RNZ Pacific launches new sports show Champions of the Pacific
RNZ Pacific is launching a new sports show "Champions of the Pacific" next Wednesday.
RNZ Pacific Sports Journalist Talei Anderson and News Editor Koro Vaka'uta front up for a new weekly sports show to be broadcast across the Pacific via short wave radio, on RNZ National at 9:40pm on Wednesdays, on rnz.co.nz and as a podcast. Champions of the Pacific launches today, with a new episode every Wednesday.
The show will feature in-depth interviews with athletes and other influential members of the Pacific sports community along with debates on the hot issues of the moment in Pacific sport.
The first episode is out on Wednesday 24 February, featuring a lively discussion with League legend Fauono Ken Laban, veteran broadcaster Keith Quinn, Silver Fern Whitney Souness and former captain of the Tongan rugby team Inoke Afeaki exploring how badly Pasifika players names are still mis-pronounced during matches. The show will also feature stories on the Kilikiti (Pasifika cricket) contest that brings all three Tokelau atolls to a standstill, and the Ah Kuoi family sharing their sporting legacy.
Co-host Koro Vaka'uta, who is of Tongan and Māori (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Kahu) descent says Champions of the Pacific aims to live up to it's name. "We want to highlight the achievers but also those who are championing and representing their people around the region and the globe,” he said.
“Representation means everything to me, so to give a voice for such people on a highly respected platform is amazing. I’m excited because we are also looking to go beyond the results and the field or court and capture the person/people as Pasifika, rather than just the athlete.”
Talei Anderson is a sports journalist of Fijian and Māori (Te Aupōuri/Te Rarawa) heritage. She hopes Champions of the Pacific will bring Pasifika people across the region together.
“I want this show to be a space where our people can come together. A space where we can celebrate our success, talk about our struggles and to tell our own stories. I want it to be a space for our community. I’m excited about it because we get to talk about the things we want to talk about – it’s a show for all of our Pasifika people, it’s our show.”
Sports Producer Vinnie Wylie has been a familiar voice across the Pacific, delivering the sports news to partner stations and via short wave bulletins for the past decade.
“We want to showcase some of the region’s best sporting talent and role-models, but also some sports and competitors doing things a bit differently, or off the radar, and create a space to talk about issues that affect and are relevant to the Pacific Island sporting community,” he said.
Champions of the Pacific
Presenters: Talei Anderson & Koro Vaka'uta
Sports Producer: Vinnie Wylie
Visit the webpage
New show every Wednesday