Radio New Zealand

In Te Ahi Kaa this week, When John and Isie Bristowe met 57 years ago it was serious business. Their relationship is an example of "Tomo", the formal process Maori exercised when it came to asking for someones hand in marriage. Marriage wasn't viewed as a decision between two people but one that involved the whole whanau, hapu and Iwi. Maraea Rakuraku meets with the Whirinaki based couple to gain a sense of "tomo", what it means and what would have happened had Johns offer been rejected. Justine Murray talks to musical duo and husband and wife team, Kirsten Te Rito and James Illingworth. Tuhoe Kaumatua, Heemi Kara talks about how accessible te reo maori is for young people.