MERI KIRIHIMETE FROM MĀORI TELEVISION!

27 November 2007

Māori Television delivers a Christmas stocking packed with song, slapstick and sentiment as it gears up for a bumper package of programming to celebrate the festive season.

PINE OR POHUTUKAWA – Wednesday December 19 at 8.30 PM: Screening in the New Zealand Documentary slot, Pakipūmeka Aotearoa, comedian Pio Terei explores the highs and lows of the ‘silly season’ as he travels the country in search of the quintessential Kiwi Christmas. As Pio explores how New Zealanders celebrate Christmas, he also examines our national identity.

PŪKANA IN THE PARK – Saturday December 22 at 4.00 PM : The award-winning Māori language children’s programme once again hosts this annual event at Auckland’s Tahaki Reserve which attracts hundreds of children. This year’s line-up includes the Pūkana cast and Homai Te Pakipaki stars Robert Ruha and Jasmine Taare as well as Ardijah’s Betty-Anne and Ryan Monga, Brannigan Kaa from Māorioke, dance troupe Xqwizit and Te Kapa o Hoani Waititi.

MĀ TĀTOU CHRISTMAS SPECIAL– Sunday December 23 at 6.30PM: Christmas comes early for the iwi-tainment community events show. Presenters Te Hāmua Nikora and Veeshayne Patuwai are joined by reporters Lanita Ririnui-Ryan and Paora Crump for laughs, live music and, of course, plenty of kai!

SEEDS – Sunday December 23 at 9.00 PM: What if you were given the opportunity to sit down face-to-face with someone you consider your enemy? Could you co-exist? Would you live in peace? Meet 10 teenagers from war-torn countries who undertook this challenge for three life-changing weeks at the Seeds of Peace International Camp.

ASK YOUR AUNTIE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL – Monday December 24 at 8.30 PM: Host Ella Henry and her bevy of advisers from the popular panel show present a Christmas Eve special incorporating their no-nonsense wisdom. Tama Waipara and band will perform a specially commissioned song, and viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the help agencies featured throughout the year.

MĀ TĀTOU PRESENTS BROMASTERS– Tuesday December 25 at 6.30 PM: T e Hāmua Nikora and Brent Mio pose the question, ‘Whose Bro Are You Anyway?’ in this Christmas Day exclusive. With hilariously ‘Hori Improv Games’ that include a ‘Have Yourself a Hangi’ charade, the one-hour special is one to watch for a good laugh with all the whānau.

HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI CHRISTMAS – Tuesday December 25 at 8.30 PM : The hugely successful karaoke show returns for a Christmas Day special. The celebrity singers include presenters Te Hāmua Nikora and Miss Black as well as Taisha, Ben Lummis, Eroni Clarke, Helen Crown, Tigi Ness, Whakaangi Rongonui, Jamoa Jam, Dale Husband and ‘Auntie’ Mabel Wharekawa-Burt.

HER MAJESTY – Wednesday December 26 at 8.30 PM: A charming and inspirational story is the Boxing Day feature film. As a rural town prepares for a visit from the Queen of England, residents pressure an elderly Māori woman, Hira, to sell her rickety shack. No-one is more excited to meet the Queen than 13-year-old Elizabeth but she meets Hira and hears her compelling stories about her tribe's history and culture.

MĀ TĀTOU NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL – Sunday December 30 at 6.30 PM : T he party continues as the iwi-tainment community events show – presented by Te Hāmua Nikora and Veeshayne Patuwai – bids farewell to 2007 and looks to the future with special guests, roots reggae tunes and food to tantalise the taste buds.

FISH SKIN SUIT – Monday December 31 at 8.30 PM: 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.

Viewers can call the helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 628 2868) for advice on how to tune into Māori Television which is available on channel 5 on Freeview; channel 19 on Sky Digital and channel 6 on Sky UHF; and free-to-air on UHF or using a satellite dish and receiver. For more information, go to www.maoritelevision.com.

Ends

Sandy Hodge
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Māori Television
DDI +64 9 539 7009
MOB: +64 21 325 826
EML: sandy.hodge@maoritelevision.com

Vanessa Horan
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Māori Television
DDI: +64 9 539 7159
MOB: +64 21 928 007
EML: vanessa.horan@maoritelevision.com