New Cook Islands Māori Series Tamariki Katu Kanga debuts at the Te Maeva Nui Aotearoa

A new reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani animated series will launch at the biggest Cook Island festival in the world, Te Maeva Nui Cultural Festival Aotearoa on Friday 3rd and Sat 4th of October.

Held over two days, Te Maeva Nui Aotearoa is set to become the largest Cook Islands cultural festival outside the Cook Islands, with over 2,000 performers coming together to celebrate Cook Islands culture at its finest.

The series - Tamariki Katu Kanga, is a joyful, reo-first series born from the universe of the beloved preschool show Tākaro Tribe — designed to support early language acquisition through music, play, and cultural connection. Produced by Pacific Media Network in collaboration with Cinco Cine Film Productions, Tamariki Katu Kanga centres Cook Islands Māori language and worldview, with local creatives involved across voice work, translation, and cultural guidance. “I never imagined I would be getting paid to do work like this! A win for reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani and tamariki!” - says Tamariki Katu Kanga director, Susnation Seta

Tauraki Rongo served as the language consultant - with a rich diversity of dialects across the Cook Islands, Rarotongan was selected as the primary language for Tamariki Katu Kanga to ensure accessibility for the widest possible audience of tamariki and their whānau. The initial release includes three episodes created in reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani.

"Pacific Media Network are proud of this partnership that continues to put our rich and diverse languages at the core of our content, so that our languages continue to thrive for the next generation," adds Paul Lisi, Programme Director - Languages at Pacific Media Network.

Building on the success of Tākaro Tribe, Tamaiti Satalo (Samoa) and Tamaiki Va’inga (Tonga), this project continues a wider commitment to delivering culturally grounded content for Moana Pacific tamariki and their whānau across Aotearoa and beyond.

Tamariki Katu Kanga will be available following the premiere from 7:30am on Saturday 04 October on pmn.co.nz and youtube.com/@takarotribe. Tamariki Katu Kanga was made possible with funding support from NZ On Air.

ENDS

Media Contact:
Maegan Clarke
Digital Content Creator
maegan@cincocine.co.nz
021 037 7948