Congratulations! What does this award mean to you?
It’s a win, not just for the reo but also for our people. There is an extra honour in the fact the nominations and decision were made by the public. It shows how much positivity there is around the revitalisation of our language in Aotearoa.
How did your wife, Stacey and the rest of your family react?
Stacey and the kids are always so supportive. Because I’m not on social media, she was awesome at ringing up the wider wh`anau and our mates, getting them to vote.
Why don’t you engage with social media?
I’ve just recently turned 55, and I’m hopeless at trying to keep up with technology. Also, juggling my broadcasting mahi on Te Karere, Radio Waatea and Marae, with the writing, speaking and presenting that Stacey and I do, means I just don’t want to waste precious time looking at my phone.
Why do you think people feel connected to you?
Well, we don’t need to look very far – there are a lot of big personalities in my household! But seriously, Te Karere has given me this platform and I’m lucky to be able to utilise it to revitalise our language. It’s a privilege to be there – this is not just a job.
What else have you been up to?
I’ve just finished filming the third series of Origins. It looks at the first 100 years of arrival for our ancestors in Aotearoa. I find it so fascinating to learn about how we worked out what to eat, and how to exist and survive here.
What was one of your favourite moments during filming?
Discovering how loud the forest was. An expert in forest lore told us that the sound of our native birds would often reach more than 120 decibels – that’s louder than a heavy rock concert. The reason they made so much noise was because they had no predators.
Why was this moment so memorable?
It was a great example of how extraordinary our environment is here in Aotearoa and how connected to it we once were. No wonder our ancestors decided to stay – they realised this place is paradise!
Are there any other big wins in your life right now?
I’ve recently gained a second black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It’s taken me nine years to do that, so it feels pretty good to have got there.
You’re also a black belt in karate. What attracts you to martial arts?
I love how they help me get out of my head. There are so many positive role models I’ve met over the past decade. We live in a world where everyone wants things immediately, but I love that practising martial arts teaches you that good things take time and grind to achieve.
What’s your advice for people who are learning te reo Ma¯ori?
It’s all about time on the mat – stay with it and just keep going. Eventually, one day, you’ll find you’re fluent!
This year marks 23 years of fronting Te Karere. What are you most proud of?
I love the way it’s advanced our language with the use of metaphor and poetry. Over the years, the show has also brought back old sayings and examples of how to use them. This has helped tribes, iwi and whānau learn the parts of our language that would otherwise have been forgotten.
What’s one of the funniest things you’ve done on air?
A cartwheel! I started doing sly sign-offs at the end of each bulletin, like pretending to speed type – I can’t speed type, really – and then it snowballed from there. We’d get people contacting us and nominating me to do different things, from dancing to shooting paper darts. Then this year, The Spinoff wrote a column that mentioned the Te Karere sign-offs and the writer dared me to do a cartwheel, so I did. I can’t believe I pulled it off!
