Māori news programme Te Karere is celebrating being on air for 35 years today.
Photo: Facebook / Te Karere
The television show first went to air on TVNZ during Māori Language Week in 1982 but its first official broadcast was a year later with a four-minute bulletin which was extended to half an hour in 2009.
Te Karere executive producer Arana Taumata paid tribute to Derek Fox and the late Whaitiri Ngata who he said both fought hard to establish the show.
"TVNZ as it was then was part of the broadcasting coporation of New Zealand so it was a government department and at that time they didn't have anything in place recognising Māori language and Māori view point."
Mr Taumata said the show had humble beginnings and was very basic at the start but he is very proud of the legacy they established and how far the programme had come and developed in the past 35 years.
With the introduction of live English captions in 2009, Te Karere was able to target a wider audience and Mr Taumata said they also now reached many viewers on their social media platforms and website.
"It's very exciting and a wonderful kaupapa to be part of."
"Young talented people coming through like our Māori immersion students from kura kaupapa Māori and their language skills are amazing, its beautiful and inspiring to see how much our language is developing and growing." said Mr Taumata
To celebrate its anniversary the show unveiled a new set.