There’s more diversity than you can shake a stick at, in the latest television funding decisions from NZ On Air.

Distinguished professor of Māori studies Dame Anne Salmond will present Artefact, an ambitious and wide-ranging series using artefacts to explore our culture. Through telling the story and connections of each treasured artefact viewers will discover events that have shaped Aotearoa. The series will screen on Māori Television.

Also on Māori Television, musician Anika Moa, known for her irreverent humour as well as her brilliant music, will host an edgy,entertaining new talk show. Anika and guests will take on the week’s trending topics in All Talk With Anika Moa.

On TV ONE The Naked Choir will showcase the vibrant world of choral singing in communities throughout New Zealand. Groups singing a variety of musical genres a capella will train under a leading New Zealand conductor and choral master. They will be seen at rehearsal and performing in homes, community halls and on street corners throughout the country.

Returning to Māori Television for a second season is the much talked about Game Of Bro’s featuring tikanga and reo and a raft of different cultures. Pani and Pani will continue their quest to find the ultimate Polynesian warrior.

Also on Māori Television, the topic of addiction and the long hard road to recovery will be covered in Ngārara, a one-off documentary.

An extra five episodes to extend the current series of current affairs show The Huihave been supported from the Platinum Fund for TV3. We will also celebrate the best of New Zealand’s music in November with coverage of the 2016 New Zealand Music Awards.

“These latest decisions include exciting new projects that will widen the diversity of programmes for local viewers. History, popular culture and a capella singing, all in prime time and all on demand, means audiences have even more choice in their viewing,” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.

Funding details

Artefact, 6 x 1 hr, Greenstone TV for Māori Television, $1 ,140,277 (Rautaki)
The Naked Choir, 6 x 1 hr, Warner Bros NZ for TV ONE, $1,025,349
All Talk With Anika Moa, 10 x ½ hr, Rogue Productions for Māori Television,$641,549 (Rautaki)
Game of Bros 2, 7 x ½ hr, Tikilounge Productions for Māori Television, $348,392(Rautaki)
NZ Music Awards, 1 x 2 hr, MediaWorks for TV3, $170,000
Ngārara, 1 x 1 hour, Tellyvise for Māori Television; $92,636 (Rautaki)
Anzac – Auckland Dawn service 2017, 1 x 70mins, Māori Television for Māori Television, $77,450