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Highlight for Week 1, 2008 - Dec 31st to Jan 6th

WHAKAREHU - Monday, Dec 31st at 7:50p.m.
Daily at 7.50 PM in Maori and repeated at 11.20 PM with English subtitlesPantheons of the Maori world discuss the major news issues of the year. This week: Ruia Aperehama (Dec 31); Dr Merimeri Penfold (Jan 1); Dr Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira (Jan 2); Dr Huirangi Waikerepuru (Jan 3); Saana Murray (Jan 4); Te Kepa Stirling (Jan 5); and Nganeko Minhinnick (Jan 6).

FISH SKIN SUIT - Monday, Dec 31st at 8:30p.m.
Another Kiwi movie – this time for New Year’s Eve viewers. While playing at the beach with their grandmother, two children witness an Elvis impersonator walk out of the sea and believe him to be the half-fish, half-man lover of a female taniwha, Hine Tai.

ITI POUNAMU (NZ SHORT FILMS) - Monday, Dec 31st at 9:30p.m.
Egg and Bomb: A 3D animated comedy romance. Wilga and Henry's relationship looks set to go places but first, Henry must deal with some underhand tactics from Wilga's father, Theo, a chicken-meat entrepreneur.

NGA AHUREI O TE RAUMATI - Tuesday, Jan 1st at 8p.m.
A preview of a new summer festival series premiering on Maori Television later this month (January). Features the Parihaka Peace Festival in Taranaki with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with organisers and performers.

MY FIRST CONTACT (INTERNATIONAL DOCO) - Tuesday, Jan 1st at 8:30p.m.
The story about a tribe of Indians in Brazil – narrated from their own perspective – that was brought to live on a reservation by white men more than 40 years ago. The Ikpeng Indians were not protected after their ‘first contact’ as they were promised.

MAORI TENNIS: ACING IT AT 80 (NZ DOCO) – - Wednesday, Jan 2nd at 8:30p.m.
The 80-year history of the oldest Maori sports organisation in New Zealand is celebrated in this one-hour documentary. Chronicles the history of Maori involvement in tennis with commentary by Professor Tamati Reedy. 

NATIONAL TOUCH SERIES - Sunday, Jan 6th at 3p.m.
Exclusive coverage of the annual tournament for New Zealand’s largest team sport. Highlights from the recent mixed touch nationals held in Upper Hutt screen for two hours every Sunday for the next three weeks.

TE WERO O TIHIOTONGA - Sunday, Jan 6th at 5p.m.
The final in the series that follows the training regime of a new generation of Maori farmers. Teams from agricultural courses in the central North Island compete at a skills day and the cadets prepare to say goodbye as graduation looms. 

KAI ORA (FOOD) - Sunday, Jan 6th at 7p.m.
Musician Anika Moa and actress Madeleine Sami chill out on Anne Thorp’s deck at her Pakiri beach house where they feast on the finest produce from New Zealand’s land and sea. 

VIGIL (SUNDAY FEATURE) - Sunday, Jan 6th at 9p.m.
Director Vincent Ward’s debut feature was the first Kiwi film selected to screen in competition at Cannes. In a remote valley, a farmer is killed as his young daughter watches. In his wake comes a hunter who begins a relationship with the girl’s mother. 

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