Māori Television’s innovative and ground-breaking trilingual gardening show KIWI MAARA is back – premiering on Sunday August 12 at 5.30 PM.

KIWI MAARA is the only trilingual show on New Zealand television simultaneously translating the Māori and English of the three other presenters into New Zealand sign language, with interpreter Tania Simon super-imposed in a corner of the screen. In January this year, the series received an accolade from the Race Relations Commissioner for its work in this area.

The 11-part series is produced by Auckland-based White Gloves Television Productions. KIWI MAARA producer Te Hira Henderson says the decision to translate three ways was critical, and the response from the deaf community has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Hearing loss is an important issue that impacts in a major way on our mokopuna, tamariki and whānau. Research suggests that Māori who are deaf make up 30 per cent of the deaf community,” says Te Hira.

“For our tamariki and mokopuna, the results are particularly stark. In 2001, Māori children under 19 comprised a record 48 per cent of the deafness notifications, despite being only 19 per cent of the population. So it is crucial for the Māori community, both deaf and hearing, to embrace Māori sign language.”

The KIWI MAARA team are back to share their gardening knowledge and know-how, advice and handy tips for all types of gardens in all types of conditions all around New Zealand. The show provides practical, realistic and credible horticultural and gardening advice, inspiring and entertaining all gardeners around the motu.

Most importantly, the series has been filmed in order to be season sensitive. When it is potato planting time, that’s when the team will show you the best way to put your potatoes down. KIWI MAARA will once again be hosted by organics and permaculture enthusiast Teremoana Jones, rongoa Māori expert Rob ‘Pā’ McGowan, Anatonio Te Maioha and Tania Simon.

Teremoana Jones: A lifelong vegetarian with a passion for organics, Teremoana is also trained in permaculture, when homes and farming methods are created in harmony with nature.

Rob McGowan: A Pakeha, fluent in reo Māori, and known to many as ‘Pā’ because he was a priest for many years. Married with a daughter, Rob learned rongoa Māori from the kaumatua of Wanganui and now runs university courses on the subject.

Tania Simon: Tania has been signing for a decade, and is one of only two people in Aotearoa fluent in reo Māori, English and sign language. “It’s wonderful to be part of such an important show for the deaf and hearing impaired community,” says the former primary school teacher.

Anatonio Te Maioha: A busy dad and keen environmentalist, Anatonio says KIWI MAARA has inspired him to plant his own organic garden.

A gardening show packed with practical everyday advice, KIWI MAARA premieres on Māori Television on August 12 at 5.30 PM.