Te Araroa: Tales from the Trails - First Episode

Te Araroa is a 3000 kilometre, Aotearoa-long walkway. In this Māori Television series, host Pio Terei walks it, sampling “New Zealand experiences”. In this first episode, Terei treks his home turf: the trail’s northernmost stage, from Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Rēinga) to Kaitaia. Pio goes fishing in Ahipara; gets kitted up with a knife, and a kauri tokotoko (walking stick); gets stung by a manuka honey bee; meets the Tarara (NZ Dalmatian) people, and talks mission statements and hangi with members of the hīkoi that "changed the face of the nation" – the 1975 Māori Land March.

It allows Pio to connect with the people and local histories in a very real way, all the while, the unspoilt landscapes hark back to a time when Māori and Pākehā explorers first encountered this land.

– Producer Meg Douglas

Key Cast & Crew

Michael Bennett

Director

Pio Terei

Presenter

Johan Daniel Apiata

Cinematographer

Meg Douglas

Producer

Jason Pengelly

Online Editor

Phil Woollams

Sound Mix