Ngā Puna - In Touch FM

In Touch FM, part of the Ngā Puna anthology series, is a heartwarming drama set at an iwi radio station in 1990s Tāmaki Makaurau. The story follows high-flying corporate Katerina (Vicky Haughton) clashing with the station’s tight-knit staff, a collective bastion of culture for urban Māori in Auckland. At the heart of it all is Arama Wairua, a saxophonist whose once-promising career was derailed by overseas travel and addiction, distancing him from his whānau responsibilities. As music, humour, tikanga and te reo Māori weave on-air and off, In Touch FM explores identity, redemption and what it means to be Māori in the city.

If you think I’m going to give up the Canadian job so you can saddle me with some tin-pot, haere mai everything is ka pai radio station, then you’ve got another thing coming, Sir Hugh. I’ll quit first.

– Katerina (Vicky Haughton) bluntly rejects the proposed contract with In Touch FM

Key Cast & Crew

Waihoroi Shortland

Writer, As: Taxi driver

Lawrence Makoare

As: Tony

Vicky Haughton

As: Katerina

Don Selwyn

Executive Producer, Casting

Ross Jennings

Director

Merimeri Penfold

As: Tatiani