Rnz: Te Ahi Kaa

Moving between both Maori and Pakeha worlds has armed composer Jenny McLeod with a knowledge and respect of rhythm and sound that she has sought to incorporate into her work. In the process it's made her proud of her Pakeha heritage while marvelling at Te Ao Maori. Maraea Rakuraku spends time with McLeod at her home where she discovers a lifetime association with one of the eldest gathering of Maori in the country - Te Hui Aranga. Justine Murray takes a tour of the art exhibition 'The Object of the Portrait' at Rotorua Museum. Reggae band 1814 are gearing up for the busy summer schedule on the back of promoting their third album Relax, Justine has a chat with Patu Colbert.

What you see is what you get with Cameron Petley which perhaps explains why he was such a popular contestant on Master Chef New Zealand 2011. Maraea Rakuraku samples some of that charisma and kai when she visits Petley at The Masters Table, Putaruru Hotel. Music and Maori goes hand in hand, Justine Murray checks out the Whanau Show which caters to Kuia and Kaumatua in Lower Hutt, Wellington. In the archival recording, Nga Taonga Korero from 1948, Rangitiara Dennan (1896 - 1971) better known as Guide Rangi is interviewed about the famous people she's meet during her guided tours at Whakarewarewa village, Rotorua.

In Te Ahi Kaa, Ngati Ruanui and Nga Ruahine share the boundary where Ohawe beach - Te Rangatapu is and its where chairperson Daisy Noble was brought up. Maraea Rakuraku joins Daisy at Ohawe for a lesson in historical landmarks. Jay Marson and Karina Ratana have twenty four mokopuna (grandchildren) between them, and are well known in their community, Porirua. Both women work for Waitangirua Action Group (W.A.G) and co-ordinate initiatives to decrease tagging and vandalism in their town, Justine Murray spends a morning with Jay and Karina. Justine has a chat with Maisey Rika about her third album, Whitiora.

In Te Ahi Kaa Maraea Rakuraku visits the home of Annette Marr who shares her personal account of her diagnosis with Breast Cancer in 2009 and the difficulties of living with the illness. Justine Murray is in Waipukurau where she visits a Mobile Breast Screening Unit, and talks to Makere Nepe-Apatu Thorstensen about the whanau effort in encouraging mammograms amongst wahine maori who live rurally. Writer, Actor and Musician Jamie McCaskill talks about this play Manawa set to be stage in Auckland on October 23.

The Wai 11 Te Reo Maori claim was spearheaded by Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru, Chair of the Wellington based Maori language board, Nga Kaiwhakapumau i te Reo. In an archival recording from 1984, three years before the enactment of the Maori language Act 1987, Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru discusses the reasons why te reo maori should be made an official language in the country. Justine Murray has a chat with Maori musician Leon Wharekura, and Maraea Rakuraku has a chat to actor, writer and director Tammy Davis about his current projects including the short film, Ebony Society.

Over two thousand Maori in New Zealand identify as Maori-Indian, fitting then the first Maori Indian gathering at Tangatarua Marae, Rotorua (October 05-07, 2012) organised by the Hindu Council is about making connections to the Indian culture. Maraea Rakuraku talks with Raewyn Bhana about her dual heritage. It was a combination of anxiety and excitement for a handful of Maori girls taking part in the Miss Aotearoa 2012 beauty pageant. Justine Murray is there taking it all in and in an archival recording from 1973, the president of the Maori Womens Welfare League, Miraka Szaszy (1921-2001) is interviewed by Selwyn Muru.

Spearheaded by Tama Huata five years ago, the Waiata Maori music awards celebrate traditional and contemporary Maori music while recognising the achievements of waiata Maori. Justine Murray presents coverage of the kaupapa. Maraea Rakuraku is at the Wai Summit hosted by the kingitanga at Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaruawahia and Esther-Jordan Muriwai is determined to do it all despite suffering from a lung condition. Justine Murray is at Miss Aotearoa 2012 when Muriwai is named, Runner up.

Later this year, over a dozen street names in the Turangi Township will be replaced with the correct Maori spellings and whakapapa pertinent to the rohe. Maraea Rakuraku finds out more with Tina Porou of the hapu Ngati Turangitukua, while District Manager of Pubic Parks and Spaces, John Rudd explains the process at a District Council level. Justine Murray tiki-tours Porangahau with Te Poriti Tipene and Morehu Smith. In the series Nga Marae o te motu, Heemi Kara recalls the early days of establishing Orongomai Marae, Upper Hutt.

Nga Tāonga toi a Te Waka Toi is the annual Creative New Zealand Awards that recognise Māori who excel in their chosen artistic endeavours Te Tohu Toi Ke recipient this year is Tama Huata for his achievements in Performing Arts. Tama established the Kahurangi Māori Dance Theatre group and is the CEO of Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu which is where Justine Murray interviewed him.

In Te Ahi Kaa this week, Justine Murray is in Otaki and has a chat with musician Kimo Winiata about the new album Te Kawa Tuarua from the group Iwi after a 13 year hiatus. Up and coming set designers Jamie Warda and Wai Mihinui are with Maraea Rakuraku and explain their set design work on the play The Prospect. Te Ahi Kaa profiles Tama Huata, the recipient at this year's Nga Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi (Creative NZ Awards) for his contribution to Maori performing arts.

Maraea Rakuraku is at the Poroporoaki for the whanau who began their six month Journey on-board two traditional waka bound for Rapanui, Hawai'i and then back home again. Ngapuhi, Kawiti Waetford credits his Kapahaka background in preparing him what is turning into a burgeoning opera career. This year he was one of six finalists at the Lexus Song Quest. He chats with Justine Murray. Levin based, Kawiu Marae features as part of our continuing series, Nga Marae o te motu.

In Te Ahi Kaa this week, Maraea Rakuraku takes a tiki-tour of Waimamaku with Kaumatua Daniel Ambler who describes buildings and landmarks in the area. Reihana Sciascia has a chat to Maraea about the annual Porangahau Marae Golf Tournament, while Justine Murray visits the 9 hole Golf Course, and Norm Heke has a chat to Justine about learning Taonga Puoro.

In Te Ahi Kaa this week, When John and Isie Bristowe met 57 years ago it was serious business. Their relationship is an example of "Tomo", the formal process Maori exercised when it came to asking for someones hand in marriage. Marriage wasn't viewed as a decision between two people but one that involved the whole whanau, hapu and Iwi. Maraea Rakuraku meets with the Whirinaki based couple to gain a sense of "tomo", what it means and what would have happened had Johns offer been rejected. Justine Murray talks to musical duo and husband and wife team, Kirsten Te Rito and James Illingworth. Tuhoe Kaumatua, Heemi Kara talks about how accessible te reo maori is for young people.

When active volcanoes are in your backyard how do you prepare for that inevitable eruption? Well, for one thing you stay in communication with GNS Scientists who have been warning of the event for a long time and if you're Tuwharetoa hapu, Ngati Hikairo, you prepare nearby marae and have in place evacuation plans. Justine Murray learns more from Bubs Smith. Celia Lashlie is unapologetically Pakeha and middle class which wouldn't perhaps naturally marry in an advocacy role for Maori populating the lower socio-economic class. Yet, it does and it works because her direct manner and acknowledgment of the privilege associated with being pakeha and middle class means she has a deeper understanding than most of the layers of powerlessness that are so pervasive when you are poor and Maori. Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi is both a pioneer and expert when it comes to te reo Maori. Te Ahi Kaa salutes the Ngati Porou kuia who retired as a Maori Language Commissioner recently with recordings from that poroporaki and an interv

Te Ahu centre in Kaitaia is the latest addition to the community. It houses the Museum, Library and provides exhibition space, and features seven pou pou that represent the iwi of Te Tai Tokerau that also include, poupou paying homage to Pakeha and the Tarara. Maraea Rakuraku attended the official opening and talked to locals who give context to the day. Despite her grandparents being native te reo Maori speakers, the language wasn't encouraged in the home of the young Sophie Nock. That all changed when she grew up. Justine Murray talks with the te reo Maori exponent. Some call them friendlies, others traitors but whatever way you look at it everyone has an opinion on kupapa. That includes Daisy Noble who takes Maraea Rakuraku on a tour of Ohawe, a southern Taranaki township that was gifted by the crown for Whanganui Maori who had fought alongside them against Taranaki Maori.

This week marks the 37th annual Maori language week. In an archival recording from 1978, Tuhoe Scholar John Rangihau addresses the importance of parents speaking te reo Maori in the home and how this bolsters the retention of the language within the whanau unit. Hika Lite is a smartphone app launched this week as part of Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori. Developed by Sophie Tauwehe Tamati, Justine Murray tests its user friendliness. In her role as a Lecturer within Te Kawa a Maui - The Maori Studies Department at Victoria University, Dr Ocean Mercier is at that interface between Matauranga Maori and Western Science. She explains what that means. Steve and Delia Morunga have spent their lifetimes looking at Rawene harbour and it's while doing that, they have noticed the marked change in the health of the water and how that affects the health of the people.

 Guardianship versus ownership. Te Manu Korihi reporter Rosemary Rangitauira is at the Waitangi Tribunal hearings at Waiwhetu Marae, Wellington where she talks to Te Runanga o Te Rarawa Chairman Haami Piripi and Maori language advocate Toni Waho about Maori interests in Water. Justine Murray has a chat with Mana Elizabeth Hunkin, Principal of Te Kura Motuhake o Te Ataarangi school in Nuhaka, Wairoa. The Southern Taranaki hapu, Ngati Tupito of Patea provided the inspiration for a waiata written by Ivy Phillips for the Kapahaka group Aotea Utanganui, Maraea Rakuraku breaks down its composition.

In the series Nga Marae o te motu, Maraea Rakuraku is given a tour of Matatina Marae with Manos Nathan who explains the various artworks inside the Wharetipuna. The traditional Maori method of cooking food in the ground, or a Hangi, forms the basis of an experiment lead by Dr Gillian Turner who measures the magnetization of the Hangi Stones, once cooled. Justine Murray learns more about the project held at Waiwhetu, Te Maori gallery, Lower Hutt and while there she meets Ron Te Kawa, a Fabric artist whose unique designs are building up a loyal customer base.

Just what does it take to perform top level Kapahaka? For the South Taranaki group Aotea Utanganui, it means a lot of weekends at noho marae, fundraising and generally sleeping, walking and talking kapa . Maraea Rakuraku experiences first-hand the preparations in the lead up to the Aotea Kapahaka Regional Competitions on competition day. Dealing with the Wellington elements is one thing, but how about playing sports in the cold, for 12 solid hours? Justine Murray is at Nga hau e wha o Papararangi Marae for a match of ki-o-rahi, the ever increasingly popular sports game that has had a resurgence in recent times. Pao Pao Pao is a must-see event on the Maori music calendar and singer Toni Huata has been part of it since day one.

It's fitting that in a fortnight that has seen the death of two 28th Maori Battalion Veterans, 91 year olds, William Bill Pitman (1921-2012) and the last remaining officer of the 28th Maori Battalion, Major Hone John Hikitia Te Rangi Waititi (1921- 2012), Te Ahi Kaa salutes the remaining 27 veterans of the 28th Maori Battalion with an encore recording of a 2010 korero with "the Major" - as he was affectionately known. Maraea Rakuraku travels deep into the Waipoua Forest with brothers Alex and Manos Nathan who describe the very personal connection the area holds for them, and the shifting of a Catholic church from Te Kopuru in 1980 to its current site where it has been re-purposed as the whare of their marae, Matatina.