Maori Television To Kick Off Maori Rugby Centenary

Maori Television Readies To Kick Off Maori Rugby Centenary Series

Maori Television’s delayed free-to-air coverage of the historic Maori rugby centenary series – NZ MAORI: KOTAHI RAU TAU – kicks off Saturday June 12.

The three-match series commemorates the first ever match involving an official New Zealand Maori team in 1910.

Game build up begins at 5.30PM, then it will be on to delayed coverage as NZ Maori take on a New Zealand Barbarians side at the Northland Events Centre in Whangarei. The commentary team features Maori Television’s Te Arahi Maipi, flanked by two legends of the Maori game – former NZ Maori captain Norm Hewitt, and Glen Osborne, who also presents sport’s entertainment show HYUNDAI CODE for the indigenous channel.

Maipi says that in a weekend full of top level rugby, the players will step out with something to prove.

“The teams are well-matched. This game is considered by many as an All Blacks trial. It is also the centenary, so the players will be taking that seriously too.”

He believes a number of the players have already shown their All Black calibre, including Luke McAllister, Corey Flynn, Issac Ross, Hosea Gear and Liam Messam.

The following games will be international fixtures against Six Nations heavyweights Ireland at the Rotorua International Stadium (Friday June 18) and England at Napier’s McLean Park (Wednesday June 23).

Maipi expects the team will be working towards a hard final game.

“England are one of the top five teams in the world. Any opportunity for the NZ Maori team to take on the best of the best and potentially beat them is something to be proud of as Maori people, and New Zealand as a nation.”

The centenary series, which screens on both the Maori Television and Te Reo channels, complements the landmark Maori rugby documentary series, BENEATH THE MAORI MOON (screening on Thursdays at 8.00 PM). Maori Television is also confirmed as the lead free-to-air broadcaster of the Rugby World Cup 2011.

NZ MAORI: KOTAHI RAU TAU features preview analysis, followed by delayed coverage of the games as follows:

NZ MAORI V NZ BARBARIANS, SCREENING SATURDAY JUNE 12, BUILD UP FROM 5.30 PM, FOLLOWED BY THE GAME; REPEATS ON TE REO ON SATURDAY JUNE 12 AT 9.30 PM

NZ MAORI V IRELAND, SCREENING FRIDAY JUNE 18, BUILD UP FROM 10.00 PM, FOLLOWED BY THE GAME; REPEATS ON TE REO ON SATURDAY JUNE 19 AT 9.30 PM

NZ MAORI V ENGLAND, SCREENING WEDNESDAY JUNE 23, BUILD UP FROM 8.30 PM, FOLLOWED BY THE GAME; REPEATS ON TE REO ON THURSDAY JUNE 24 AT 9.30 PM

Ends

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