Thanks to his critically-acclaimed and hugely successful television series, The Casketeers, Francis Tipene (Te Rarawa) is arguably one of New Zealand's best-known funeral directors.

You're not going to want to miss this one. Join the wānanga as we deep-dive on one of the most taboo topics we as Māori grapple with and will have all certainly dealt with in at least some capacity - death.

This is Francis' story. This is The Taumata Kōrero.

Follow us on IG - you know the vibes. @francistipene @kaiora @tipenefunerals @taumatakorero

Next year, we celebrate 50 years since the presentation of the Te Reo Māori Petition on the steps of Parliament. This paved the way for our language to become formally recognised as an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand.

What does the future of Te Reo Māori look and sound like? Some may seem it rests upon the shoulders of the younger generations of Te Reo Māori speakers who have just as much reverence for our treasure as their predecessors did in 1972.

The voice of the Māori youth - te reo o te rangatahi. 

This is The Taumata Kōrero.

Follow us on Instagram @kahumako_ @t_aerepomorgan @tauawhigramm @taumatakorero

Three tohunga tāmoko, three creative masterminds, three men, who on a more personal level, have themselves facilitated some of the most life changing wānanga I have ever been involved in.

Cy McLeod (Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tai, Ngāi Tūhoe), Henare Brooking (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) and Hohua Mohi (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Ruanui) are all in their own respects carrying the flag at the forefront of the traditional Māori tattooing movement.

They are the embodiment of the dedication of their respective ancestors to promote, uphold and advance, much like te reo Māori, a sacred treasure that was once upon a time nearly lost forever.

This is The Taumata Kōrero.

Follow us on Instagram @uhiwero @mokoira @kupapaink @taumatakorero

Anyone else feeling like there has been an influx of Te Reo Māori musical bangers released over the last few weeks?

Three Māori musicians, creatives in their own right join me tonight to break it down for us all. Avondale's rap god supreme, Melodownz joins me alongside Tauranga Moana songstress and one-time kapa haka legend soloist, Ria Hall and master of linguistic Te Reo manipulation and the man behind Whaikōrero Raps, Chey Milne. You won't want to miss this one.

This is The Taumata Kōrero.

Follow us on Instagram @melodownz @riahallnz @chey_milne @taumatakorero

There's so much language resourcing available for those just starting out on their journey to full and exclusive Te Reo Māori linguistic emancipation - but what about the rest of us?

What about the 18-35 demographic, graduates of kohanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori, wharekura, whare wānanga, Te Panekiretanga? What about those who were fortunate enough to grow up with even one reo Māori-speaking grandparent? How are we catering to that audience? How are we catering to ourselves?

Join me as I sit down to wānanga all this and more with Dr. Hinurewa Poutu, Ani-Piki Tuari and Greg Koia - all te reo Māori champions and exponents of the language in their own right.

This is The Taumata Kōrero.

Julian Wilcox (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa) is one of the very few who needs next to no introduction when it comes to the Māori language. He was the poster-boy and golden child of Māori TV for over a decade and ultimately became the 'head honcho' of the Māori Television newsroom. Not to mention his ability to tremendously navigate both Te Reo Māori and English in a seemingly flawless manner.

Julian is committed to Māori development and achieving whānau rangatiratanga. Across his busy lifestyle, Julian has also lectured Te Reo, tikanga, whaikōrero and media. 

I consider Julian a mentor - so it is my utmost honour to pick the brain of one of my Māori language idols this week.

This is Julian's story. This is The Taumata Kōrero.

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She's the mother-of-two, CEO extraordinaire of one of the most renowned Māori activewear movements, Hine Collection, however Miria Flavell knows exactly what it's like to hustle like there's no tomorrow - literally from the ground up.

Chances are your girlfriend, wife, daughter, sister, cousin, aunty - hika! Even your mum probably owns a piece of Hine Collection activewear. It's the blood, sweat and tears of Flavell who always knew she wanted to create a more than just another fashion label for "all women and motivate them to feel confident in their own skin."

Join Raniera Harrison (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui) to get inside the mind of one of the most vibing mana wahine Māori entrepreneurs right now. 

This is Miria's story like you've never heard before. 

This is The Taumata Kōrero.

Let's be honest, whānau - the man needs no introduction. Since bursting on to the scene after an amazing audition for Australian Idol, the then 18-year-old Stan Walker reckons he was yet to become fully aware just where this new path would take him..

And oh the places he has gone! There aren't too many Top 40 charts in New Zealand and Australia that haven't been partial to his musical stylings over the years. From the recording studio to an established acting career all the way to the marae, Stan strikes me as the type of man who understands the art of authentic connection. 

Oh yeah - and there's a worldwide exclusive - Stan announces who he is performing for at Te Matatini Herenga Waka, Herenga Tangata in Auckland next year.

This is Stan's story like you've never heard before. 

This is The Taumata Kōrero.

He's the creative genius behind the hundreds of massive murals around New Zealand depicting some of the most well-known figures and personalities we've come to know and love, but one thing about Graham Hoete is his unyielding passion for providing hope for the next generation.

Join Raniera Harrison (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui) as he sits down with the graffiti master to disseminate a little bit of esoteric knowledge - creative process, mens mental health, identity, entrepreneurship, faith, hope and heaps more.

This is Mr. G's story like you've never heard it before. This is The Taumata Kōrero

He's the man who managed to catch 50 Cent's attention on Instagram after simply issuing a plea for an employment oppurtunity, but something tells me there's more than meets the eye to Mongrel Mob member and personal trainer, Poutawa Kireka.

He's definitely a man on a mission. His hoards of followers online tune in daily for that crucial dose of inspiration under his kaupapa 'Fit2Guk', a hauora regime that looks to help others realise their fitness dreams and goals.

Join Raniera Harrison (Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui) as we enter the mind of one of the most notorious personal trainers you'll ever meet.

This is Poutawa's story. This is The Taumata Kōrero.