ON THE WARPATH

A new series aims for a true history of iwi conflict in the pre-European Bay of Plenty.

- RUSSELL BROWN

KAIRĀKAU II Māori TV, Thursday, April 7, 9.00 pm

Māori history is rich with feuding, family, and strong concepts of honour. It's often violent and occasionally lit up with the supernatural. In short, it's the perfect material for great screen stories. But for the creators of Kairākau, it's also a matter of reconciling different versions of a shared past.

It's six years since the first season of the show aired on Māori Television and there have been some changes, says producer Lara Northcroft. Not the least is that it has four times the budget from funding agency Te Māngai Pāho - still less than some mainstream productions, but more like a real drama budget.