Marae DIY Wins Qantas Award For Maori Television

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 24 2007

Marae DIY Wins Qantas Award For Maori Television

Maori Television's community renovation and landscaping show - MARAE DIY - took top honours at last night's Qantas Television Awards 2007, winning Best Reality (format).

The show which rewards deserving iwi with a much-needed makeover triumphed over two other finalists - the grand final of NZ Idol and Police Ten 7 - to take the award for its Manutuke Marae, Gisborne, episode. The Qantas awards recognise outstanding New Zealand television production.

MARAE DIY is co-produced by Screentime and Hula Haka Productions. Maori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the unique heart-warming series gives marae the opportunity to pull together a whanau labour force from far and wide as well as local resources to spruce up their marae atea and surrounding whare.

"This entertaining bilingual programme offers a lot more than similar DIY programmes to include a smattering of tribal history, a dash of Maori humour and even makeovers for the nannies," says Mr Mather. "More than a television show, MARAE DIY gives communities around the country the opportunity to see what's possible when they come together for a common purpose and we are extremely pleased that the series has been recognised with this accolade."

Series creator and presenter, Screentime's Nevak Ilolahia, says the kaupapa of MARAE DIY is very special. "Not only does it bring Maori communities together from all over the country to knock out their five and 10-year building and landscaping plans in just a few days but it also gives New Zealanders an intimate insight into the Maori world - through our history, stories, language and culture. Our team's really thrilled to have won the award and we want to give a big mihi to all the marae and sponsors that have helped pull the programme together."

Matai Smith from Gisborne's Manutuke Marae says the programme's contribution was a "great thing for the people of Manutuke. We did so much work, it seems so surreal - the wharenui, the dining room, the kitchen, the gardens, deck and courtyard. I walk around our marae today and think 'wow I was part of this and I did this with my kaumatua, my whanau and my cousins' and it gives you a buzz."

The fifth series of MARAE DIY will premiere on Maori Television in May 2008.

Viewers can call the helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 628 2868) for advice on how to tune into Maori Television which is available on channel 5 on Freeview; channel 19 on Sky Digital and channel 6 on Sky UHF; and free-to-air on UHF or using a satellite dish and receiver. For more information, go to www.maoritelevision.com.

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