Te Ahi Kaa broadcasts every Sunday evening on Radio New Zealand National. The philosophy of the programme is to reflect the diversity of Maori in the past, present and future. While bilingual in delivery, the programme incorporates Maori practices and values in its content, format and presentation. The programme is produced and presented by Justine Murray (Ngai te Rangi/ Ngati Ranginui) and Maraea Rakuraku (Ngati Kahungunu/Tuhoe). [It is preceded in this recording by a news and sports bulletin, and weather forecast.]
In the last broadcast of 2014, Maraea Rakuraku looks back at highlights of the past 12 months and previews 2015 content:
18:06
Ngahiraka Mason
Continuing to focus on the Māori Pākehā relationship without considering the dynamic between other indigenous peoples does a disservice to Māori according to Indigenous Arts Curator and commentator Ngahiraka Mason.
“I’m more interested in Iwi taketake ki iwi taketake thinking around what we do and what it means and how we relate to eachother, rather than diving into an area that is not really our conversation where we come to it as a second layer of conversation, we’re not the first point of conversation. But when we’re talking to eachother we are the first point of conversation. It’s easy to get hijacked by how tauiwi feels about what we do…” - Ngahiraka Mason
For Indigenous Art curator and commentator Ngahiraka Mason it’s the kōrero Iwi taketake ki Iwi taketake ie the conversation between Indigenous cultures that should be defining cultural practice within Toi Māori instead of the sameolesameole Māori versus Pākehā diatribe.
Duration: 6'07"
18:14
Preview 2015 Alice Te Punga Somerville_ Once were Pacific
Maraea Rakuraku is in discussion with Alice Te Punga Somerville author of Once were Pacific; Māori connections to the Pacific (2012) about the dynamics of Māori enjoy with Pacific and Pasifika.
“We as Maori spend a lot of time talking about these connections. We have to remember that whakapapa and we remember, to think about ourselves in Pacific terms. It’s part of who we understand ourselves as Māori and part of our indigeneity. There doesn’t seem to be a contradiction. Maui fished up the island and we arrived from across the sea. We’re yip. No both of them, both of them [are] true. - Alice Te Punga Somerville
Are Māori Pacific? Are Māori Pasifika? Are all questions Alice Te Punga Somerville discusses in her book, "Once were Pacific: Māori Connections to Oceania" (2012) in a preview to 2015.
Duration: 6'18"
18:21
The West Papua fight for sovereignty
Dr Teresia Teaiwa, her son Manoa Teaiwa and Cook Islands student TeKura Moeka’a attended the Madang Wansolwara Dance gathering in West Papua in September. it was an opportunity to meet with Pacific nations on a creative and political level. It was also an opportunity for University lecturer Teresia Teaiwa to encourage her older son, Manoa's politicisation about issues that impact upon the Pacific and in particular West Papua.
“The most outrageous, the most scandalous, the most unacceptable thing taking place right now is the way the world is ignoring West Papua. West Papua needs to be our focus because West Papua helps us understand mining, logging, cultural decimation, gender based violence, torture, abuse of human rights - all sorts of things. They’re all there in West Papua. When we pay attention to West Papua it helps us to pay attention to the things around us and home.” - Teresia Teaiwa.
Duration: 10'47"
18:33
Malama Honua
Voyaging waka Hōkule'a and Hikianalia are sailing from nation to nation highlighting the dire state of the oceans. Maraea Rakuraku is with two of its crew members Kat Lobendahn and Moani Heimuli.
"Taking care of oceans with 70% of our oxygen coming from the sea it makes sense to look after it right, right?" - Kat Lobendahn
Kat Lobendahn and Moani Heimuli are part of the Hōkūle’a/ Hikianalia waka voyaging crew travelling under the banner of Mālama Honua drawing attention to the state of the ocean and the need for immediate action.
Duration: 4'45"
18:37
Manawa Honey and Te Urewera treks
Two businesses in the isolated communities of Ruatahuna are proving successful in creating employment and utilising the area's natural resource.
Creating sustainable businesses that both feeds and nurtures the community you live within is challenging. Yet two Te Urewera based organisations are proving with hardwork, tenacity and heart it’s all possible. Maraea Rakuraku visits with Wiremu Nuku of Te Urewera Treks and Manawa Honey with Brenda Tahi.
Duration: 7'52"
18:46
Tuhoe Apology
On August 22, 2014 Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson delivered an apology on behalf of the crown to Tūhoe thus bringing to a close the Tūhoe Settlement as reached through a Waitangi Tribunal claim. Excerpts from the speech features. It's one thing to be apologised to as an Iwi, how does it sit for an individual? Te Manu Korihi reporter Mani Dunlop is in conversation with Wharenui Tuna no Ngai Tūhoe.
People:
Duration: 4'39"
18:50
Ruia Aperahama
Addressing childhood sexual abuse has not been easy for musician Ruia Aperahama. Yet he's done it and in the process is undergoing great healing.
As a highly functioning musician Ruia Aperahama thought nothing of working 80 hour weeks and producing back to back award winning albums. Yet, all the success and accolades masked a deeper more traumatic pain that eventually played out in his physical, spiritual and whānau life.
Duration: 3'08"
Waiata featured Make it bun dem by Skrillex & Damian Jr Gong Marley, Hohou te rongo performed by Whirimako Black from the album, Hohou te rongo (2003)