Television and film from Waiora

Tu Tangata, Issue 33, 1 December 1986, Page 38

Television and film from Waiora

An independent Maori film producing unit, Waiora Productions, has been set up in Auckland. And the production house, which grew out of the popular Waiora Trust programmes which screened on television last year, is seeking community support to help build its foundations. A company representative, Paparangi Reid, says their prime aim is to produce Maori programmes by Maori people for Maori people.

But Maori community support is needed to ensure there are outlets for the programmes, apart from existing broadcasting agencies such as Television New Zealand. “Lots of people are doing their thing for the production of resources for the Maori community and the development of the Maori language,” she says. “We are just trying to do our bit but we need some support to go with it. “We need people to buy what we’re producing and marketing, so that in turn we can produce more.” “We have to establish an economic base for ourselves so things can start turning over.”

The company was formed three months ago by Paparangi, Kui Wano and Robert Pouwhare. It was formed almost as a direct result of the Waiora programmes produced through Te Waiora o Aotearoa Trust. A Heylen Poll showed the average levels of the target audience were one-and-a-half times better than the best summer seasons ratings. Almost 90 percent of viewers gave the thumbs up to the programmes. “A lot of people wanted copies of the tapes as a resource the demand was pretty high. That combined with the polls results urged us on,” says Paparangi. “We decided we couldn’t just sit back, that we had to take up the wero.” She says the company is now working out contract work as well as other music programmes for the coming year. “We know that everyone wants more

and more of this type of material and yet it is still difficult to firm everything up so that material can be put out. “We’ll keep plugging away at this end and hopefully we’ll see the support we need.” Paparangi says there is a uniquely Maori way of broadcasting in terms of promoting te reo and promoting Maori people who make the programmes. “We believe that to an extent we have to almost go outside the system to allow that to happen. “We believe the development of the new Maori Department (within TVNZ) is a step in the right direction. “We believe, however, there’s a lot more room for development.” She says it’s basic to the company’s philosophy that the Maori language must be nurtured and promoted to ensure Maori views are properly relayed. Because of the power that television has, in that it goes into the hearts and homes of Maoridom, it’s necessary to ensure there’s access to it. “As Maoris we have much to offer indigenous television from an indigenous perspective.”