Coming up on Te Karere TVNZ are still in discussions around the future of some of its most famous current affairs shows. The Government's announcement of the fast-track consenting bill raises some concerns around the impacts to the environment. And one of the most popular regions for kapa haka the Te Arawa regionals kicked off today starting with the non-comp teams. 08 March 2024 Tēnā koutou katoa, and welcome to Te Karere. Meetings have taken place at TVNZ this morning to discuss the future of some of this country's longest running and highest profile television programmes. Some of the programmes facing the chop include Sunday, one of the most influential journalism programmes that has influenced conversations at dinner tables around the country. It is believed they will face the chop this month. 1News Tonight is also facing the axe. Kruze Tangira has more. A devastating blow for one of NZ's top current affairs shows. Staff advised their show will be axed as part of the proposal cuts. I am devastated, we are all devastated. Having been on air for the last 22 years Sunday sits as of Television New Zealand's best show but it's not only them facing an uncertain future. Shows like Tonight and Fair Go also facing the same fate as Sunday, a big loss for viewers. And the effects are being felt nationwide. Māori journalist Julian Wilcox saying it's these shows that carry the Māori culture. We all feel the pain because these shows carry and hold the identiy of Māori, New Zealand. And it could mean have having less Māori journalists too. Without a doubt, within the minds of our youth if there is no future for journalism, we will go to different industries. It won't only hit these journalists but the viewers at home too because. Another dark day for democracy, another dark day for the future of journalism. It's a very heavy feeling within the newsroom at the moment Scotty. A number of people that have been affected dealing with the aftermath of the recent news. Now this is a proposal, so staff will have the opportunity to respond but without a doubt, this heaviness will be continue to be felt for time to come, Scotty. Too right Kruze Tangira. We're all feeling the sadness in the station right now. Thank you so much Kruze. Maurice Lambert of Ngāpuhi and Tūhoe descent is the go to man in the Far North if you want to stop smoking. He's helped more than 150 people quit smoking in the last five years but with the government's new approach to scrap smokefree laws, we find out from the practitioner how it'll impact his mahi in Māori communities. Harata Brown has more. These are today's tools helping people quit smoking. For this Te Rarawa descendant smoking was all around her growing up. That's why it's taken years to give up. And it was just this week, where the repeal of the legislation was read in parliament. To scrap changes like banning smoking for those born after 2009. And decreasing the number of tobacco outlet stores. It might be a miracle now if Aotearoa NZ becomes smokefree come 2025, but something is better than nothing. Harata Brown, Te Karere. People or industries, who is going to benefit from the fast-track consenting bill? That's the question an iwi leader is asking following the govt's announcement of the fast-track consenting bill. Mike Smith says the bill could be beneficial for desperate essentials like housing but could also be detrimental to the taiao. Moana Makapelu Lee with this story. Despite years of protest by iwi, deep sea oil drilling looks to be back. The new fast-track bill promises to be a one stop shop. Bulldozing roadblocks and getting projects underway. Iwi leader Mike Smith says the bill could be beneficial or devastating for the environment. With petroleum mining, such as in the Taranaki region making a comeback, despite years of iwi push back. My message to the people of Taranaki. If there are no rigs, then we won't be able to turn the lights on in NZ. I'd rather keep the lights on rather than focusing on Taranaki's minor issues. Projects of national making a decision within six months. Ultimately though ministers have final say. In what Smith says is an attack democracy. As environmentalists brace for more mining and intensive dairy farming, questions to the future of NZ's environment up in the air. Moana Makapelu Lee, Te Karere. After the break, Te Arawa regionals is well underway with our non-comp teams taking the stage. The Kāhui Mounga regionals kick off tomorrow with a new group set to showcase their skills on the kapa haka stage. set to showcase their skills on the kapa haka stage. The Te Arawa regionals kicked off today in Rotorua with the non-competitive teams entertaining the masses, our Bay of Plenty reporter Timoti Tiakiwai is at the competition, Timoti tell us about today. Yes, Scotty I'm here live at the Te Arawa kapa haka regionals in Rotorua. For four years it's been cancelled due to Covid and the pandemic but today the competition roared back into life. It's also led to a rebirth of a fun and caring atmosphere too. You can see the numbers of people behind me as the stage continues to be loud. It was also quite a raucous this morning Ngāti Whakaue's kaumātua team, featuring people aged 70 and above. A lot of people, I have heard, were carefully selected. It's a lively and happy team. It's a also a team that has their own grandchildren who want to see cultural practices at play like connecting socially, with whānau, and practicing charity. For more detail check out my report. These beautiful voices echoing. Emotionally, physically and mentally uplifting. To the younger generation. Our knees were shaking, we were nervous like it's the Olympics of kapa haka. The Te Arawa regionals kicked off today with the older teams performing, with the kaumātua from Ngāti Whakaue opening the competitions. According to the kaumātua it was a very humbling opportunity. Us from Ngāti Whakaue are humbled because Te Arawa have congregated here for us to be entertained. And it is the younger generation watching, cheering and are in amazement of these performers. I go back to what was said by Tangiora Rangihau when the korosins stood at the Mataatua regionals, "what's better than a mokopuna watching their grandparent doing haka?" and I support that. And the importance for the Ngāti Whakaue kaumatua is for the younger generation to see that caring and supporting. Their whanau should sit at the top of their thoughts. To me, the main reason for this kaupapa is the younger generation that are up and coming. Today they can see how much our whanau support our kaumātua. An example shown to the younger generation. Timoti Tiakiwai, Te Karere. The competition continues tomorrow for 13 teams that will clash with song and expressing their opinions as they compete to go to Te Matatini. It's worth remembering that only six teams from Te Arawa will be eligible to go to Te Matatini next year in Taranaki. And just for you Scotty, your team, Ngāti Whakaue are performing in the first section of performances and so I am looking forward to seeing your Ngāti Whakaue t-shirt tomorrow, Scotty. No doubt, no doubt Timoti. I will wear my Ngāti Whakaue t-shirt tomorrow to support Te Arawa's best team, Ngāti Whakaue. Thank you Timoti for those details. Sticking with our kapa haka stories. Tickets sold out in minutes ahead of Te Kāhui Maunga kapa haka regionals in Hawera tomorrow. Of the 14 groups competing in this region only four will qualify for Te Matatini. Te Karere caught up with newcomers Ngā Waihotanga who represent iwi from South Taranaki. The purpose of this team is to bring home the descendants of Ruanui, Rauru, and Ruahine home to learn because our marae are becoming deserted. So, that's what this team is really about. The kaiako of this team, Te Ruinga, Tere, Sunnie and Maruera learnt under Koro Ngapo and Pimia Wehi. So their teachings have been brought into this team. The main function is that, you can see it in our name Nga Waihotanga (the descendants). The descendants of whom? The descendants of the forefathers. We carry on the traditions, and the protocols of Aotea waka, Ngarauru, Ngati Ruanui, and Ngaruahinerangi. I'd like to say thank you to everyone supporting us. The entire family - you can see that kind of life in our team. Another primary objective is to tell the country who we are, where we're from and the local oral traditions. Other than that, we'll see what happens come 09 March. New technology to assess the best manu bomb has been created for the first manu world champs which will be held in Auckland. Seventy-five divers wanting to make the biggest splash this weekend is a Māori pastime. Marena Mane has more. The art of popping manu. It's a carefully crafted technique. That fun is helped by a special manu tech software. Using multiple cameras for technique and timing to get the biggest splash. The unique manu bomb is uniquely Māori. Both Brooklyn-Jae Rewha and Presayus Singh are competing in the male and female youth category. They qualified through a regional system to make the first world champs this weekend. Perhaps time will tell. Marena Mane, Te Karere. Let's take another look at today's top stories. TVNZ are still in discussions around the future of some of its longest running current affairs shows. The Government's announcement of the fast-track consenting bill raises some concerns around the impacts to the environment. And one of the most popular regions for kapa haka the Te Arawa regionals kicked off today starting with the non-comp teams. After the break we have the weather. To the weather now. Before we finish for the day, for all the Warrior fans out there your teams' first match is tonight at Mt Smart Stadium. Their opposition has flown all the way across theTasman Sea, the Cronulla Sharks. Following that match it's the Penrith Panthers against the Melbourne. So to all you Warriors fans keep to the faith as they battle the Sharks tonight. That's all we have for in sports and general news today. The ups and downs. Kia ora huihui mai tātou katoa. Turou Hawaiki. Captions were made possible with funding from Te Māngai Pāho. Copyright TVNZ 2024.