Ahikāroa director and actor Miriama McDowell says the continuing success of the bilingual television series shows how far te reo has now been normalised within the Māori community.
The 6th season now on Whakaata Maori follows the hectic lives of a group of rangatahi living in the city with the usual dramas of parties, drugs, and sex as well as veering into Maori politics and spirituality.
She says it tries to tackle any issues that affect rangatahi as well as entertain.
“I think its a place where reo speakers see themselves – you know that generation that grew up in kohanga; went to kura kaupapa… Now they see themselves on screen. And also, I think its a wonderful place for reo Maori learners,” McDowell says.
She says Whakaata Maori’s continued support of Ahikāroa has meant job security and professional development for everyone involved.
