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We dive into the world of sexual & reproductive health, translating & unpacking an interview with specialist Dr. Simon Snook, originally featured on Let's Talk About AI. Nau mai, hoki mai, ki te terenga tuatoru o Whakamāori! We're kicking things off with an episode that dives into the world of sexual and reproductive health, as the team—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Tamati Waaka—translate and unpack an interview with specialist Dr. Simon Snook, originally featured on Let's Talk About AI. It's a wide-ranging kōrero that touches on everything from contraception and vasectomies to sexual well-being and the role of holistic care—but the real focus for this episode is the reo. If you've ever wanted to grow your knowledge of kupu Māori related to the body, sex, and reproductive health, this is the perfect place to start. The panel break down key terms, clarifies meanings, and has open, respectful discussions about how we talk about these things in te reo Māori—with accuracy, comfort, and care. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team translate & unpack one of the most talked-about scenes from the Barbie movie: America Ferrera's monologue on the impossible standards placed on women. In this episode of Whakamāori, the team—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, Piripi Gordon, & Atakura Hunia— translate and unpack one of the most talked-about scenes from the Barbie movie: America Ferrera's monologue on the impossible standards placed on women. It's a speech that hits hard and hits home about the pressure to be everything but never too much. The panel explores how this modern feminist kōrero translates into te reo Māori—not just the words but the emotion, the frustration, and the everyday truths behind it. It's an episode for anyone who's ever felt like they're constantly walking a line—and wants the reo to talk about it. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From Shakespeare to sitcoms, this week the Whakamāori crew take on the ultimate declaration of love: wedding vows. From Shakespeare to sitcoms, this week the Whakamāori crew take on the ultimate declaration of love: wedding vows. Join our trio of translators—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Manaia Ward—as they breathe new life into the heartfelt promises of Monica & Chandler (Friends), the tragic poetry of Romeo and Juliet, and the awkward brilliance of Amy & Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory). What happens when you blend the language of love with the beauty of te reo Māori? Whether you're a hopeless romantic, a language nerd, or just here for the Shakespearean drama, this one's for you. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In this episode of Whakamāori, the team take on the legendary voice of nature, Sir David Attenborough, and translate some of his most iconic narrations into te reo Māori. In this episode of Whakamāori, the team take on the legendary voice of nature, Sir David Attenborough, and translate some of his most iconic narrations into te reo Māori. From sweeping savannahs to deep-sea wonders, his words have shaped how millions understand the natural world. But how does that same we and precision sound in te reo? The panel—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Piripi Winiata—explore the challenge of translating scientific terms, poetic imagery, and that classic Attenborough tone—while keeping the reo clear, vivid, and alive. Whether you're a nature doco fan or just keen to grow your science and environment vocab in te reo, this one's a journey worth tuning in for. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team translate a recipe that's close to many Māori kitchens: how to grow a rēwena bug, bake the bread, and top if off with a simple, hearty beef stew. In this deliciously down-to-earth episode of Whakamāori, the team roll up their sleeves and translate a recipe that's close to many Māori kitchens: how to grow a rēwena bug, bake the bread, and top if off with a simple, hearty beef stew. The panel—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Tamati Waaka—dive into the reo behind the process, building everyday confidence in kupu Māori related to cooking, food prep, and mātauranga kai. This episode is perfect for anyone wanting to learn how to make rēwena from scratch and deepen their reo in the kitchen while doing it. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team translate a powerful spoken-word piece by Ngā Hinepūkōrero—a raw, poetic reflection on the history of te reo Māori and the silence forced upon generations of our people. In this episode of Whakamāori, the team translate a powerful spoken-word piece by Ngā Hinepūkōrero—a raw, poetic reflection on the history of te reo Māori and the silence forced upon generations of our people. From the schoolyard punishments to the intergenerational echoes of shame and resilience, the piece weaves memory, pain, and pride into every line. The panel—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anah Hiini, Piripi Gordon, & Atakura Hunia—work carefully through the language, metaphors, and emotion—not just translating words but honouring the history and the truth behind them. It's a moving reminder of how silence was once survival, and how speaking today is an act of resistance. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team take on one of the most recognisable intros in film history: the opening crawl from Star Wars. In this episode of Whakamāori, the team take on one of the most recognisable intros in film history: the opening crawl from Star Wars. Golden text scrolling through space, dramatic music swelling, and a galaxy in chaos—but how do you translate all that into te reo Māori. The panel—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Piripi Winiata—work through the famous phrases, the sci-fi worldbuilding, and the epic tone that sets the scene for the saga. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team translate and unpack Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke's powerful response in Parliament after being removed from the House. In this episode of Whakamāori, the team—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Manaia Ward—translate and unpack Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke's powerful response in Parliament after being removed from the House. She speaks with clarity and intent, reflecting on her silence, her decision to speak out, and the discomfort that Māori voices still cause in that space. The panel works through her kōrero line by line, translating the reo, the message, and the challenge it lays down for the future of our whare pāremata. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team turn their attention to a soulful Samoan farewell: "Mo'omo'oga sa molia i talosaga," featured in the 2024 drama Tinā. In this special episode of Whakamāori, the team—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, Manaia Ward, & Eseta Penaia—turn their attention to a soulful Samoan farewell: "Mo'omo'oga sa molia i talosaga," a song of deep longing, spiritual connection, and eternal love, featured in the 2024 drama Tinā. With lyrics that speak of loss, hope, and reunion in the next life, our panel unpacks the emotional world of this waiata. From poetric phrases like "O la'u penina o oe" to the final line, "fa'atali pea ia i lo'u Matai," this episode is an exploration of how language can carry our most sacred feelings across cultures and across time. Whether you've experienced the pain of goodbye or the peace of remembering, this is a tribute that will resonate in the heart. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team take on one of the most iconic protest songs of all time: Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." In this episode of Whakamāori, the team take on one of the most iconic protest songs of all time: Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." A waiata of resistance, remembrance, and hope, its lyrics speak to the pain of colonisation and the fight for freedom—messages that deeply resonate here in Aotearoa. The panel—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Piripi Winiata—translate the lyrics into te reo Māori, unpacking the metaphors, the history, and the spiritual heartbeat behind the song. It's a kōrero about liberation—not just political, but personal—and how te reo can carry that wero into our own stories. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The team translate some of the world's most recognisable proverbs: phrases passed down through generations, across cultures and continents. In this episode of Whakamāori, the team—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Tamati Waaka—translate some of the world's most recognisable proverbs: phrases passed down through generations, across cultures and continents. From "what goes around comes around" to "every cloud has a silver lining," these sayings carry life lessons, warnings, and words of encouragement—often wrapped in metaphor. The panel explores how these ideas can be expressed in te reo Māori, and what shifts when we bring them into our own cultural and linguistic lens. Whether you're learning new kupu or just love the art of a god whakataukī, this episode if all about finding the meaning between the lines. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

To close the season on the campus of Waikato University's Tauranga campus, the team translate Stan Walker's "I Am," a powerful waiata about identity, pride, and knowing your worth. The final episode of Whakamāori was recorded live at Waikato University's Tauranga campus during the Te Tohu Paetahi wānanga, surrounded by tauira on their own haerenga with re reo Māori. To close the season, the team—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anaha Hiini, & Ngairo Eruera—translate Stan Walker's "I Am," a powerful waiata about identity, pride, and knowing your worth. With tauira in the room, the session became more than a translation—it turned into a shared learning space where every kupu sparked kōrero about whakapapa, confidence, and the reo we use to affirm who we are. A fitting way to wrap up the season: celebrating growth, language, and the strength we find in each other as Māori. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This season continues the kaupapa of normalising te reo Māori across all spaces—the serious, the silly, the everyday, and the unexpected. From pop culture to politics, waiata to whakataukī, Whakamāori shows that the language is everywhere. Nau mai hoki mai ki te terenga tuatoru o Whakamāori—where the world meets te reo Māori. This season continues the kaupapa of normalising te reo Māori across all spaces—the serious, the silly, the everyday, and the unexpected. From pop culture to politics, waiata to whakataukī, Whakamāori shows that the language is everywhere. Returning to lead the kaupapa are Chey Milne and Tākuta Anaha Hiini, joined each week by a rotating guest whose whakamāori skills, reo style, and whakaaro bring fresh energy to every episode. Together, they don't just translate—they unpack meaning, challenge assumptions, and highlight how te reo Māori can express the full range of human experience. Whether you're fluent, learning, or just listening in, Whakamāori is your invitation to see the world through a Māori lens—one kupu at a time. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

What is your love language? The panellists Kimo, Kristin and Anaha get all lovey dovey in this first episode. Watch the video version of the episode here. Welcome to the first episode of Whakamāori season 2, where the presenters Kimo Houltham, Kristin Ross and Anaha Hiini unlock the secrets of love. Delve into the captivating world of the 5 love languages written by Gary Chapman, where each host give their own interpretation of words of affection. When it comes to expressing your aroha, do you know what your love language is? The hosts also discuss 'kupu mino' or 'borrowed words' that are based on sound of the English word. Urban Dictionary is the source of slang words, find out how the panel translate 'vibe'. Get a printable version of the translations here. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Inspired by Dr Rangi Mataamua's easy-to-follow Matariki handbook, the panel look at the relation of the stars to the preparation of a hautapu. Watch the video version of the episode here. Step into the celestial realm of "Matariki", where the Whakamāori team come together to translate parts of Dr Rangi Mātāmua's 'Matariki Handbook' into te reo Māori. If you are new to the ceremonial aspects of Matariki, or if you want to know more about the stars and the connection to the environment join the panel as they each discuss their their own experiences. Get a printable version of the translations here. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details