BRINGING ISSUES TO TE TEPU – ON MAORI TELEVISION

MONDAY FEBRUARY 8 2010

Maori Television’s current affairs show TE TEPU returns to screens on Monday, February 15 at 8.00 PM, showcasing some of the country’s best speakers of te reo Maori.  

Presented by veteran broadcaster, actor and writer, Waihoroi Shortland (Ngati Hine, Te Aupouri), TE TEPU - or ‘the table’ - is New Zealand’s only television current affairs show that broadcasts 100 per cent in te reo Maori.

Maoridom’s contemporary thinkers and influencers will join Shortland to share their views on local, national and international issues on the half-hour show.

In the past five series TE TEPU has covered everything from the state of the Maori language, corruption and rape allegations in the police force to the Ruatoki terrorism raids. 

While the news is hard to predict, Shortland says the pursuit of tino rangitiratanga  and the proposed repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act will be prominent issues in the new series.

“We will be looking at what is happening with them and asking questions along the way,” he says.  “They will be some of the major issues in Maoridom this year.”

Maori Television’s General Manager of News and Current Affairs  Te Anga Nathan says TE TEPU is a much-loved programme with a ‘cult’ following.

“For the native speakers of reo Maori and language learners this is the programme to watch,” he says.

The replayed subtitled version on the Te Reo channel increases its appeal to second language learners and non-speakers of te reo. 

Lovers of the Maori language and those wanting to know how Maori view issues of the day will not want to miss TE TEPU, starting Monday, February 15 at 8.00 PM on Maori Television.

Ends

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR TE TEPU

Year                            2010
Censor                       General Exhibition (G)
Duration                     26 x 30-minute current affairs programme
Language                   Maori with English language subtitles

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/