Tāme Iti’s contributions to the culture of Aotearoa will be celebrated in a Whakaata Māori special next week.

The first episode of Whakanuia, featuring Dame Hinewehi Mohi, screened this week.

Next week, on Wednesday, it is Iti’s turn, with friends, whānau and colleagues reflecting on his impact on the country.

Host Julian Wilcox said Whakanuia was about acknowledging Aotearoa’s “modern heroes”.

“Many New Zealanders will likely only know Tāme Iti as the guy who fired a shotgun into a New Zealand flag, or one of those arrested as part of the Tūhoe raids, but there is so much more to the man.”

Whakanuia was filmed in front of a live audience and features celebrity guests, a house band and video interviews.

Broadcast journalist Oriini Kaipara was called to speak about Tāme Iti on the show.

She said although she was raised in West Auckland, she was very proud to have come from the Bay of Plenty.

“Tāme Iti has put Tūhoe on the map. He was the face of Tūhoe for me, growing up outside of that country, living far from home, a lot of my pride and inspiration for where I come from has been largely influenced by Tāme Iti,” she said.

Kaipara acted in Muru alongside leading actor Cliff Curtis, and Iti, who played himself in the film, exploring the Tūhoe raids.

“We usually don’t celebrate or acknowledge our people until they have passed; it goes against our taonga, but it is important that we, as Māori, see these prominent people and get around to thanking them.

“Tāme has done extraordinary things to change landscapes and broken through barriers that were unbreakable to us in the past. He has trailblazed a path for many Māori, including myself, into many areas that were very difficult to get into.

“To get more of an understanding of the man behind the moko, to get an understanding of what mana motuhake is, watch this show.”

Mr Curtis said part two covered the arc of Iti’s life, “your journey that went from filming in Tūhoe to being a celebrity in Ponsonby”.

The show was scheduled to air on Whakaata Māori on Wednesday, September 4, at 7.30pm, but has been postponed in respect of the passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau te Wherowhero VII.

A new broadcast date is yet to be announced.