Coming up on Te Karere... The emotional return home of taonga to Taranaki. It's day three at Polyfest and we showcase the range of Pacific culture on show. Then Daniel Kereopa leads the Ultimate Waterman with one round to go. Due to the live nature of Te Karere, some segments will not be subtitled. Tena koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. The Motunui panels have a history as rich as the artwork itself. Carved in the 18th century, the ornate pataka panels were hidden in a swamp for safekeeping during tribal wars and the taonga were rediscovered in 1972. The panels were then smuggled out of the country and sold to a private collector. But last year, the Government repatatriated the carvings and today they were finally returned home to Taranaki whanui. Irena Smith was at an emotional ceremony at Owae Marae. Returning home. They were smuggled away and now they're home. Local iwi have been waiting for a while. For some it's a connection to their ancestors. These taonga were returned to iwi as a part of their Treaty settlement with the Crown. The children themselves also understand their intrinsic value as well. This won't be the end of the repatriation of taonga Maori from overseas. No other iwi can comprehend the joy they feel at the repatriation than they do. Irena Smith, Te Karere. The PM was also in New Plymouth for the return of the Motunui panels. Archaeologists and Waikato Tainui have been cataloguing and preserving some of Tainui's buried past, some dating back to the early 1500s. All in preparation for the $458m Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway scheduled to be taking shape in September. Manawa Wright reports. An astonishing archaeological find. Soon to be destroyed in the name of progress and the Public Works Act. Today Transport NZ named the successful bidder for the $450m Huntly section of the Waikato Expressway with work expected to take shape in September. This 13ha garden site for kumara represents a collective of gardens that is said to have been as large as 2000ha. It's a tough bind for the archaeologists who know each site has a short lifespan. The entire Waikato Expressway is still on track for a 2019/early 2020 finish. Manawa Wright, Te Karere. There's been a steady stream of mourners arriving at Te Ara o Tawhaki Marae, Napier today to pay respects to beloved reo exponent, Materoa Haenga. And as Kereama Wright reports, her passing has sounded a warning about the perilous state of our language. We're unable to provide subtitles. After the break, people, food, and culture at Polyfest. Daniel Kereopa speaks with Peata Melbourne and believes he has a chance at winning the Ultimate Waterman competition. The way for Maori to protect special lands has been increased. Heritage New Zealand has created a new category for land to be entered under the title 'Wahi Tupuna' enabling those places to receive special protection. Heta Gardiner with the details. Special protection for lands like this, that hasn't been seen in NZ before, and isn't done anywhere in the world. The protection referred to is an initiative by Heritage New Zealand, to allow special title for land labelled "Wahi Tupuna". One of the reasons for this initiative, is the trepidation some people have with giving their land the title "Wahi Tapu" given the spiritual associations with the term. Waitangi is one of the first groups requesting this new designation, and the chairman of the trust board feels that it is about time. It's great. The time has come for the nation to consider places to be nominated to come under this category so those places can be protected. The process takes four months for each request to be considered. Heta Gardiner, Te Karere. It's day three of the ASB Polyfest. Let's cross over live now to our reporter Raniera Harrison who is at the event covering the proceedings there. We're unable to provide subtitles. Pukana on and off the stage. That's the reason the food is delicious. There's love in it. That's what's tasty for the families. Over 200 pieces of fried bread have been sold just today, and according to The Maori Kai Cupboard there's one ingredient that makes everyone salivate. Loving and caring for the mind of the person, their foresight, spirit, body, feed that right, and that is the essence of caring for the people. This Maori business has only been operating for two years, but they have quickly become accustomed to what gets the people going. The person always comes first, for them to carry on for the four days. They need to be fed well, that's mentally as well. And by the looks of things the people are welcoming The Maori Kai Cupboards love with open arms. So much so, both sides of the table see the benefits. There's another feeling that you get by doing that, listening to kapa haka, having a feed, that's what being Maori is about here, it's no problem for us. Ringing true, and bringing new meaning to the addage, the performers of this competition up the front, being supported by these people at the back. We're unable to provide subtitles. Just as people leave, more enter. Thousands cover the grounds here in Manukau. Yesterday we saw non-Maori performers on the Maori stage, however, I've left the Maori village in search for Maori in other villages. There are six stages and villages altogether. There are stages for Maori, Niue, Tonga, Cook Islands, Samoa and even a Diversity stage. And it was in the Diversity stage where we found a Maori person practising for her Samoan performance. I'm here to stand as a Samoan performer, and to stand for my grandfather who is from Samoa. Countless months have been put in to practising, reconnecting her to her Samoan roots through the siva dance. It's beautiful sitting with those cultures, from the islands, it's beautiful. And even though the performances have been great, it's the fresh food which has been the highlight for the majority. Caution, don't pay too much attention on the food, or you'll miss out on the performances, on stage, or even in the crowd. Pere Wihongi, Te Karere. We're unable to provide subtitles. Now let's take a look at the Maori and Pacific Programmes TVNZ has to offer over the weekend. After the break, And then we have the weather. To the weather now. For weather, see tvnz.co.nz. The race for the title of the Ultimate Waterman is now down to Hawai'i's Lenny Kai and NZ's own Daniel Kereopa. The Tainui surfing legend is the only athlete so far to have placed first in two of the six disciplines which could see him crowned the world's best waterman by tomorrow. This is the event that catapulted Daniel Kereopa ahead of the pack. Hawai'i's Kai Lenny was in the lead down to the last 5 minutes at Raglan's beach Daniel Kereopa's home ground. Daniel Kereopa also claimed number one spot in the stand-up paddle surfing division. A lot to take in for the son of a farmer with humble beginnings. He may not have the profile of his competitors just yet, but he's proved he's got the determination. Only one event left with the 16km stand up paddle. If he's successful tomorrow, it could just be the rags to riches story he imagined come true. Peata Melbourne, Te Karere. That's all we have for today. Kia ora tatou katoa. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Mangai Paho. Copyright TVNZ 2015.