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Auckland, October 30, 2017
Massey University has announced the finalists in this years Maori Journalist of the Year Awards and the list is dominated by women.
The journalism awards were first run last year in conjunction with the Universitys long established Ng Kupu Ora Maori Book Awards.
Encouraging excellence
Massey Assistant Vice-Chancellor Maori and Pasifika, Dr Charlotte Severne said that she was delighted with the success of the awards.
We wanted to celebrate and encourage excellence in Maori Journalism by highlighting its importance not only to Te Ao Maori (our Maori world) but to Aotearoa. This years finalists have expressed Maori perspectives often missing in mainstream media. They have demonstrated overwhelmingly how Maori journalists draw on their culture and language to win the hearts and minds of New Zealanders, thus enriching national dialogue.
Rewarding experience
She said that it is enormously rewarding to see the number of entries almost double this year.
We have also witnessed the rising influence of Maori journalism across different modes of communication with increased entries from print and online media alongside the dominance of Maori broadcasting. I am particularly grateful to our judges Erana Reedy, Moari Stafford and Chris Wikaira who spent many, many hours watching, reading and listening to all the entries.
The Criteria
The awards recognise stories published or broadcast during 2016 and in a new development, journalists could enter in two categories, Te Reo Maori and/or English. The category winners and Maori Journalist of the Year will be announced at the Nga Kupu Ora Awards: Celebrating Maori Books and Journalism to be held at Te Papa in Wellington on Wednesday, November 8, 2017.
The Te Tohu a Tanara Whairiri Kitawhiti Ngata, Lifetime Achievement Award will also be announced at the dinner.
The finalists in the Nga Kupu Ora Maori Journalist of the Year Award are: –
Ripeka Timutimu Te Reo Maori
For a story uncovering the NZ Heralds refusal to publish a memorial notice in Te Reo Maori. The story was aired on Te Kaea, Maori Television.
Heeni Brown Te Reo Maori
For coverage of the death of Dr Ranganui Walker and its impact for iwi Te Whakatohea aired on Te Kaea, Maori Television
Renee Kahukura Iosefa – English
For a story on Maori Televisions Native Affairs that saw, the then New Plymouth Mayor, Andrew Judd out himself as a recovering racist which sparked a national debate on racism.
Maiki Sherman
Ms Sherman won the inaugural Maori Journalist of Year award last year and is a finalist in both categories for stories she did for Newshub. Her political analysis of King Tuheitias backing of the Maori party is recognised in the English category while in the Te Reo Maori category, a story which ran as part of a Maori Language weeklong series on the 6 pm News.
Oriini Kaipara – English
For a story on Maori Televisions Native Affairs programme on the gender debate around a mans decision to have a normally female only moko kauae against the wishes of the artist and his iwi.
Photo Caption: The finalists (from left) Ripeka Timutimu, Heeni Brown, Rene Kahukura Iosefa, Maiki Sherman, Oriini Kaipara
