Rnz: Te Ahi Kaa

In Te Ahi Kaa, Justine Murray spends a morning with Chef-turned-entrepreneur Charles Royal. He's had a colourful culinary career including working as a chef for the New Zealand Army at 15 to creating his own business Kinaki Wild Herbs. Charles shows Justine some of the sites that he includes as part of his food tours. Our Changing World producer Veronika Meduna talks to Environmental and Resource practitioner Pataka Moore about the restoration of Mangapouri Stream and how the deterioration of the resource has affected Tuna (eels). Soda Springs Mineral pools is one of those hidden gems on the outskirts of Rotorua, Justine takes a tour with owner Piripi Karauna.

Music has been a huge part of Rim De Pauls life since he performed at the old school dances as a teen growing up in Rotorua. Eventually in his twenties he became lead vocalist for two maori show bands, the Hi Quins and The Maori Quintikis. In the early 1990s, Rim founded the National Maori Choir but in 2002 due to inactivity the group disbanded. In 2012, Toi Maori Aotearoa contacted Rim to reform the group, and perform at this year's WOMAD as part of a collaboration with The Yoots. Justine Murray has a chat with Rim, Daniel Yeabsley and Ian Gordon. You can hear the enthusiasm when Awhina Twomey talks about her work as Kaitiaki Taonga Maori at Whanganui Regional Museum, there are a few changes she plans to implement, firstly te reo maori names on display cases followed by english translations and secondly, exhibit more taonga maori currently in storage. Maraea Rakuraku is shown around the exhibition space where Awhina talks about the historical context of hinaki (traps) and other taonga on display.

South Taranaki Kaumatua Henare Ngaia reflects upon the history of Te Hui Aranga, the annual Maori Catholic gathering held since 1946. This year Hawera will host up to two thousand Maori. Henare Ngaia chats with Justine Murray about the expectations of the event given the recent appointment of the new pope, Pope Francis. The Ministry of Justice seems to be following the likes of m,obile phone providers in implementing software to add macrons to te reo Maori. David Hudson and Liz Fletcher demonstrates how it works with Maraea Rakuraku. In an archival recording from 1972 Takapuwahia Marae, Wellington hosted the Maori Catholic gathering Te Hui Aranga. Coverage of the official Powhiri features.

With a population of over 1.5 million people, Auckland is home to many urban Maori. As the city continues to grow and expansion is inevitable for the foreseeable future, Maraea Rakuraku talks with Grant Walker about its chequered past and the land injustices felt by Ngati Whatua ki Orakei. Performing comes naturally for 27 year old Tiare Teinakore, hardly surprising considering her sisters Te Waipounamu and Te Manawaroa were popularly known as singing duo T-Sistaz, Tiare held her own on stage literally at this year's Te Matatini festival, and was awarded Te Manukura Wahine (Best Female leader) with her Waikato based Kapahaka group, Te Iti Kahurangi.

New Zealand's economy is based on primary industry and Maori have always been at its forefront. Whether it's been as loggers in the forestry or shearers in the shearing shed. In homage to the many Maori shearers and shearing whanau Justine Murray attends the Golden Shears Competition held in Masterton experiencing Shearing 101. Mavis Mullins heads a shearing dynasty - Paewai Mullins Shearing Ltd alongside her husband Koro. She describes how Shearing has led to other opportunities within the business world. At 85 years old Tinirau Owen Akuira still has a keen appreciation for shearing in the Wairarapa, hardly surprising given he started as a learner shearer in 1946. Since then he's noticed a change in the physique, demeanour and demographic within the industry. Akuira chats about those aspects all the while taking in the Golden Shears action from the sidelines. According to Josie Reiri-Rongonui wool handling is an as intensive and necessary part of the shearing process and nowadays is a highly transferable ski

In Te Ahi Kaa, Winiata Hotere and Charlotte Courtenay, the brother and sister of Ralph Hotere chat with Northland regional reporter Lois Williams about their brothers rise to fame in the art world and how despite living away from Mitimiti for thirty years, he always gave back to his community and whanau. Artist Neke Moa travelled to Munich, Germany last week as part of her involvement in the mentoring programme, Handshake Jewellery, she has a chat about art, inspiration and why the kumara is symbolic in her work. The main reason why Brenda Hokianga loves her job as a Wairarapa Maori Warden is to look after the Rangatahi (young people), Justine has a chat with Brenda at this year's Golden Shears, Masterton.

Te Ahi Kaa mo 03 Poututerangi (March) 2013.

In Te Ahi Kaa this week, Henare Te Ua (1934 - 2007) interviews Ngapo Bub Wehi about his foray into kapa haka that was helped along as a young fella courting his wife, Pimia Nen Wehi ( 1929 - 2011). Ramari Sherman writes waiata Maori and teaches at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata, Elisha Fa'I Hulton is a Samoan Opera singer who was the understudy of Deborah Wai Kapohe in the 2012 production Hohepa, and Maria Kapa is a trained Classical singer and together they're Pure Voice. Justine Murray visits with them in Rotorua. Maraea Rakuraku and Justine Murray discuss the Broadcasting limitations of Te Matatini for mainstream media in light of the exclusive rights granted to Maori Television with Willie Jackson and Potaua Biasiny Tule.

Taking on Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues has been a little stressful but hugely rewarding for actor/director Maria Walker, Maraea Rakuraku has a chat with Maria about the challenges of bringing a Maori twist to the play performed as part of the One Billion rising campaign. SkinChoir is a twelve member group based in Melbourne, comprised of Aboriginal Australian and Torres Straight Islanders who performed in Wellington as part of a cultural exchange, Justine Murray checks out their final performance. Foresight Customised Clothing is the brainchild of Miriama Grace Smith and Jack Cromie. Maraea Rakuraku spends time with the pair.

What does Waitangi Day mean to you? That's the question put to punters at the annual Te Ra o Te Raukura hosted by Te Ati Awa Ki Poneke at Waiwhetu (Lower Hutt, Wellington). How would changes to the New Zealand Constitution affect Maori? Maraea Rakuraku talks with Ngati Kahungunu, Carwyn Jones about the Independent Working group Aotearoa Matike Mai, that travelled throughout the nation gauging Maori views on constitutional change. Master Navigator Jack Thatcher is at the helm of the Waka Tapu epic voyage from Auckland to Rapanui on-board two traditional waka Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti II and Te Aurere. Justine Murray catches up with him from Moorea during a pit stop.

What does Waitangi Day mean to you? That's the question put to punters at the annual Te Ra o Te Raukura hosted by Te Ati Awa Ki Poneke at Waiwhetu (Lower Hutt, Wellington). How would changes to the New Zealand Constitution affect Maori? Maraea Rakuraku talks with Ngati Kahungunu, Carwyn Jones about the Independent Working group Aotearoa Matike Mai, that travelled throughout the nation gauging Maori views on constitutional change. Master Navigator Jack Thatcher is at the helm of the Waka Tapu epic voyage from Auckland to Rapanui on-board two traditional waka Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti II and Te Aurere. Justine Murray catches up with him from Moorea during a pit stop.

Maraea Rakuraku visits Whanganui Regional Museum and talks with Awhina Twomey no Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Raukawa ki te tonga who provides an insight into her role as Kaitiaki Taonga Maori, and the responsibility that entails that includes explaining etiquette to patrons when around Taonga Maori. Justine Murray samples some of the home baking at Kaumafia Kafe a newly set up business run by Whakapai Hauora Charitable Trust in Palmerston North.

The Chumpchange exercise programme is mana motuhake in action according to its founder, Ngati Porou wahine Mere Takoko who over the past year has reduced her body fat by 24 per cent, performed and won a body building competition and raised $12,000 for breast cancer Maraea Rakuraku has a chat with Mere at where else? but a gym. Justine Murray visits the home of Beatrice Yates, known as Aunty Bea in Rotorua to chat about her teaching career that has spanned fifty years and why, despite retiring in 2010 her life is busier than ever.

In the final Te Ahi Kaa for 2012, Maraea Rakuraku and Justine Murray present a few of their favourite stories that includes a visit to the giant Kauri tree, Tanemahuta at Waipoua Forest with kaumatua Daniel Ambler, sitting with John and Isie Bristowe whose longterm marriage is the subject of much envy and listening to producer Bailey Mackey defend the TV series, The GC that received an unprecedented number of complaints before it had even aired. Justine Murray is at the annual Te ra o Te Kupenga gala day at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o nga Mokopuna, Wellington and attends a mock Civil Defence emergency at Wainuiomata marae when it is transformed into an evacuation centre. Kahu Waitoa explains the whakapapa behind the waiata, Tomo Mai composed by his grandfather Henare Waitoa (1910-1968).

Implementing practical lessons while educating kids is what Oturu School, Kaitaia is all about as experienced by Maraea Rakuraku when she visited earlier this year. Peggy Luke Ngaheke has a long association with Waiwhetu Marae in Lower Hutt and the Kohanga Reo movement and as a result has an opinion on the Waitangi Tribunal report Matua Rautia Wai2336 published by the Waitangi Tribunal. In an archival recording from 1994, Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru talks about the role of Matauranga Maori as part of a lectures series at Canterbury University.

Becoming an All Black or a singer were the two career choices for John Rowles, who grew up in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. While his dad, a former Maori All black advocated rugby Rowles had other ideas. Ones that involved singing and swinging those hips. All of which is detailed in his biography If I only had time written by Angus Gillies. Justine Murray is entertained by the "Kawerau kid". Maraea Rakuraku is with legendary Whanganui composer Morvin Simon who explains the history of Kaiwhaiki Marae, Whanganui following the centenary of it's wharepuni Te Kiritahi.

Justine Murray visits Te Pu Harakeke at Nga Hau e Wha o Papararangi Marae, Newlands, Wellington - a purpose built flax garden built earlier this year to support marae projects in the years to come. Maraea Rakuraku tours Maraenui, Napier with social justice housing advocate Chantelle Brown and a recording of Pine Taiapa (1901-1972) in 1968 illustrates just how metaphorical a building is, when it comes to illustrating Maori cultural values.

Justine Murray revisits the Otaki Maori Racing Club on Melbourne Cup Day where she chats with siblings Terese Fulford and Reg Winiata about their father Jim Winiata (1926 - 2012) whose 50 year old stewardship of the club ended when he died this year. One day Marama Davidson had a gutsful with what she saw was the ongoing victimisation of Maori so she did something about it. She wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister. Maraea Rakuraku questions Marama about the effectiveness of the action and the outcome.

Relationships forged over years, generations even came into play when the Nathan whanau chose Patricia Grace to write the narrative of their parents' life story that began in wartime Crete and ended in New Zealand. Manos Nathan sits with Maraea Rakuraku and details the process that resulted in Ned and Katina. Dr Ngarino Ellis graduated in October this year with her doctorate based on the Iwirakau Carving School on the east coast from 1830 - 1930, she explains her research with Justine Murray. Maori folk singer and Kai Tahu, Ariana Tikao talks about her new album From Dust to Light.

From the time he worked after school at the local supermarket in Waiuku to New World in Tokoroa Damon Jakeman always knew it was the life for him. Maraea Rakuraku meets the owner/operator whose positive attitude towards te reo Maori and the people of Tokoroa has cemented his place within the community. The Napier Operatic Society's Tabard Theatre was built in the 1950's, Maori Theatre actor William Waitoa takes Justine Murray on a tour. In the archival segment Nga Taonga Korero, Henare Te Ua (1934 - 2007) presents highlights of the 1994 Maori Sports awards in Auckland.