Diane Luke proudly displays Te Korimako’s 5 awards
“Wow!” was Diane Luke’s response when she heard that Te Korimako o Taranaki FM had taken out five awards at the Māori Radio Awards. She couldn’t go to this year’s gala event so had to wait patiently until her Te Korimako colleagues arrived back home.
A highlight was winning the inaugural E Tū Whānau Inspiring Positive Change Award against stiff competition. E Tū Whānau created the award to recognise the outstanding contribution Māori radio is making to share this positive kaupapa with whānau around the country.
Passionate about E Tū Whānau
There were many excellent entries but Te Korimako o Taranaki has really been going the extra mile when it comes to E Tū Whānau.
Diane is a passionate advocate of E Tū Whānau and has been since she first started promoting it through the station six years ago.
“When I realised that the E Tū Whānau values are all about connecting people, I saw its power.”
Diane says lots of people are living the values – aroha, mana / manaaki, whakapapa, tikanga, whānaungatanga and kōrero awhi.
What gave Te Korimako the edge is the way Diane engages with her audience and gets them to tell their story.
“It’s all about utilising the values in daily life, people don’t even realise they’re doing it.”
Which is what Diane does so well – she is skilled at showing how people are living the values. Listen to her interview with Kay Kervaji, winner of the station’s E Tū Whānau Kids Holiday Competition below.
Taonga
Darrin Haimona presents the E Tu Whanau Inspiring Positive Change Award
Ann Dysart, Kaiwhakahaere for E Tū Whānau, said Diane Luke and her team showed a deep understanding of the E Tū Whānau kaupapa and values, bringing them to life and connecting listeners to the power of these as a taonga for whānau.
“This station, by understanding and explaining the kaupapa so clearly and consistently, has found ways to engage that connect people to each other and support positive change.
“They have looked for every opportunity to show their community of listeners that living by the E Tū Whānau values can slowly but surely build and nurture strong, resilient whānau.”
A night to celebrate
The awards night was outstanding – Te Arawa welcomed the crowd with a powerful pōwhiri setting the scene for the warm manaakitanga to follow. The audience was treated to delicious kai, thought-provoking kōrero from presenters and winners, and a feast of waiata and entertainment throughout the night.
Hayley Grace-Hollis moved the audiencewith her powerful song about suicide
Standing strong alongside consummate professionals like the Koi Boys and the Brown Brothers, three previous E Tū Whānau Song Competition winners – Pianika Duncan, Hayley Grace-Hollis and IGYB (aka I Got Your Back) – performed superb renditions of their winning songs for the appreciative audience.
“Truly inspiring!”
IGYB , winners of the E Tu Whanau song comp 2018 impressed the crowd with their song ‘Troubled”
Teresa McGregor from Māori Media Network said it was rewarding to see the impact the Song Competition exposure has had on the performers.
“It has provided a platform for our amazing rangatahi and grassroots talent to not only show their skills as song writers and musicians, but also to perform songs which inspire us through their connection with the E Tū Whānau kaupapa.”
“The performers at the awards event are a good reflection of the many Māori who want to make a difference for their whānau, iwi, hapū and communities. They are truly inspiring!”
The Māori Radio Awards are held every two years celebrating success in Māori Radio across 18 categories. This year’s awards were held on 27 October 2018 at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua.