Kaumātua (elders) and their golden stories of yesteryear are celebrated on Māori Television’s new show, MAUMAHARA – premiering on Saturday September 1 at 8.00 PM.

  Presented by Ben Tawhiti (Ngaiterangi), MAUMAHARA is a nostalgic bilingual programme that explores how things used to be: from food, music and war to urbanisation, politics and health. Threaded by the music of time, the series focuses on the 1920s to the early 1950s and presents unique stories from 16 kaumātua that have never been told – until now. 

Many of us have heard the stories – how they “thawed their bare feet in fresh cow-tiko when walking to school”. In MAUMAHARA, there are more of these tales of simple living: the dance, music and fashion crazes of the era; the struggles through the depression years and war time; the move to the cities and raising their families away from their papakainga.

MAUMAHARA means ‘remember’ in English, a fitting title for these 13 half-hour episodes. The stories are complemented by archival footage and photos and music. Produced by renowned singer Hinewehi Mohi and her company Raukatauri Productions, MAUMAHARA indulges her love of music, especially from the 1920s to the early 1950s.

“The programme idea started when I saw Ben Tawhiti at the 75th birthday of Milly Bradfield, a former jazz and blues diva,” says Hinewehi. “We talked about how it would be great to see some telly tailored to our kaumātua. I’ve always loved talking to my Nan about the olden days and listening to my grandfather’s old crooner music, so it made sense to create a show like MAUMAHARA.”

As a loving footnote to these memories, a song from Ben Tawhiti and his band, Ngā Kaumātua, reflecting the time and theme ends the show.

Memories are made of this! Join Māori Television for the premiere of MAUMAHARA on Saturday September 1 at 8.00 PM.