Pūkana - Stan Walker

Te reo Māori pop music dominates this episode of Māori Television kids show Pūkana. It's Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Maori Language Week), and the special guest is charismatic singer and actor Stan Walker (Mt Zion). Presenters Tiare Tāwera and Herea Winitana joke around with Walker about opening for mega star Beyonce, and his blossoming acting career. Walker joins musicians Ria Hall, Maisey Rika and Troy Kingi to record te reo Māori waiata 'Aotearoa' with help from translator Te Haumihiata Mason. The behind-the-scenes action continues with an outdoor video shoot. 'Aotearoa' got to number two in the Kiwi charts.

Kua roa au e whakaaro ana me waiata ki te reo Māori. Ka tae mai te tono a Pūkana ka mōhio au koinei te wā tika. / For a long time I thought about singing in Māori. When the offer came from Pūkana, I knew the time was right.

– Stan Walker talks about song 'Aotearoa'

Key Cast & Crew

Matai Smith

Kaiārahi Reo, Manuhiri, Kaihautū

Stan Walker

Manuhiri

Herea Te Hura Winitana

Presenter, Kaiārahi Reo, Kaituhi

Campbell Farquhar

Hoa Kaihatū

Maisey Rika

Manuhiri

Tiare Tāwera

Presenter, Kaituhi