Successfully funded series in latest receptive round announced

Award-winning shows Piri’s Tiki Tour, The Hui, and The Casketeers all return for another series, as does Ka Hao, further confirming the value of showcasing te ao Māori across a range of places and spaces in Aotearoa.

A new, bilingual game show comes to primetime through 9 LIVES with contestants showing how much general knowledge they have, while New Zealanders will get to share in the highs and lows during a relocation journey in Life in the Far Far North.

Rangatahi mental wellness takes centre stage in Kia Atawhai, acknowledging the impact Covid-19 has had during the past year, and sharing tools and skills to drive hope and help whānau to cope.

"We are very pleased with the diverse range of content this round is able to support. With our receptive rounds becoming increasingly competitive, our content team intends to engage with those creators seeking to create edgy, unique Māori content in the new year, in order to improve the depth and quality of submissions and ensure truly innovative ideas don't miss out,” says Kaihautū of Te Māngai Pāho, Larry Parr.

Successful applicants

9 LIVES, 20 x 46 mins, Pango Productions Ltd, up to $718,615.00. An innovative, ‘Māori-made’ bilingual game show for primetime, where contestants put their ‘LIVES’ on the line to take home cash prizes.

Ka Hao - Online Series 2, 10 x 5 mins, Te Amokura Productions, up to $224,400.00. Ka Hao is a rangatahi factual series following the journey of the tira, as they progress from their first tour in 2019 to their first album in 2020.

Kia Atawhai, 10 x 10 mins, The Kindness Institute, up to $200,000.00. Part-instructional video, part-documentary profile, Kia Atawhai will see rangatahi providing audiences practical mental wellbeing tools through honest kōrero, humour and shared stories.

Life in the Far Far North, 8 x 26 mins, Awa Films Limited, up to $560,000.00. This documentary style series sheds light on the rarely seen subculture of those who call the Far North home, told through the eyes of a newly settled whānau committed to making this rohe their new home.

Piri’s Tiki Tour 4, 10 x 23 mins, Pango Productions Ltd, up to $771,015.00. Well-loved, former All Black hero Piri Weepu returns for series four, with more fishing, diving and other food gathering activities alongside other hard case Kiwi characters.

The Casketeers Series 5, 8 x 23 mins, Great Southern Television Ltd, up to $627,947.00. Aotearoa's favourite funeral directors return with another heartwarming series of The Casketeers.

The Hui Series 6, 40 x 28 mins, Great Southern Television Ltd, up to $895,500.00. The Hui returns for series six, showcasing current affairs and topical issues from a Māori world view.