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Part four of five from this full length television programme.

Part five of five from this full length television programme.

Mai FM - It's Cool to Kōrero

Television (Full Length) – 1999

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This NZ TV award-nominated documentary tells the story of radio station Mai FM. Founded in 1992 by Auckland iwi Ngāti Whātua, its mix of hip hop, r’n’b and te reo soon won ratings success. Original breakfast host Robert Rakete recalls early days when the station was a CD player hooked up to an aerial, while Mai FM's champions argue the station has executed its kaupapa: promoting Māori language and culture to the youth of Auckland, including the breakout phrase, “it’s cool to kōrero!” The introduction by Tainui Stephens was done for Māori TV's doco slot He Raranga Kōrero.

If they hear that Māori can be funky too and that you don't have to be an old koro with grey hair and a tokotoko to speak Māori, that you can be a smooth young brother that looks like myself ...
– Te Hamua Nikora on getting young Māori into te reo

Key Cast & Crew

Kay Ellmers

Director

Quinton Hita

Subject

Robert Rakete

Subject

Paora Maxwell

Producer

Neil Newcombe

Sound Mix

Hayden Collow

Sound Mix

See all 15 credits

Produced by

Te Aratai Productions

Source

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Acknowledgements

Made with funding from NZ On Air

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Mai FM - It's Cool to Kōrero

Television (Full Length) – 1999

Key Cast & Crew

Kay Ellmers

Quinton Hita

Robert Rakete

Paora Maxwell

Neil Newcombe

Hayden Collow

Produced by

Source

Acknowledgements

Tags

Categories

More Information

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