Kōrero Mai

Kōrero Mai ("speak to me") used a soap opera (Ākina) as a vehicle to teach conversational Māori, aided by te reo tutorials. Special segments taught song and tikanga. The many talents who worked on the series included presenters Matai Smith and Gabrielle Paringata; actors Nancy Brunning, Ben Mitchell, Jaime Passier-Armstrong, and Calvin Tuteao, and directors Rachel House, Rawiri Paratene, and Katie Wolfe. Made for Māori Television by Cinco Cine Productions, Kōrero Mai ran for multiple seasons before ending in 2013. It won Best Māori Programme at the 2005 Qantas Television Awards.