- Featured in Episode 4 (Filipino community) on 11 March 2022 at 9:30pm are two Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awardees 2021 – Kenzo Santayana, Champion Gymnast and Marose Marfori (Pinoy Adventurers NZ). Also featured is Rupert Palaroan.
Watch on Maori TV On Demand.
Legacy, whakapapa and heritage seen through the lens of the various migrant communities in Aotearoa is the subject of GIANTS, a seven-part series premiering at 9:30 PM on 18 February 2021 – on Māori Television and Māori+.
The series tells untold stories from Chinese, Punjabi, Filipino, African and Samoan migrant communities in Aotearoa. It explores the idea that immigrants ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’, building upon the legacy and whakapapa of their tūpuna.
Producer Alex Bradshaw says that the series shows how the strength of family and community is an integral part of the foundation of New Zealand’s most diverse communities.
“The migrant communities that were thriving all had one thing in common – they favoured communalism over individualism,” says Alex Bradshaw.
“In making GIANTS we were fortunate to have access to untold stories from some of New Zealand’s most vibrant migrant communities. We meet people who give voice to the experience of migrating to Aotearoa.
“We learn about some of our newest New Zealanders – Chinese, Punjabi, Filipino, African, Samoan – how their culture shapes them and how they are shaping a new legacy in New Zealand through their community.”
The personal stories are as varied as the migrant communities.
“Our history goes right back to 1882, when my great-grandfather came to New Zealand to earn some money to send back to family in China,” says Malcolm Wong, featuring in Episode One.
“I want to share what Filipino food is. I want to share our culture. I know that I’m not doing this for myself; I’m doing it for my cuisine and my culture,” says Rupert Palaroan in the Filipino episode.
“People don’t know the struggles of our parents. Yeah, have you seen your mother cry? An African mother, when they weep, it’s like they’re crying out to the Lord,” says Wasa Ali.
The first episode of the new documentary series, Giants, premiered on Māori Television last week and is now available to watch On Demand. Co-edited by DEGANZ member Anthea Ede Smith, Scott Howard, Kaz Miley and Tara Durrant, Giants is a seven-part documentary series that takes a look at legacy, whakapapa and heritage through the lens of different migrant communities in Aotearoa.
Episodes of Giants air on Māori Television on Fridays at 9:30pm. They will then become available On Demand.
Coming up on GIANTS:
EPISODE 1 – Friday 18 February, 2022, at 9:30 PM: Chinese – The Chinese community in Dunedin – one of Aotearoa’s most established migrant communities.
EPISODE 2 – Friday 25 February, 2022, at 9:30 PM: Indians – The Punjabi community drifted from Taumarunui to Auckland over four generations.
EPISODE 3 – Friday 4 March, 2022, at 9:30 PM: Oamaru – Introducing the culturally vibrant Oamaru, the latest step in Pacifika chain migration.
EPISODE 4 – Friday 11 March, 2022, at 9:30 PM: Filipinos – The Filipino community is one of the fastest-growing migrant communities in Aotearoa.
EPISODE 5 – Friday 18 March, 2022, at 9:30 PM: Africans – Changemakers in the growing African community of Wellington.
EPISODE 6 – Friday 25 March, 2022, at 9:30 PM: ASTR – Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga, a group committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
EPISODE 7 – Friday 1 April, 2022, at 9:30 PM: Samoan – The Samoan community in Christchurch are intent on building a better future for their communities.
GIANTS screens on Māori Television on Fridays from 18 February at 9:30 PM.
Editor: The Filipino episode airs on 11 March 2022 at 9:30pm on Maori TV. Also watch on ‘Maori TV on Demand‘.
