Sunday, 20 April 2008
20 Paenga-whawha (April) 2008
Mate atu he tete kura, ara mai ano he tetekura."
"In war leaders fall and leaders rise"
Explanation by Quinton Hita (Nga Puhi, Taranaki)
Te Ahi Kaa pays tribute to an individual and an institution that thanks to its legacy has contributed to shape Te Ao Maori.
As news of Mahinarangi Tocker's death (15 April) spread it became apparent the musician, poet and songwriter had contributed greatly across a variety of artistic and cultural genre. Proud of her Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Maniapoto, whakapapa, Tocker was equally inspired by her Celtic and Jewish roots that often provided the source for many of her musical compositions. In an interview recorded in 1997 with Diana Burns, host of the former Radio New Zealand National Programme, Into the Night, Tocker explores those musical influences. Waiata E tua matua, Te Ripo and Love is a grand thing feature.
Annually Toi Māori Aotearoa - pack a group of Māori writers into a bus and send them on a week long tour. Last year it was Christchurch, between the 7th and 11th of April 2008, it was the turn of Northland, as Kelly Ana Morey (Nga Kuri), Hinemoana Baker (Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Toa Rangatira, Te Ati Awa, Ngati Tama, Kai Tahu), Joe Harawira (Ngati Maniapoto, Ngai te Rangi, Ngati Awa) and Apirana Taylor (Te Whanau-a- Apanui, Ngati Porou and Taranaki) boarded the bus to Paihia, Kerikeri, Kawakawa, Moerewa and Whangarei. Direct contact with the community has secured Taylor's involvement on this, his second tour. He explains to Maraea Rakuraku why the bus tour is an important step in his creative process.
Set in pre-eurpean times, the short film "Taua" portrays the compassion shown towards a prisoner of war from an unlikely source, rangatahi. Written and directed by Te Arepa Kahi (Ngati Paoa, Waikato) "Taua" has gone on to feature at a number of international film festivals including the Edinburgh International film Festival, the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival, and the Munich Short film Festival. Producer Quinton Hita (Nga Puhi, Taranaki) describes to Te Ahi Kaa the benefits of appearing on the film festival circuit and the physical challenges encountered during the production of "Taua".
In preparation for our Anzac special on the 27th April, Nga Taonga Korero features archival recordings of the 28th Māori Battalion from 1947, as presented in a Whai Ngata (Ngati Porou) hosted programme from 1980. Ngatai Huata's father, Canon Wi Huata was an Anglican Priest during the Second World War. He opens the waiata Ko Wai Ka Hua a song dedicated to the soldiers of the 28th Māori Battalion, which closes Te Ahi Kaa.