Oriini Kaipara Made Television History

Kaipara made history in the field of broadcasting when she featured on mainstream television news while wearing the traditional Māori moko kauae which is worn on the face of Māori women.The significance of her accomplishment was that she managed to introduce Māori culture in one of the mainstream media outlets of the country.

Her First Appearance on Mainstream News Channel

In November 2019, Kaipara became the first person with the moko kauae to anchor a mainstream television news bulletin when she anchored the midday news on TVNZ's 1 News. This was an important milestone in the career of Kaipara as a broadcaster and received much attention due to the blend of her professional and Māori identity.

Appearing in Prime-Time Television

Kaipara's remarkable feat was maintained in December 2021 when she anchored the 6 p.m. Newshub Live bulletin on the television channel of New Zealand.In doing so, Kaipara became the first-ever individual with a moko kauae to anchor the prime-time national news broadcast. It earned her even more recognition internationally and for her career and Māori representation in mainstream media.

What Is a Moko Kauae?

Moko kauae is a traditional face tattoo worn on chins by Māori women and carrying cultural importance in connection with Māori identity, heritage, family, and community.For Kaipara, it was an important cultural feature that became a significant part of her image as a journalist and television hostess.

Representation in Mainstream Media

TV performances by Kaipara became an integral element of a discussion about Māori representation in New Zealand media industry. Her TV performances demonstrated traditional Māori cultural identity in the mainstream professional broadcasting environment.
Career of Kaipara involved working both in Māori and mainstream media, thus she was able to demonstrate Māori language and culture to the wide television audience.

A Lasting Broadcasting Milestone

Performances of Oriini Kaipara in prime time became an important milestone in the broadcasting history of New Zealand. This achievement has united professional journalism with the representation of cultural identity and increased visibility of Māori identity in the mainstream broadcasting.Kaipara's success shows that cultural identity and career in national television can go hand in hand.