11 Jun 2000

Te Reo o te Tangata Whenua: The story of Māori radio

From the collecton Resounding Radio

For much of radio history 'The voice of the people of the land' is only given token recognition; yet Māori entertainers and personalities have enhanced radio from the beginning.

This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

Programme contents

0' 00" Ngati Poneke Concert party recorded early 1950s.

0' 55" Excerpt from 'Radio Record' advertising radio pageant celebrating Waitangi day 1928.

1' 05" 1920s radio pageants were 'noble savage', indigenous entertainment in mood of the times. Henare te Ua

1' 40" Radio was Pakeha technology. 80 percent of Maori were rural with few radios. But pageants were fine entertainment and continued into 1930s.

2' 25" 1937 Maori announcers appointed in main centres by Commercial Radio Head Colin Scrimgeour.

2' 30" Actuality: Maori programme script about 1937. Airini Grennell

3' 15" Song: Beneath the Maori Moon. Lou Paul

3' 40" Actuality: Message from London 1942. Kingi Tahiwi

4' 45" Promotion of Maori announcers partly as result of pressure from Ratana church.

5' 05" Little altruism in Maori appointments, more tokenism. But helps awareness of Maori culture. Henare te Ua

6' 40" Actuality: Eulogy to Sir Tui Carroll. Wiremu (Bill) Parker

7' 00" How weekly Maori news bulletin begin in 1942. Wiremu Parker

7' 45" Huge impact on Maori rural audience of Parker's bulletins during war. Henare te Ua

10' 00" Story involving Maori Bishop Bennett, radio Director Shelley and Wiremu Parker. Illustrates radio news policy during war. Henare te Ua

12' 20" Actuality: Welcome home ceremony for 28th Battalion. Wiremu Parker

13' 00" Actuality: Te Reo O te Maori. Ted Nepia

13' 15" Mid-1950s Ted Nepia starts first topical Maori programme, Te Reo O te Maori

15' 00" 1960 rugby tour of South Africa – 'No Maori no tour' controversy. Political decision not to cover controversy on Maori news. Henare te Ua

16' 15" Actuality: 'Rinso' washing powder advertisement in Maori.

16' 45" Account of late 1960s edict to anglicise Maori Place names. Edict disobeyed. Henare te Ua

18' 45" Maori make radio needs known to new Gisborne Station Manager. Leo Fowler

19' 35" Early 1960s Fowler and Wiremu (Bill) Kerekere set up first Maori radio section in Wellington.

19' 45" Outside Broadcast recording protocols on East coast. Wiremu Kerekere

22' 25" Actuality: Te Puna Wai Korero, 1971. Selwyn Muru

23' 40" Actuality: Journey down Waikato river with kaumatua. Rua Cooper accompanied by Haare Williams. Haare Williams, Rua Cooper

24' 55" 1973 Adam Report recommends Maori broadcasting should be expanded and include Pacific Islands.

25' 25" NZBC's Radio Polynesia at Papatoetoe short-lived. Te Upoko O te Ika starts in Wellington. Beverley Wakem

27' 55" Piripi Walker seconded from NZBC to set up Te Upoko O te Ika radio station in Wellington. Piripi Walker

28' 40" Actuality: Radio Te Upoko O te Ika.

28' 50" Description of start of Te Upoko O te Ika and reaction of listeners. Erana Hemmingsen

30' 15" 1979 start of Radio Pacific in south Auckland with Maori I Pacific focus but station fails and later becomes mainstream commercial. Gordon Dryden

32' 55" Actuality: Opening of NZBC's Maori and Pacific Unit 1979.

33' 15" Maori and Pacific Unit's programmes reach Pacific via shortwave service and are well received in Tonga. Henare te Ua

36' 05" 1984 Economic Summit recommends new Maori stations.

36' 15" Public Radio concept of 'spine' service throughout country with local stations connected as required. But concept attacked by Maori. Beverley Wakem

37' 15" Concept of Iwi stations introduced instead of 'spine' concept. Whatarangi Winiata

38' 10" Setting up Iwi station in Hokianga. Cyril Chapman

40' 00" Emphasis on Maori language radio too narrow. Maori radio needs broader support. Government's 'shoestring' approach not good enough. Derek Fox

41' 55" 1988 Maori injunction freezes broadcasting assets. Description of heated meeting with State Owned Enterprises Minister Stan Roger and officials. Derek Fox

45' 45" Asset freeze hits Public Radio hard. Public Radio has to fight Maori and is wasteful of time and money. Beverley Wakem

47' 00" Public Radio has smaller role in Maori radio with rise of Iwi stations.

47' 25" Tribute to Te Reo o Aotearoa and its place in the history of Maori and Pacific radio. Henare te Ua

48' 30" Ngati Poneke Concert Party recorded early 1950s.

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes