BIGGER, BRIGHTER AND FULL OF FLAVOUR – HAA IS BACK ON MĀORI TELEVISION!

17 April 2008

The crew from youth show HAA has vowed to up the ante when the series returns to Māori Television – every Monday to Saturday at 6.30 PM from April 28.

Viewers will still get the inside track on the latest and hottest news, views and interviews. The show is still fun, high-energy – and a must-see guide on what’s happening with youth culture in New Zealand-Aotearoa. But this time round, the weekday shows will be entirely in te reo Māori – only the Saturday show will stick to last season’s bilingual format. “Viewers will get a daily dose of the Māori language on HAA,” says producer Wiremu Te Kiri.

The new series will reflect the interests of youth through a range of specially-designed segments. Youth events are the bread and butter of Kimihia Te Haa and Haka, from kapa haka to festivals and competitions. Famous faces and outstanding rangatahi are interviewed in Tangata Toa; Waha Papaa reveals what’s new in youth culture; Haerenga finds out what rural youth get up to; and Kura invites schools to submit their own stories.

But wait – there’s more! Whacky facts about local and international artists and musicians are the focus in Puoro. Learn new dance moves in Urban Kanikani; travel the world with Travel Diaries; and check out Komeke for the latest on new and old comics. “HAA has always given rangatahi a voice and platform to reflect what is important in their lives,” says producer Wiremu Te Kiri. “That will continue to be the focus.”

The presenters are a mix of new and old faces. Kimo Houltham is back to lead the team which includes newcomers Naomi Bradfield, Nicole Douglas and Jay Wanakore. Field reporter Sarah-lina Brown also returns for her second year.

KIMO HOULTHAM (Ngaiterangi, Te Arawa): Kimo was raised in Rotorua and grew up speaking Māori. He lives and breathes kapa haka, is fluent in Spanish and his favourite food is Mexican. The person he would most like to meet is best-selling author Dan Brown: “I would like to know where he gets all his ideas for his books.”

SARA-LINA BROWN (Cook Island): Sarah-lina Brown grew up in Auckland and has always loved dancing and singing. She teaches dance and can often be seen dancing alongside Candy Lane and in other local entertainment shows and music videos. She loves hanging out with her friends and reading books. During Fashion Week, you may see her on the catwalk.

NAOMI BRADFIELD (Ngāti Porou): Naomi may be new to HAA but already her experience in television fills a list as long as her arm. Presenter, actor, writer, production assistant – she does it all! A self-proclaimed farm girl from Central Otago, Naomi had little access to te reo Māori as a young thing – something she put right as soon as she was able. She studied Māori at the local polytech and later majored in a Māori studies degree at Otago and Auckland universities.

NICOLE DOUGLAS (Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou): Nicole grew up in Rotorua, and won the coveted Rotorua Young Achiever Award in 2004. She’s been a national rep in tennis and a school prefect – a high achiever if ever there was one – but in her down time loves to chill out at the beach and listen to Alicia Keys. She also has a little secret that may come as shock if it ever gets out: “I don’t like most seafood. Most people find it surprising because apparently every Māori loves seafood.”

JAY WHATAKARAKA WANAKORE (Ngāti Maniapoto): Whata, Whats and Whati Bom to his friends, Jay’s early years were spent in the country town of Otorohanga. He’s into his sports, kapa haka and hanging out with friends and whānau. He loves going away on holiday, going to the beach and just ‘laxing out’ but lately he’s found a new passion: “Going to the gym. I gotta have big muscles like Kimo!”

Get your daily dose of te reo Māori with a youth flavour on HAA – Māori Television’s hot youth show screening every Monday to Saturday at 6.30 PM from April 28.

Ends

Merilee Andrews
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Maori Television
DDI +64 9 539 7092
EML: merilee.andrews@maoritelevision.com