Over the past several weeks, Radio Waatea has proudly showcased one of the most exciting developments in Māori media—the emergence of a new generation of te reo Māori sports broadcasters through the groundbreaking Tākaro Pāpāho pilot programme.
Listen to the korero: here and here
As Māori language revitalisation continues to expand beyond classrooms and marae into every aspect of public life, Tākaro Pāpāho is ensuring te reo Māori has an increasingly strong presence where many New Zealanders gather each week—on the sports field and through live sports broadcasting.
The programme represents a significant investment in both language revitalisation and the future of Māori broadcasting, creating opportunities for emerging commentators to develop professional skills while normalising te reo Māori across some of the country’s most popular sporting codes.
Building a new generation of commentators
Developed by Ngā Aho Whakaari, Tākaro Pāpāho is the first pilot programme of its kind in Aotearoa dedicated specifically to developing te reo Māori sports commentators.
The initiative focuses initially on rugby and rugby league, equipping participants with the technical broadcasting skills, confidence and language capability needed to commentate live sporting events in te reo Māori.
Importantly, the programme also places a strong emphasis on increasing opportunities for wāhine Māori, helping address historical underrepresentation in sports broadcasting and commentary.
Participants receive practical mentoring and industry experience while learning directly from experienced broadcasters and media professionals.
Rather than operating solely as a training course, Tākaro Pāpāho has been developed in partnership with some of New Zealand’s largest broadcasters.
Industry collaboration includes Sky TV, Whakaata Māori and TVNZ, providing participants with valuable exposure to professional broadcasting environments and creating genuine pathways into future employment.
The partnerships also reflect growing recognition across the media industry that Māori language broadcasting continues to attract audiences and enrich New Zealand’s sporting landscape.
By connecting emerging talent directly with established broadcasters, organisers hope graduates will move from training into regular commentary opportunities across television, streaming and digital platforms.
Te reo thriving through sport
Sport has long been one of New Zealand’s great shared experiences.
For Māori broadcasters, integrating te reo naturally into sports commentary provides another powerful avenue for language revitalisation.
From grassroots rugby through to professional competitions, hearing te reo Māori used confidently during live broadcasts helps normalise the language for both fluent speakers and learners alike.
It also creates opportunities for Māori sporting concepts, whakataukī and cultural perspectives to become part of mainstream sporting conversations.
For many rangatahi, hearing commentators describe the action in te reo Māori reinforces that the language belongs in every sphere of modern life.
Radio Waatea has followed the programme closely, highlighting the enthusiasm shown by participants and the growing interest among tamariki and rangatahi wanting to pursue careers in broadcasting.
Earlier stories across Waatea’s platforms showcased young aspiring commentators developing confidence behind the microphone while demonstrating that sports broadcasting can become another important space for Māori language leadership.
The excitement generated by participants has reinforced the importance of creating visible Māori role models across media industries.
Organisers believe today’s trainees could become tomorrow’s leading commentators covering everything from Super Rugby and the NRL to international rugby, league and Olympic competition.
Tākaro Pāpāho also represents a broader investment in the future of Māori media.
As audiences increasingly consume sport across television, streaming platforms, radio and digital media, demand continues to grow for high-quality Māori language content delivered by confident, culturally grounded broadcasters.
Developing that workforce requires more than language ability—it demands professional broadcasting skills, mentorship and industry connections.
Programmes such as Tākaro Pāpāho are helping ensure Māori talent is equipped to meet that demand.
A future spoken in te reo Māori
For Radio Waatea, the programme reflects a vision that extends well beyond sport.
It demonstrates how investment in language revitalisation, media training and industry partnerships can strengthen both te reo Māori and New Zealand’s broadcasting sector.
As Māori voices continue to grow across news, entertainment, current affairs and sport, initiatives like Tākaro Pāpāho are ensuring future generations will hear te reo Māori not only in moments of cultural significance, but every weekend as tries are scored, tackles are made and sporting history unfolds.
It is a reminder that the future of te reo Māori is not simply about preserving language—it is about creating new spaces where it can thrive, inspire and become an everyday part of life in Aotearoa.
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