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National | Early Childhood Development

Gallery: New Pūkoro website excites tamariki & mātua alike

The popular Māori educational children's show, Pūkoro, officially launched its new website today.

Te Ao Pūkoro, has taken the essence of the 100% reo Māori show for preschoolers, and propelled it out into the "cyber world" with interactive games, video clips, printable colouring-in sheets and more.

Before the launch, Karen Waaka-Tibble, General Manager of Kura Productions said, “This is a chance for us to give our preschoolers’ favourite te reo Māori television programme, the same value and depth as shows like Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street.  Much of what makes up the website has been sourced from themes of the show itself, but the games have been created from scratch.  It’s new and exciting and we can’t wait to see  what the kids think of the games – remembering it’s targeted at our pēpi!”

A special event hosted by Whaea Āniwaniwa (Nicholas) and Matua Ngātarawāhi (Fairhall) was held today to mark the website launch, with Kōhanga Reo leaders, parents, and some of Pūkoro's biggest fans in attendance; the "fans" being treated to an exclusive show of their own at the Kura Productions studio in West Auckland.

The young fans were also able to experience what regularly happens on the show, which included dressing up and playing games and activities.

The day had tamariki excited, and even parents who can see what Te Ao Pūkoro means for the future of te reo Māori.

Mum-of-three Ana Rangi (Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Maniapoto) says, "It was such an amazing experience, we were so lucky to be a part of today.  Not only was my two-year-old a bit starstruck, but so was I!  The website is going to come in handy for sure, we can't wait to start using this wonderful resource to help reinforce te reo in our home."

Upon the announcement of the launch, Executive Producer, Quinton Hita said, “Resources of this quality for kōhanga-aged children are extremely rare and is paving the way for Pūkoro to continue beyond television.”

Kura Productions are hoping to make a milestone tenth season of Pūkoro in 2016, and to continue their developments on the new website.

"Pūkoro, he aha kei roto?  Māu anō e kimi mai, hī hā!"