Rnz: Te Ahi Kaa

Sandra Lee was the first Māori woman to win a general electorate seat and the first person to lead a Māori Party - Mana Motuhake - into Parliament. Tonight - Te Ahi Kaa features episode four of the political legacy series - Mātangireia with host, writer and blogger Morgan Godfery.

Tuariki Delamere entered parliament in 1996 as a member of the New Zealand First Party having won the Te Tairawhiti seat. In this episode of the political legacy series, Matangireia - Delamere talks about his contribution as a Cabinet Minister. For the entire video and podcast series click here.

Dame Tariana Turia talks about her time in parliament in part two of the political legacy series, Matangireia hosted by writer and blogger Morgan Godfery. Dame Turia reflects on her time in parliament, the genesis of the Māori Party following the Foreshore and Seabed March to parliament, and her early life growing up in Whanganui.

Matangireia examines the legacies of Māori Politicians. Six former MPs from across the political spectrum share frank insights with series host, Morgan Godfery. In this week's episode former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei talks about her political career and aspirations during her time in parliament.

If you are heading into Raetihi from the bustling ski town of Ohakune - then its hard to miss the Church Temple on a small hilltop. This Ratana Church is one of six temples in the Central North Island and the Far North, all replicas of the Temepara at Ratana Pa - in Whanganui. But the temple in Raetihi needs some urgent repair and renovation work not a simple task given the heritage of the building and its meaning to local iwi, hapu and Morehu or followers of the Ratana Faith. Te Ahi Kaa producer Justine Murray is in Raetihi and meets Te Awhina Arahanga and a team of Auckland based Architects who discuss the restoration project.

The kaupapa of the Tairawhiti Waka Voyaging Trust is to educate as many students and visitors about the history of polynesian navigation. Chairman of the trust is Waka builder and navigator Te Aturangi Nepia-Clamp who was part of the crew that sailed from Aotearoa to Rarotonga onboard Te Aurere in 1992. Today, as part of the trusts mission to practice sustainability, the waka runs on both diesel and coconut oil. Te Ahi Kaa is back in Gisborne onboard the waka hourua, Tairawhiti.

The double hulled waka or voyaging canoe Tairawhiti is described by its builder as a 'floating classroom'. Te Aturangi Nepia Clamp is determined to teach students and visitors about the history of Maori voyaging and exploration. In 1992 he was part of the original crew that sailed to Rarotonga onboard Te Aurere the waka carved by the late Sir Hekenukumai Busby. Te Aturangi is at the helm of bringing voyaging to the masses, starting in his hometown - Te Ahi Kaa is in Gisborne to find out more.

Dr Mere Whaanga is the first Māori writer to be awarded the prestigious Michael King Writer's Fellowship. The two year award provides the writer a grant of $100,000 to enable the research for their next book Rongoā - Healt the Land, Health the People. The academic, historian and children's author draws on the local stories of Taiporutu as the theme for much of her work. In a sit down chat with Te Ahi Kaa, she talks about farming life, heading back to study as a mature student, and the history of her iwi and hapū.

In the six-part series, He Kākano Ahau Kahu Kutia challenges the assumption that to be urban and Māori means to be disconnected from your culture, she explores the nuance of Māori migration to the cities. Throughout the series Kahu travels to Christchurch, Wellington talking to young Māori who find cultural strength and identity in New Zealand's biggest cities. In this episode, in the wake of their recent Hikoi, she visits Ihumātao.

Maru Nihoniho's story can be played out like a movie - born and raised in Christchurch she was bullied and felt isolated during her years at primary school through to her time at college. Following a move from Christchurch to Wellington Maru became disconnected from the education system and left school to work voluntary at a secondhand shop. It could have played out differently but Maru's love of gaming, that's console gaming like PlayStation, Nintendo and XBox lead to a career in game design and development. It wasn't an easy road - from maxed out credit cards to on-going rejection, Maru was close to packing it all in. But while she was overseas at a gaming conference a publisher was interested in her idea, a deal was brokered and her game Cube was published for PSP. That was back in 2003. In September this year, Maru's company Metia Interactive is a finalist at the Simulation Australasia Annual Awards for her 3D puzzle game, Takaro. Maru shares her story on Te Ahi Kaa.

In the final episode of this series about the Maramataka, Rereata Makiha talks about growing up in the Hokianga and was 'by default' immersed in the traditional learning under the whare wananga. From the age of 18 Rereata attended these sacred learning sessions where he was taught in the dark by his elders, the purpose of which was to recite the genealogy and the historical stories of the Maramataka. Rereata talks about those experiences in this week's Te Ahi Kaa.

In part two of this series, Rereata Makiha explains the different lunar phases of the maramataka used as a guide for the best times to plant, fish and collect kaimoana. In recent years Makiha says more people are becoming interested in how the Maramataka works – a trend he says, is about keeping this knowledge alive. Te Ahi Kaa features highlights of a recent presentation hosted by Rotorua Library.

The Māori Lunar Calendar or the Maramataka outlines the different phases of the moon and is a guide to the optimal days for fishing, planting or harvesting food. Maramataka exponent Rereata Makiha discusses the different names of the moon phases and how these also relate to human behaviours. Te Ahi Kaa presents highlights of a recent presentation at Rotorua Library.

Imagine walking into a medical clinic and getting two options of healthcare, one that stems from traditional plant based healing practices, and the other a western model of healthcare with prescriptive drugs. Dr Michael Spencer of Washington University has researched the idea of integrating Native Hawaiian healing practices into primary care, he shared his findings at the recent NAISA (Native American and Indigenous Studies Association) conference, hosted by The University of Waikato. Te Ahi Kaa presents highlights of Dr Spencer's panel discussion.

Te Ahi Kaa features highlights from NAISA – or the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association conference hosted by The University of Waikato. Professor Mary Tuti Baker and Tina Grandinetti discuss Aloha Aina or the love for the land, and how state controlled policies and Ideology has impacted the cultural practices of the Native Hawaiian people.

Mahi a Atua is a Māori approach to mental wellbeing drawing on the stories, narratives and healing practices of te ao Māori (the Māori world). Psychiatrist Diana Kopua gives us an insight into the work and research behind it.

Hui Aroha was the name of the large scale event held in Gisborne on April 8th 1919 to welcome back men who had served in the Pioneer Battalion during the First World War. The East cost almost doubled in population with over twenty five thousand pounds raised to assist the soldiers and their families, that's around three million dollars today. To mark one hundred years since Hui Aroha, a re-enactment of the soliders return was held earlier this month. Te Ahi Kaa was there and presents coverage from the day.

Justine Murray is back with Chef Charles Royal foraging in the bush near Lake Rotoiti. In part two of their discussion, Charles talks about the importance of sustainability in light of the increased practice of Rongoa Maori or the use of native plants for their medicinal properties. The former army chef turned entrepreneur and business owner, says sustainability is about only taking what you need, hear more of their conversation in this week's episode of Te Ahi Kaa.

Te Ahi Kaa further explores this series about health and well being. Justine Murray joins Chef Charles Royal in the bush on the outskirts of Lake Rotoiti, foraging for food - from 'bushman's asparagus' to the native plants used for common ailments. Hinehopu forest is a Pataka Kai or local food source. Charles is in the forest most days of the week giving guided tours, or harvesting native plants and herbs for chefs across the country, he talks about plans for his food business Kinaki and his work in helping Maori Men with physical illnesses find a connection to the Ngahere (bush) as part of his food tours.

Te Ahi Kaa delves into the notion of happiness. What defines happiness? Is it an individual or collective experience? And in today's world of social media - is it some sort of disguise? Justine Murray asks this question to revered artist Dr Sandy Adsett, Singer songwriter Ria Hall, artist Linda Munn and Media personality Kingi Biddle who provide their own experiences. Clinical Psychologist Dr Waikaremoana Waitoki than provides her own analysis of what it means to be happy.