WHO WILL BE THE ULTIMATE MĀORI WARRIOR?

The competition is heating up in New Zealand’s toughest reality series – TOA: TOA O AOTEAROA – screening on Māori Television every Thursday at 9.30 PM.

The show pits the ancient against the avant garde, the gifted against the experienced, and after many gruelling weeks, comes up with a top warrior winner who will take home a $10,000 prize and the title of TOA: TOA O AOTEAROA champion.

In this second series, 12 men skilled in the use of the ancient taiaha weapon are taken to an isolated, secret location to be pushed to their limits – physically and mentally.

Challenges test their skill, strength, stamina and agility to determine the two warriors who must fight each other in a full contact taiaha duel. This battle is held on a specially constructed marae where these disputes were traditionally resolved.

There are four, two-minute bouts and the opponents score points for full hits to the body, limbs and head. The warrior with the least amount of points at the end of the rounds is deemed to have lost.

Ranging in age from 17 to 57, the competitors hail from all over New Zealand. They are: Tua Hekenui (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Reweti Te Mete (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngaiterangi), Te Whare Kotua Morrison-Hare (Te Arawa, Tūhoe), Joel Buck (Te Arawa, Whakatōhea), Douglas Pini Ihaia (Ngāti Rangitihi), Raimona Inia (Te Arawa, Ngāti Tarāwhai), Poutapu Tame Strickland Winikerei (Ngāti Raukawa), Brendon Martin (Te Rarawa), Tipene Rangihuna (Ngāti Porou), Warren Brian (Ngāpuhi), Anaru Keogh (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniapoto) and defending champion Owen Mitai-Wells (Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa).

Weaponary master Wetini Mitai-Ngatai (Te Arawa) returns as the judge, as does referee Tukiterangi Curtis (Ngāti Rongomai).

Producer Reuben Collier of Rotorua-based Māui Productions says there was no shortage of talented taiaha exponents coming forward for the second series of TOA: TOA O AOTEAROA.

“People now know what to expect after seeing the first series and they can judge for themselves whether they have what it takes,” Reuben says. “Make no mistake, the taiaha is a weapon designed to inflict maximum damage. It’s easy to see how one warrior could defeat large groups of attackers.”

coming up ON MĀORI TELEVISION:

NATIVE AFFAIRS: SUMMER SERIES – Monday March 3 at 8.30 PM

Tonight: New Zealand’s first Victoria Cross recipient in more than 60 years; the so-called anti-terrorist raids; Waikato University’s youngest ever science graduate; and youth at risk help revive the building and sailing of traditional Marshall Islands’ canoes.

INSIDE ISLAM – Monday March 3 at 10.00 PM

Premiere of an in-depth documentary series profiling the religion of more than 20 per cent of the world's population, looking at Islam's followers, traditions, ceremonies and origins. Tonight: The life of a Muslim is reviewed through the various customs and ceremonies – from birth to death.

BEFORE THE FLOOD – Tuesday March 4 at 8.30 PM

International Documentary, Pakipūmeka ō te Ao: Once the world’s third poorest country, Tuvalu sold its internet domain name – .tv – for $50 million. But all the cash in the world will not stop the relentless march of the sea. (Tuvaluan – with English language subtitles)

MARAE – Tuesday March 4 at 10.30 PM

New Zealand television’s longest running Māori current affairs programme – having first broadcast live to air in 1992 – returns for 2008. Hosted by parliamentary press gallery journalist Shane Taurima.

E TŪ KAHIKATEA – Wednesday March 5 at 8.00 PM

Personal stories of Māori leaders who have challenged and inspired. Tonight: The Hon. Koro Wetere reveals how he fled from an arranged marriage, that he never wanted to be a politician and what really happened behind the closed doors of the Beehive. (Māori with English language subtitles)

THE LOST WAKA – Wednesday March 5 at 8.30 PM

NZ Documentary, Pakipūmeka Aotearoa: The mysterious connection between Māori and the inhabitants of remote Polynesian islands thousands of kilometres west of Aotearoa is explored by Professor Patu Hohepa and wife Erena as they travel in search of the ‘lost waka’.

BASSLINE – Friday March 7 at 8.30 PM

New Zealand’s modern-day musical movement in action on stage – presented by Te Awanui Reeder and Helen Crown (pictured). Tonight: The Midnights are a regular on the summer festival circuit and have performed alongside acts such as Katchafire, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Salmonella Dub and The Black Seeds.

THE HONEYMOONERS – Sunday March 9 at 9.00 PM

Sunday Feature, Kiriata Rātapu: Raw, funny and poignant. A jilted groom and a waitress make an unlikely alliance after being thrown together in unlikely circumstances in the depths of rural Ireland. Together they begin a hilarious and chaotic adventure that will change both their lives.

Getting to Air

Our daily schedule is:

Viewers can tune in to Māori Television in six ways:

1. Via Freeview

Crystal clear, digital quality television with no monthly fees and no contracts. Visit www.freeviewnz.tv, call 0800-Freeview, or ask a sales person at a Freeview accredited appliance retailer.

2. Via the UHF frequency

To receive Māori Television via the UHF frequency, you need to have a UHF aerial and be within the coverage range. You can check our coverage maps to find out if you are within the coverage area: www.maoritelevision.com/coverage. If you need to purchase an aerial, call your local television aerial installation retailer. You will find these services listed in the Yellow Pages.

3. Via satellite

If you are not within our coverage area, you can access Māori Television via satellite by purchasing a satellite dish and receiver from your local television aerial installation service.

4. As a Sky Digital subscriber

If you are a Sky Digital subscriber, you will find Māori Television on channel 19 of your Sky remote.

5. As a Sky UHF subscriber

If you are a Sky UHF subscriber, you will find Māori Television on button 6 of your Sky remote.

6. Via Saturn TV

If you receive Saturn TV, you can tune in to Māori Television through channel button 33. Saturn customers – please leave your decoders switched on to be able to receive this channel.

If you are still unsure or need any assistance, call the channel’s tune-in helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 62 82 868).

For More Information

Check our website www.maoritelevision.com/coverage or for guidance on how to tune-in call 0800 MA TATOU ( 0800 62 82868 )