For the first time in the history of the NZTV Awards, a 100% te reo Māori programme has won the title of Best Sports Programme.
Aotearoa's television industry came together to celebrate its brightest achievements at the 2024 New Zealand Television Awards | Ngā Taonga Whakaata o Aotearoa. The highly anticipated ceremony took place at the Aotea Centre's Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland, where the best in the industry were honoured for their outstanding contributions to New Zealand television this year.
Amongst more than 100 finalists was Ruamata It's More Than Hockey which featured in three categories, Te Māngai Pāho Best Reo Māori Programme, NZ On Air Best Documentary and Best Sports Programme along with All Blacks: In Their Own Words and Relentless.
Te Karere took out the Best Reo Programme with their coverage of the nation wide activations last year and Great Southern's Family Faith and Footy took out the top prize for Best Documentary.
Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey won the Best Sports Programme becoming the first 100% te reo Māori documentary to win the award. Co-producer and director Kereama Wright thanked the judges for being courageous enough to pick a doco that was made entirely in the reo Māori.
"It shows that we must believe in telling our own unique stories, from our perspective in our language. Te reo Māori is no longer a barrier. Te āo Māori is appealing and palletable to a mainstream audience and I hope other reo Māori directors see the value in being unapologetically pro te reo Māori."
"I also want to thank Te Māngai Pāho and RNZ for supporting this kaupapa and helping bring to life the first 100% te reo Māori sports documentary in Aotearoa. That alone is an achievement we are proud of."
However, Kereama says none of it would have been possible without the boys, their whānau and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata.
"Without our boys, my tuakana, Tenga, and the whole coaching team, including the 'māmā's' we would not have been able to showcase the beauty of Te Aho Matua to the world."
"They allowed us to get up close and personal which drew the audience into an intimate story of ambition, cultural pride and
Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey is a remarkable story of pride, passion, and determination. This feature-length documentary captures the journey of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata's rise to the upper echelons of hockey in Aotearoa as they become the first Māori immersion school in a century to compete in the prestigious Rankin Cup.
The Mairanga Media production was produced by award winning producer and director Mahanga Pihama (NZ Wars), directed by veteran Māori journalist Kereama Wright and a small team including Arthur Rasmussen, Riria Morgan, Matua Houltham, Peter Lee.
A second documentary on Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata's return to Rankin Cup is currently in post production and is expected to be released early in 2025.
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