News and discussion of current events with a South Pacific focus.

Specific Viewpoint

From Listener (1939 - ) (2/6/1979)

Just over a year ago the PACIFIC VIEWPOINT series began on South Pacific Television, so 60 or so programmes later what interest has it aroused among Māori and Pacific Islands people and what are its plans for the future? Fairly early on it became obvious that most of the Islands community were missing it because it was screened while they were at church, so the programme was repeated late on Thursday nights. But apparently, interested viewers have got shrewd: someone is often left at home to monitor the early Sunday afternoon slot (1.15) and the word goes out if something of local interest is included so that it may be picked up in the repeat slot.

Producer Jillian Ewart reports that Māori's and Polynesians are delighted that there is at least one television programme beamed more particularly at them, but says that the production team are always looking for feed-back on past programmes and information about future events planned by the various communities. "We try not to be just Pakehas looking at things, say, Māori or Samoan in the programme." she says. "Therefore we don't attempt to explain what's going on for the benefit of non-Polynesian viewers. It's taken for granted that our main audience already know."

Last year the emphasis of PACIFIC VIEWPOINT tended to be on Pacific Islands community events; this year Māori interests are more heavily represented the proportion is dictated more by what's on in any week rather than which community is involved. Some subjects in the pipeline are: a tour through the late Guide Rangi's house; coverage of the Māori writers and artists' conference at Christchurch; a visit to the Māori arts and crafts institute at Rotorua.

A trump card the series will be playing later this year will mark the International Year of the Child: Interviews with four Māori kuias aged from 70 years upwards who reminisce about their own childhoods. All wear the traditional moko and, coincidentally, all are from Tuhoi.

So to all Polynesian people. Māori and from the Pacific, if you think there is an event that would look good on PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Jillian Ewart and the team would like to hear about it. The address is: PO Box 9544, Hamilton.

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