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New Zealand’s first ever 100 per cent Māori language television channel will be called ‘Te Reo’ – which literally means ‘the language’.

The new channel will initially broadcast three hours a day, seven days a week, during the prime time hours of 8.00 PM to 11.00 PM from Friday March 28 on Freeview channel 24 and also on SKY Digital.

Māori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the launch of Te Reo is another milestone in language revitalisation initiatives to secure the future of the Māori language.

Staff, stakeholders and delegates at the World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference will attend a dawn ceremony at Māori Television’s Auckland studio on Friday March 28.

The channel’s first broadcast will be live-to-air from the gala dinner of the conference at SKYCITY Convention Centre at 8.00 PM and will also be streamed on the website www.maoritelevision.com.

“Te Reo builds on the values established with the birth of New Zealand’s indigenous television broadcaster four years ago,” Mr Mather says. “It also furthers our mission to play a major role in revitalising language and culture that is the birthright of every Māori and the heritage of every New Zealander.”

Schedule highlights include:

WHARE TAPERE – Sunday at 8.00 PM from March 30: Studio-based show – fronted by kapa haka enthusiast Tamati Waaka – that explores the dynamics of kapa haka through discussion with special guests. Learn and appreciate the stories behind the moves, the songs and the people.

TE WAO TŪTURU – Sunday at 8.30 PM from March 30: Natural history documentaries from throughout the world – reversioned into the Māori language.

TE TĒPU – Monday at 9.30 PM from March 31; repeats Thursday at 9.30 PM from April 3: Current affairs show where prominent kaumātua as well as the country’s best practitioners of te reo Māori share their views on local, national and international issues with presenter Waihoroi Shortland.

TE PĀTAKA KŌRERO – Wednesday at 9.30 PM from April 2; repeats Thursday at 9.00 PM from April 3: Haare Williams presents this inspirational history series that uses sound and visual archival material to bring the past back to the present. Kaumātua and well-known Māori reflect on significant milestones in time.

TE PAE HIHIRI – Thursday at 9.30 PM from April 3: Māori Television’s leading bilingual sports commentator Te Arahi Maipi presents this studio-based sports show that reviews and previews all the action from the major sporting events.

KARAWHIUA – Friday at 8.30 PM from April 4: A war of wit and cunning! Tihini Grant presents this game show that combines tikanga Māori and traditional techniques with contemporary practices.

RUAHINE – Friday at 9.30 PM from April 4: Studio interviews with well-known Māori women who speak about their tikanga from their own tribal perspective.

All programming will be exclusively in te reo Māori with no advertising or subtitles. There will also be special tribal programming and a particular focus on new programming for the fluent audience.

“Uppermost in our focus is our commitment to the promotion of the Māori language – this is at the core of Māori Television’s purpose and for which we continue to strive,” Mr Mather says.

“While we are confident we are delivering to the legislative requirements upon us, we are of the view that more can be done to enhance the future of our language and the development of digital technology is a key opportunity to advance this.

“We see this new channel as complementary to the service we are already providing and as an important new contributor to collective efforts to support the promotion and retention of our native language and the preservation of our culture.”

Funding for Māori Television’s digital strategy was confirmed in the 2007 Budget announcement ($23 million over four years). This additional funding was not just to cover the new channel but also enhancements to the existing channel plus inflation adjustment to current funding.