The Brown in the Blue on Maori Television

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8 2005
PUBLICITY RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Brown in the Blue on Maori Television

Patrolling the beat in Hamilton and recovering stolen taonga are all in a day’s (and night’s) work for the brown boys and girls in blue on new Maori Television series KAITIAKI O TE MAUNGARONGO.

This new series premieres on Maori Television this Sunday November 13 at 8.00 PM and joins a host of Waikato-based Maori police officers over 13 episodes with a primary focus to reveal what a typical day on the long arm of the law is like – from a kaupapa Maori perspective.

Produced by Maui Productions (Kai Time on the Road, Tipi Haere, Corporate Warriors), the series presents an alternative version to Maori-related crime statistics and shows that Maori communities are able to work confidently with police to sustain safe and secure environments.

However, this is not to say the peacekeeping process is without its fair share of drama and thrills. Viewers are invited to take part in a high-speed chase through the back streets of Huntly, join an operation to recover stolen whakairo (carvings) and see what it’s really like quelling party-goers on the Coromandel during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

KAITIAKI O TE MAUNGARONGO is delivered while on the rounds with a bevy of officers, mainly focussing on Sergeant Wayne Panapa (Ngati Whatua, Ngati Maniapoto), Sergeant Gilbert Williams (Ngati Porou), Senior Sergeant Arama Chase (Ngati Tuwharetoa) and Constable Tamsin Brown (Ngaiterangi, Ngati Ranginui).

“This is an exciting new series looking at a normal lives of Maori police officers – those who put their lives on the line every day. We look at the positive impact they are making on the police force and also within their own communities. They are the new generation,” says producer Jo Santamaria.

Episode one (Sunday November 13 at 8.00 PM) sees Sergeant Gilbert Williams embroiled in a high speed chase on State Highway 1, while Senior Constable Dean Kaiao (Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua) has the difficult task of evicting occupants at a local kura. Further on in the series, we join the investigations to find the stolen carvings from St Stephens College, check out what makes a rural station so unique and go on patrol at Kawhia Harbour.

Buckle in and enjoy the ride for KAITIAKI O TE MAUNGARONGO premiering on Maori Television this Sunday November 13 at 8.00 PM.

ENDS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR KAITIAKI – GUARDIANS OF THE PEACE

Year 2005
Censor Parental Guidance Recommended (PGR)
Duration 13-part, half-hour series
Language Maori and English languages

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