Anzac Day - Kotahi te Wairua

Maori Television will once again devote its entire 17-hour schedule to Anzac Day on the nation’s day of commemoration.

Anzac 2010 - Kotahi te Wairua – ‘One Spirit’ - screens on Sunday April 25 2010 from 5.50 AM, the fifth year the channel has given over the schedule to this significant day. Maori Television’s Julian Wilcox will once again share hosting duties with Judy Bailey.

The schedule begins with a karakia from Cape Reinga, then it’s over to live coverage from Auckland’s War Memorial Museum. The day will include the classic war movie, Reach For The Sky, and some beautifully-told new feature documentaries about New Zealanders – Amohia Te Mauri, about the 28th Maori Battalion’s C Company, and Swoop of the Cormorant, a family’s incredible story of sacrifice.

There are fascinating ‘scrapbook’ moments as prominent New Zealanders talk about their experiences of war; and a moving interview with a true war hero, Christchurch man John Masters, as he is reunited with the Gurkha man whose life he saved 44 years ago.

Song will fill the evening, including a special performance of the theme tune from Band of Brothers.

As in previous years, Maori Television will continue the tradition of the Anzac Address, this year to be given by Lt. Gen. Jerry Mateparae CDF.

Schedule highlights are confirmed as follows:

5.50am            Te Rerenga Wairua – Cape Reinga

A call to prayer to begin the day. In Auckland, hosts Wilcox and Bailey welcome Aotearoa to ANZAC 2010 - Kotahi Te Wairua

6.00am            Live from the Auckland War Memorial Museum Dawn Service

For the first time the Australians join the service and raise their flag. And in another first, the 60th anniversary of the Korean War sees Korean veterans invited to march alongside their Kiwi counterparts at the dawn service

6.30am            Cross Planting Ceremony

Cross planting ceremony from the Museum remembers the soldiers who died in past wars, from the Boer War through to World War II
7.00am            Our Pacific – Part I

Stories from Niue, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia remind us of their roles in times of conflict

8.00am            Children’s Segment

George Henare reads The Donkey Man, a children’s book by Glynn Harper, the true story of Richard Henderson and a donkey named Roland. The pair gathered the wounded from the battlefield and took them to safety at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli

8.30am            The Sacred Brotherhood

Students from Sacred Heart College travel to France to uncover the stories and find the graves of fallen Old Boys, evoking strong emotions in the teenagers

8.45am            Toku ANZAC

                        The first interview in a scrapbook series that reveals the impact of war on well-known New Zealanders. First up: Keita Walker, sister of VC winner, Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu

9.00am            Nga Morehu Hoia o te Rua Tekau Ma Waru: The Last Survivors of the 28th Maori Battalion

The good times, the bad times and thoughts for the future from the last surviving soldiers of Companies A, B, C and D

9.30am            Documentary: Amohia Te Mauri, Uphold the Legacy

Based on the book Nga Tama Toa: The Price of Citizenship by Dr Monty Soutar, this is the fascinating story of 28th Maori Battalion’s ‘C’ Company

11.00am          NZ Post 2010 Stamp Release / Sir Keith Park Memorial

Sir Keith Park’s memorial in Trafalgar Square in London, plus an insight from family into the character of the Kiwi that commanded the air squadrons that defended the skies above London in World War II. Plus, NZ Post releases its 2010 stamps to the public – the first time ever on a Sunday, and franked in Te Reo

11.30am          Feature Film - Reach For The Sky

Starring Kenneth More as Douglas Bader in the cinema epic on the Battle of Britain

 2.00pm           Live from Ataturk Memorial in Wellington

New Zealanders and Turks come together to lay wreaths, commemorate and remember the losses on both sides at Gallipoli

2.30pm            Live Discussion with Gerald Hensley and James Watson

Candid discussion led by the author of Beyond The Battlefield – a book released last year about New Zealand during the era of Prime Minister Peter Fraser

3.30pm            ANZAC Cove with Prime Minister The Hon John Key

Once again they gather at Anzac Cove to remember the thousands that gave their lives. A unique memorial service shared by Turks, Australians and New Zealanders

4.30pm            Toku ANZAC

Julian Wilcox chats with Professor Wharehuia Milroy, who recounts his memories, stories and the impact of war on his family

5.30pm            Documentary – Swoop of the Cormorant

The moving story of the Hetet family, who send their sons to two world wars, with profound effects on the family

7.00pm            Nga Manu Roreka

Young and old gather around a piano and sing the songs of the war years. Featuring 96-year-old Evelyn Hutchins, described as the Gracey Fields of NZ, and her friend Mary Blackwell who is 94. Elizabeth Marvelly and Chris Powley join in

7.30pm            Te Kaea

8.00pm            ANZAC Address

Lt. Gen. Jerry Mateparae CDF delivers his ANZAC address to the nation

8.30pm            John Masters

Two veterans meet again after 44 years to remember a deed of bravery, endurance and compassion that saved the life of one of them

9.00pm            Toku ANZAC

Tom Scott, cartoonist, humorist and social commentator shares his scrapbook of war with Judy Bailey

9.30pm            Hei Kinaki the ANZAC Concert

ANZAC concert. Featuring a live performance of The Band of Brothers song, plus Eddie Low returns with the talented Taisha, Jayson Norris and emerging Kiwi talent from around the country

10.58pm          Ode Closer in English, Maori and Gurkhali

Dispersed throughout the broadcast are numerous vignettes that include tales of passion, bravery, humour and sacrifice, and encompass the broadest range of human emotions and subject matter. The stories are windows into the lives of ordinary and extraordinary New Zealanders that answered the call to duty.

Our memories, our stories and our people – ANZAC 2010 – KOTAHI TE WAIRUA screens on Maori Television on ANZAC Day, Sunday April 25 from 5.50 AM.