A TRIPLE DOSE OF PUKANA – ON MAORI TELEVISION!
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2010
Fresher, snappier and with more entertainment than ever, PUKANA – the popular children’s show – is back to bust the boredom not once, but three times a week this year on Maori Television.
PUKANA returns to screens for its ninth season on Saturday, February 13 at 4.00 PM and then moves to a new time – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 6.00 PM – from May 3. The fast-paced series also moves from hour-long to half hour episodes.
Producer Pania Papa, from Auckland-based production house Cinco Cine, says the new PUKANA is all about having fun through the Maori language, with a specific focus on children aged 8 to 14.
“It’s entertainment and education all wrapped up in one and it’s very cool,” she says.
Papa says PUKANA favourites including the cheeky send-ups, music and practical life skills have been refreshed while there are some colourful new additions to the show such as the witty Rastafarian puppet, Raku.
“We’re going for a fresher, snappier pace with more energy,” she says. “The challenge is fitting all the great ideas into the minutes.”
PUKANA presenters Tiare Tawera (Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Porou), Marama Gardiner (Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui) and Chey Milne (Ngapuhi, Ngai Tahu) are all fluent Maori language speakers and talented singers, actors and reporters with a natural rapport with children.
The presenters brainstorm, research and write comedy skits, songs and educational segments for each episode.
This latest season of PUKANA will see them getting out into the community more often in their colourful van named Te Waka o Pukana to film special events such as the National Primary Schools’ Kapa Haka Competition, and the show’s own annual live event, Pukana in the Park.
This year’s PUKANA also focuses more on having high-achieving young people on the show as guests and introduces new competitions including one based on the amazing race.
PUKANA is an award-winning series, having won a Qantas Media Award in 2003 and the TV Guide New Zealand Television Award in 1999 for best children’s programme.
Sit back and be entertained on PUKANA, screening on Saturday, February 13 at 4.00 PM and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5.30 PM from May 3 on Maori Television.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR PUKANA
Year: 2010
Censor: General Exhibition (G)
Duration: 60-minute weekly series moving to 30-minutes three times per week
Language: Maori
For images, interviews, review tapes or further information, contact:
Merilee Andrews
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Maori Television
DDI: +64 9 539 7092
Mob: 021 274 0495
EML: merilee.andrews@maoritelevision.com
PO Box 113-017, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand
9-15 Davis Crescent, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
http://www.maoritelevision.com/