Exploring Maori Architecture

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Exploring Maori Architecture

The unique architectural history of our Maori ancestors is to be explored in a new series starting on Maori Television next month.

WHARE MAORI is a fascinating new 13 part documentary series dedicated to exploring this history and delves into the stories of the people that worked together to create buildings where whanau and hapu could celebrate and worship, learn and govern.

Architect Rau Hoskins (Nga Puhi), who lectures in Maori architecture at UNITEC Auckland and is the director of Design Tribe Limited will front WHARE MAORI as presenter guiding viewers on a journey around the country exploring the rich history of Maori architecture along with current and future trends.

The series also has an impressive production line up too with Qantas Media Award winning producer Megan Douglas of Scottie Productions, director and co-producer Karen Mackenzie and writer and director Michael Bennett.

Mackenzie has said that when she thinks of iconic New Zealand buildings, it was not the Sky Tower, the Beehive or the latest designer Remuera mansion that moved her.

“Instead it’s the lone Ratana Church perched on a hill in Raetihi with its distinctive red domes, it’s the unique Hiona temple seen in Vincent Ward’s Rain of the Children, it’s Lyonel Grant’s brand new wharenui at UNITEC and the many marae thoughout the country nestled into the landscape with their own unique history.”

Some of these and many more will feature in the debut season of WHARE MAORI which premieres on Sunday 8 May at 8pm.

ENDS

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