It’s a rare New Zealand family that hasn’t been affected in some way by war, whether or not they served. It’s the impact of war on ordinary people that is explored in TOKU ANZAC (My ANZAC), a five-part collection of reminiscences that airs throughout Māori Television’s special ANZAC Day programming on Monday April 25, 2011.

Social entrepreneur Sir Ray Avery, “Mad Butcher” Sir Peter Leitch, Vietnam vet and broadcaster Kingi Ihaka, kuia Kohine McDougall and former soldier and educator Ruka Broughton share their stories, ranging from sombre to amusing, of how war entered their lives. How did conflict change the course of their lives? Have their views of war changed, and what does ANZAC Day mean to them?

“TOKU ANZAC is something of a mental scrapbook of memories,” says producer Carmel Jennings. “In a small country like New Zealand, it’s hard to find a family that hasn’t been affected in some way by wars past and present, whether they served themselves, like Kingi, or worked in war-torn countries, like Ray, or lost two soldier brothers, like Kohine. TOKU ANZAC gives us a chance to hear great storytellers sharing how war-time experiences shaped the people they are today.”

ENDS

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