MĀORIOKE CHAMP WINS $10,000 ON MĀORI TELEVISION

14 December 2007

There is an old adage that says 'God loves a trier'. And if you have been watching Māori Television’s popular talent show MĀORIOKE for the past 10 weeks, you will know now that it is not only God who favours triers – but the rest of us too!

And the singer who won our hearts and the $10,000 first prize on tonight’s grand final? An unassuming young man from Auckland’s North Shore, Purcell Taka. Purcell is a cabinetmaker by day but spends all of his spare time entertaining his young son (almost two years of age) or singing, composing and arranging music.

By his own admission, Purcell does not know what a musical note is on paper but according to MĀORIOKE judges Whirimako Black, Brannigan Kaa and Betty Anne Monga, he has almost perfect pitch and timing.

He says he was overwhelmed and astonished when he was announced as the winner – “I’d already had such a positive experience from making it through to the final, this was just unbelievable”.

Unlike many other talent shows, in which most of the contestants have been young and cute, MĀORIOKE has been about ordinary people – people exactly like himself and the audience, says Purcell.

“We all have busy lives, we all have a lack of confidence some days but you just keep trying, keep stretching yourself and making sure you put the time and effort in.”

More than 500 hopefuls from Northland to Southland tried out for the fourth series of MĀORIOKE made by Mauri Ora Productions – just 25 made it through to the semi-finals before the final cut of seven.

Purcell paid tribute to the other finalists saying that any of them could have won – “they were all superb, professional and really supportive”.

Ends

Sandy Hodge
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Māori Television
DDI +64 9 539 7009
MOB: +64 21 325 826
EML: sandy.hodge@maoritelevision.com