Story: Television

Tangata whenua

The six-part 1974 television series Tangata whenua was a breakthrough for the Māori presence on television. Although the narrator, Michael King, was Pākehā, the director was Barry Barclay of Ngāti Apa. Each episode told an important historical story based on a particular iwi and with the extensive involvement of the local people. This was the first time that many New Zealanders had learnt in detail about such important history as the protests at Parihaka and the significance of the Kīngitanga (Māori King movement). in this extract from the final episode, writer Witi Ihimaera of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki talks about the meaning of land to his home community at Waituhi, near Gisborne.

Using this item

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Reference: Tangata Whenua, The people of the land. The carving cries [videorecording]. Producer, John O’Shea; director, Barry Barclay. Wellington: Pacific Films, 1974.

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How to cite this page:

Trisha Dunleavy, 'Television - Māori television', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/45686/tangata-whenua (accessed 29 April 2024)

Story by Trisha Dunleavy, published 22 Oct 2014