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1 Hui Tanguru (February) 2009

"Kawhia Kai, Kawhia moana, Kawhia tangata "

Kawhia food, Kawhia sea, Kawhia people

Explanation by Lloyd Whiu (Ngati Mahanga, Tainui, Waikato, Nga Puhi),

Te Ahi Kaa is back for another year! The scope of the programme is to deliver Kaupapa Māori stories, Māori history and profile Māori living their lives. If you'd like to subscribe to our e-newsletter or give us any feedback email teahikaa@radionz.co.nz.

It's likely the Kawhia Food festival will be buzzing with more people than usual this year, falling as it does during Waitangi Weekend. Taste buds are put to the test with kai Māori delicacies such as kānga pirau (rotten corn) where the smell is often commented on. However, for organiser Lloyd Whiu (Waikato Tainui, Ngati Mahanga, Nga Puhi) that's just part of the kaupapa the festival encompasses. Applying tikanga Maori in the collection and enjoyment of kai Maori is what he believes gives the Kawhia Kai Festival its edge and makes is such a highly regarded tourist attraction.

Millions of people around the world watched Barack Obama, as he took office as the first African American president on 21 January. Thousands of miles away, in a bar in Wellington poets, writers and musicians came together to celebrate the significance of the ground breaking occasion. Justine Murray was amongst the guests as too Ata Te Kanawa, editor of Tu Mai magazine who profiled the then Senator Obama in 2006. Te Kanawa believes Obama's rise to the highest office in American politics, is an example to all coloured people including Māori. Tony Hopkins a New Zealand based ex-pat American talks about his experiences growing up in Washington DC and delivers a traditional story portraying the slave history of America.

Maori Televisions, Native Affairs journalist Semi Holland who covered the presidential campaign in November last year speaks to Justine about Barack Obama, Native American Indians and Stevie Wonder.

With her tent, gas bottles and ukulele in tow, and set amongst the backdrop of Taranaki Maunga Maraea Rakuraku attended the 2009 Parihaka International Peace festival. Alongside 50 other strangers she speed-learns freedom songs in three languages (Zulu, African and Hebrew), discovers she's a tenor and puts to rest horrific choir memories from school when she joins the 2009 Parihaka Peace festival choir. Assisted by the musical genius of Melbourne based choir director Stephen Taberner, of Spooky Mens chorale fame.

Waiata featured include:

Star Spangled Banner Take Six

Traditional Zulu Song

Details for Music of songs performed by Parihaka Peace Choir will be posted at a later date