Maori Television Unveils Anzac 2007 Schedule

PUBLICITY RELEASE
THURSDAY MARCH 29 2007

Maori Television Unveils Anzac 2007 Schedule

The first ever broadcast of New Zealand's moving memorial service at Chunuk Bair in Gallipoli will be a major highlight of Maori Television's ANZAC Day line-up on Wednesday April 25.

Judy Bailey will be joined by presenter Julian Wilcox this year to co-host the all-day coverage from 5.30 AM while Wena Harawira will report from the Gallipoli peninsula on the experiences and emotions of the many New Zealanders that attend the ANZAC services.

The broadcast - Let's Honour Them Together - will cross live to the dawn service at Te Papaiouru Marae on the shores of Lake Rotorua at 6.00 AM and will also cover the dawn service in Auckland at 7.00 AM, Gallipoli in Turkey at 2.00 PM and Chunuk Bair at 10.00 PM.

As well as veteran interviews, debates and discussions, other schedule highlights include an inaugural ANZAC address by a prominent New Zealander, a critically acclaimed documentary by Turkish filmmaker Tolga Ornek and a special concert showcasing songs from the Vietnam War era.

Last year's unprecedented ANZAC broadcast - Na Ratou, Mo Tatou: They Did It For Us - won Best NZ Sports or Event Coverage at the 2006 Qantas Television Awards and also Best Documentary for the TV Guide Best on the Box People's Choice Awards.

The schedule for Wednesday April 25 is:

5.30 AM - Let's Honour Them Together: Presenters Judy Bailey, Julian Wilcox and Wena Harawira set the scene for Maori Television's all-day ANZAC broadcast.

6.00 AM - Dawn Service, Rotorua - In Memoriam: Live coverage of the dawn service from Te Papaiouru Marae, Rotorua. Commentary by Tainui Stephens and RSA historian, Dr Stephen Clarke.

7.00 AM - Dawn Service, Auckland - A Sacred Place: Delayed coverage of the dawn service at the Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial Museum. Includes a pre-recorded story about the significance of consecrated ground.

8.00 AM - Peacekeepers - Fighting for Peace / Our Role Today - Stories of the Modern Military: Profiles the first New Zealand peacekeepers and their efforts to maintain international peace and security. Plus a report on Kiwi peacekeepers in war-torn Afghanistan.

9.00 AM - Tales of the Maori Battalion / Voices from the Past - The Heat of Battle and Those That Returned Home: Interviews with veterans of this legendary fighting unit. Sir Henare Ngata speaks openly for the first time about his experience as a prisoner of war.

10.00 AM - The War at Home - Holding the Fort / Mum's and Dad's Army: Stories include 'Coastal Defence' and 'Home Guard'.

11.00 AM - ANZAC Day Around New Zealand: Regional round-up of ANZAC Day observances around the country filed by the Maori Television news team.

11.30 AM - The Fraser Debate: Live studio debate by secondary school teams on Prime Minister Peter Fraser's conflicted position on conscription.

12.00 PM - The Gallipoli Campaign - The Birth of a Legend: 'Letters from the Front' is a re-enactment of emotional letters from Maori soldiers on the front line. Followed by 'Combat on Canvas' which profiles a commissioned army artist's exhibition of war scenes.

12.30 PM - Gallipoli: Feature-length documentary by Turkish filmmaker Tolga Ornek. The story of Gallipoli as it has never been told before using accounts from both Turkish and Allied soldiers.

2.00 PM - Dawn Service, Gallipoli: Wena Harawira reports live from ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula while New Zealand historian Chris Pugsley explains the importance of the site.

3.00 PM - Food and War: A series of stories including ''An Army Marches on its Stomach'; The ANZAC Biscuit'; 'Rationing at Home'; and 'Feeding Britain'.

4.00 PM - Courage and Kaha; The Dresden bombing raids through the eyes of the men that flew the missions; the price our merchant seamen paid to keep the supply routes open; Keith Park - the New Zealander that saved Britain; Z Special Force - our biggest war secret; Battle of the River Plate; and Agent Orange 101.

5.00 PM - Victoria Crossed: Documentary about a 20-year campaign seeking the posthumous award of a Victoria Cross to Maori Battalion war hero, Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi.

6.00 PM - For God, King and Country: From the meeting house at Te Papaiouru Marae in Rotorua, a discussion about the consequences of the Queen's decision to deny a Victoria Cross to Manahi; plus a profile of Henry Nicholas VC from Christchurch.

7.00 PM - ANZAC Address: An inaugural address by a prominent New Zealander on the lessons to be learnt from war.

7.30 PM - Te Kaea: Maori Television's news programme. (Maori language)

8.00 PM - Songs from the Vietnam Era: A recreation of a concert for troops - set in an old hanger at Auckland's MOTAT - and featuring well-known New Zealand singers as well as new and undiscovered talent. Hosted by Temuera Morrison.

10.00 PM - Chunuk Bair - Our Place: The first ever broadcast of New Zealand's memorial service at Chunuk Bair - the highest point attained by Kiwi troops during the Gallipoli conflict. With presenter Wena Harawira and historian Chris Pugsley.

10.30 PM - A Kiwi's Journey to Gallipoli: The personal story of New Zealanders who travel to Gallipoli to honour their relatives.

10.55 PM - The Last Post: Conclusion of Maori Television's all-day ANZAC Day coverage.

11.00 PM - Te Kaea: Repeat of Maori Television's news programme at 7.30 PM. (Maori language with English subtitles)

11.30 PM: Closedown.

Ends

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