Tahu FM and Tahu Visual Media

It's been another very busy year despite the economic downturn impacting on radio advertising revenue and the availability of tv production funding.

Visual Media

In July 2008 the fourth series of Waka Reo went to air on Māori Television. Filmed at Makaawhio the series featured beautiful footage of Makaawhio Marae and stunning West Coast scenery. The series rated well and has already had a repeat screening.

Several corporate DVDs have been produced including an updated "A Career in Māori Health" for Mokowhiti Consultants, shown in South Island schools and career expos throughout Te Waipounamu.

In conjunction with the Office we have been building the visual archives and have purchased a new computer and software to progress the archives project. Over the past 12 months we have filmed many Ngāi Tahu events and hui that will build on the capacity of the archives.

Tahu FM

We have continued to produce Te Koha, an extravaganza of Māori and Polynesian performing arts and music. This financial year we put on one show in the Dunedin Town Hall and two in the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch. Te Koha is gaining recognition as an annual cultural event in Christchurch and provides an opportunity to support young emerging artists and profile some of our more famous talent.

The Tahu FM website tahufm.com was re-launched in November with a new look. Website traffic has been high and the station has run several competitions via the site.

Other highlights for the year have been:

• Man Boobs on Bikes (raising money and awareness of breast cancer)
• Push Play promotions celebrated with several pre-schools
• Pā wars and sports festivals
• Support at several rūnanga events
• Te Atakura
• Supporting rūnanga with recording and producing waiata
• Sound and film support at Hui ā Tau in Kaikōura
• Two Hundy Clubs groups completing their course
• Three Tahu FM staff competing in the regional kapahaka finals in Tauranga

KMK

Corban Te Aika is confident te reo has changed his life.

Taking a break from his duties as a tutor in Te Reo Māori and Māori Indigenous Studies at Canterbury University, he talks about the power of language immersion and unquestionable benefits of attending Kotahi Mano Kāika's well-established te reo wanaka, Kā Pari Karakaraka and the inaugural Kura Reo Kāi Tahu held at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff in July. [More...]