Paki Kēhua Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

Episode 43 - The Rescue (Based on a True Story) 
A whanaunga of mine once told me a peculiar story from her early days working in the South Island, where she advised trampers about the weather conditions in the local mountains.  One day, she received a warning on her walkie-talkie about a swiftly approaching stor, which curiously wasn't showing up on any other early warning equipment. The mountain was promptly evacuated, much to the chagrin of several trampers who insisted that, according to their reports, the weather forecast was clear.  Sure enough, the storm hit. Had the trampers continued on their journey, they would have found themselves in grave danger, perhaps even losing their lives.  My whanaunga received a commendation for her quick thinking, which she humbly attributed to the man on the radio. However, when she shared the identity of this man with her colleagues, she was met with an unsettling silence. She vividly recalls her boss's response: "No, you must be mistaken... that's not possible."
T.A. Whero

Episode 42 - Pona... Hemi Pona (Based on a True Story)  
I'm sending this message encrypted in case it's being monitored. The encryption is so complex that it will appear as a normal message. I knew a koroua who thought he was a spy, code name 0013. The whole shebang. He said he was recruited straight out of the bush, a tough and clever Māori kid with no family ties, making him a perfect candidate for the CIA's black ops program. Our response was just "Oh, that's nice, koro." But then one day, he died, and what followed was subtle, designed to go unnoticed. However, being the observant and sharp-eyed individual that I am, or as some might call me, nosy, there were several alarm bells ringing that all was not as it seemed. Let's just say that moments after his death, a high-ranking military officer made contact. And the person who took the message couldn't recall taking the phone call. Tapped wires? Mind wipe? You be the judge. This story will self-destruct in 13 minutes.
T.A. Whero

Episode 41 - The Three Strike Back, Part Two (Retelling of an Old Story) 
The race against time is on. Literally! With the fate of the world in the balance and the destiny of all humanity resting on three haututu Māori boys and an irritating little brother, what could possibly go wrong? Well, let's take a quick look at the Three's chances... The Three's plan hinges on the hope that a mythological being, whom no one has ever seen, will show up to help within a tiny window of about 3 seconds. After that, they must somehow challenge the Sun, Tamanuiterā, in open combat, much like Māui did — but without the demigod powers that Māui has. Oh, and they lack the mighty brothers and the magic ropes that Māui had... However, they do have the magic jawbone from Murirangawhenua, though it has a habit of turning into false teeth at the most inopportune moments. The only thing they seem to have in their favour is their makeshift plans held together with bandaids and chewing gum that have miraculously worked so far. Brace yourselves for the Three's final showdown in the very last story of the series. Oops. 
T.A. Whero 

Episode 40 - The Three Strike Back, Part One (Retelling of an Old Story) 
The boys are still patting down the flames after their last encounter with Mahuika. They, like Māui, were able to entomb her into a Kaikomako tree for all eternity. The boys are counting their lucky stars, having barely made it out alive, when a new threat arrives on the scene: an upset husband named Tamanuiterā! Yes, the very sun in the sky! While Mahuika might have been content with burning the boys to a crisp, the plans of Tamanuiterā are bigger... much bigger. It seems the boys are mirroring the deeds of Māui. The fate of the entire world was at stake in Māui’s battle with Tamanuiterā, and now it could be in the hands of the boys. But fear not. The boys have survived The Ririo, Mahuika, and her 10 children of flame. What’s one more super-being? I’m sure the boys will be just fine. Now, I don’t want to spoil the ending, but FYI: this is the very last story in the series about the three. Oops. 
T.A. Whero 

Episode 39 - The Return of the Three, Part Two (Retelling of an Old Story) 
So, it was Mahuika! 
See, I told you that I told you. Anyway, the boys are still alive, albeit a little crispier. How long can they keep this up? Their blend of luck and Māori boy ingenuity has worked against the fingers of flame, who are really just kids like themselves, but they’re not out of the woods yet... literally! If they do somehow manage to get past the rest of the flame children, they know that they will eventually have to deal with the māmā; Mahuika herself. And believe you me, every Māori boy knows what happens if you’re dumb enough to try and stand up to your māmā – let alone a māmā with godly powers! I feel a song coming on… "It's getting hot in here… so dial 111." I'm not sure if those are the lyrics, but cross your fingers for the boys and their fiery conclusion! 
T.A Whero   

Episode 38 - The Return of the Three, Part One (Retelling of an Old Story) 
“The Three” are a bunch of likeable non-bullies who are hot off the back of out-playing the Ririo, “the King of the Elves”, thanks to a scary old kuia, a bunch of stones and a bag of chips. Long story.  Now, a strange mushroom cloud of smoke has appeared from within the heart of the dark forest, not too far from their school. While most would run in the opposite direction, “the fearless three” (or as Hemi, the leader of the gang’s irritating little brother might say “the clueless three”), head towards the smoke cloud.  Little do the boys know, they are jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. The burning question (and it's hard to put a finger on it) is: who is the old flame smouldering at the heart of the mushroom cloud waiting to set their world on fire? FYI, I just told you who.  
T.A. Whero