Kararaina Rangihau, one of the cast of Whānau Kūmara told Te Ao Māori News, “The language is spoken by most of those behind the cameras. If they can't speak the language, they support it. It's the language of our production. No matter what side of the camera you're on, it's all done in te reo Māori.”
And for Kura Productions, it's more than just using the language, it's what drives the entire production.
“On set, we have a dedicated language consultant. After this, someone else will advise on the language during the edit, so te reo Māori is always at the forefront of everything from start to end,” producer Te Ataraiti Waretini says.
It’s a far cry from four decades ago when te reo Māori was first heard and seen on Te Karere with what began as a meagre few minutes a day.
“At the start, there were only five minutes of the language on TV," Rangihau says. "Now with this drama, this series, it's a Māori story entirely in te reo Māori from the beginning to the end. Everyone here is dedicated to the language."
Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland | Auckland | 2020-29 | Story is by tangata whenua
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