey through Manawa Honey just maybe one of the ways to do it. Maraea Rakuraku visits with Brenda Tahi of Te Taiwhenua Trust.

Assumptions can no longer be made that everyone understands tikanga Māori when it comes to Tangihanga, let alone the physical expectations when it comes to digging graves for whānau members. Chas Paki explains the background behind Taupiri Maunga Committees latest wananga, Gravedigging.

Hokia ki o maunga kia purea e koe i nga hau o Tawhirimatea Return to your ancestral mountains to be cleansed by the winds of Tawhirimatea

Justine Murray visits Te Wananga Whakairo Rakau (National Carving School) at Whakarewarewa Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, Rotorua. Head tutor James Rickard talks about the uses of the different carving tools, and a few of the students explain some of their work.

In 2011 fresh out of high school Thomas Fonua scored a place at Banff on the Indigenous Dance Residency, last year he was back there as a choreographer. He talks about his experience at the creative incubator and why a recent exchange programme between Banff and Creative New Zealand that will reserve two places for maori, is an amazing opportunity.

Since 2010 Witi Ihimaera has been a part of the faculty at The Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada. The Creative incubator attracts up to eight thousand students from around the world. As part of the Indigenous Writing Programme this years focus of the programme will be for writers who are interested in writing for theatre, he explains more with Justine Murray.

Graphic artist Johnson Witehira talks about Land of Tara, a light box exhibition that will tell the story of Tipuna (ancestors) linked to iwi of the Wellington region.

Ponga Ra, Ponga Ra ka tata kii mai te whare o nga ture. In our darkest moment who will you fight for? Explained by Robert Ruha no Ngati Porou, Te Whanau a Apanui

Pōnga Rā, Pōnga Rā ka tata kii mai te whare o nga ture. In our darkest moment who will you fight for? Explained by Robert Ruha nō Ngāti Pōrou, Te Whānau ā Āpanui

Deciding to quit Auckland and move their whānau back to their Turangawaewae in Hawkes Bay was an easy decision for Rakai Karaitiana and Melaina Newport - Karaitiana. Establishing their design studio/ retail store Aroha and Friends has taken all the hardwork, wh­ānaungatanga and creative thinking the pair have thrown at it, and some. Maraea Rakuraku tours the premises and gains an insight into their business that includes producing art prints memorialising Hawkes Bay landmarks, of which many don't exist anymore.

What/ who is a M­āori poet? What is M­­āori poetry? Does Māori ancestry trump Pākehā ancestry? All questions Maraea Rakuraku encounters in discussion with Kiri Piahana-Wong of Anahera Press.

The high number of drownings in the area and a collaboration with Water Safety prompted the creation of Te Taitimu Trust.