Below is a listing of the top ten programmes on NZTV, recorded as of the 18th July 2011 via Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

The top programme being watched is Shortland Street, with News programmes dominating the remainder, and interestingly The Food Truck is currently rating fourth – a reality TV programme looking at the challenge of making fast food healthy.To watch some of these programmes please follow this link to the TVNZ website.

The documentary explores disturbing research suggesting that our exposure to everyday electromagnetic fields could be hazardous to our health.

It examines how we are constantly surrounded by radiation – from cell and cordless phones, wi-fi internet, cell towers, powerlines, and even from our electric blankets. Every call you make on a cell or cordless phone is pumping radiation straight into your brain. Every hour your kids spend in a wi-fi enabled classroom is an hour spent immersed in a fog of electromagnetic forces.

Could this invisible radiation cause a devastating public health crisis? Is our new technology the new tobacco or asbestos?

Electromagnetic radiation is now being linked to a host of serious health problems – ranging from depression and miscarriage to Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Many scientists and health professionals are now warning that our long-term exposure at levels well below the existing safety standards could result in a massive global public health crisis – worse than crises caused by tobacco or asbestos because we are all exposed.

Is Your Cell Phone Killing You? Will screen on Wednesday, June 22nd at 8:30pm on channel 3.

For the sixth year now, Maori Television reveals that they will be devoting all of its Anzac day programming to the commemoration of those who gave so much for our freedom.

Anzac 2011 – Kotahi te wairua (‘One Spirit’) airs from 5.50am to 11.30pm on Monday April 25 2011, the sixth year the channel has dedicated its whole schedule to this significant day. Maori Television’s Julian Wilcox will once again share hosting duties with Judy Bailey.

The day begins with a live dawn karakia, mihi and raising of the flag from the Devonport Naval Base, then moves to the Auckland War Memorial Dawn Service. Also on the programme are four must-see new documentaries. Nga Toa o te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa The Warriors of the Pacific: Solomon Islands and Nga Toa o te Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa The Warriors of the Pacific: Papua New Guinea reveal the untold stories of what happened in both countries as the Allies fought Japanese forces in World War Two. Dancing in the Sky (by Julian Arahanga, who played Nig in Once Were Warriors) follows the extraordinary life of William Rhodes-Moorhouse, the first airman to earn a Victoria Cross. Baptism by Fire (directed by Tiwai Reedy) sees the reunion after 40 years of six soldiers who were involved in a Viet Cong ambush during the Vietnam War. Their successful battle against all odds is revealed in this compelling account told for the first time.

Dispersed throughout the day are fascinating vignettes in which New Zealanders recount their tales of passion, bravery, humour and sacrifice. The evening is dedicated to entertainment and comedy as entertainer Chris Powley and friends present an evening of classic Maori showband nostalgia.

As in previous years, Maori Television airs the ANZAC Address, this year delivered by Sir Wira Gardiner, who had a 20-year Army career before becoming founding director of the Waitangi Tribunal.

For more information and programming  scheduling on this day please follow this link

For Shadow a homeless Aucklander who has spent most of his life on the streets. Drama has been a been a positive  and life changing experience.

“Shadow”, who says he has forgotten his real name because of years of glue-sniffing, started living on the streets in his early teens because of problems at home with his mother’s boyfriend.

Yesterday, at a national conference on homelessness, he sang and played the harmonica and with five other homeless men.

He also plays a homeless man in a TV3 series called Super City.

“They had to get a streetie to play a streetie,” he said. “I hope they do another series, I wouldn’t mind doing some more work. It was cool.”

Auckland City Mission homeless worker Wilf Holt, who helped to form the drama group 18 months ago, said it tapped the skills of people such as Shadow and guitarist Jem Pauro, 41, both regular Queen St buskers.

The group worked with professionals from The Edge to put on a show called Homeless Economics in the recent Auckland Fringe Festival.

Another member, Garry, 55, said he had known most of the members for 10 years and the drama group was “the biggest positive change I’ve seen”.

“To see them come out in front of people – wow!

“For me, it’s been the greatest distraction in my life. It takes me away from my personal issues that I can’t fathom to understand. It’s an extraordinary thing, I believe this should be part and parcel of every country’s homeless policy.”

Iris Pahau, of the Coalition to End Homelessness, which organised yesterday’s conference, said homelessness was “sadly, a growing industry”.

Auckland Night Shelter manager Corie Haddock, who co-chairs the coalition, said he was advising Tauranga police, council and churches about a planned night shelter for a growing number of rough sleepers. He will meet another group in Palmerston North in June.

He said the coalition wanted a parliamentary inquiry into all aspects of homelessness, including boarding houses, overcrowding and substandard houses as well as rough sleeping.

National MP Katrina Shanks, who chairs Parliament’s social services committee, said the committee felt the whole issue was too broad and lacked adequate research, but it was considering an inquiry into boarding houses.

“We have just done a lot of legislative changes with the Residential Tenancies Act,” she said.

“So it’s a good bit of work to see whether it’s changing what we are concerned about, which is slum landlords.”

For a full listing of this story please follow this link

TVNZ launches U, a ground-breaking new channel which integrates online social networking with broadcast content for the first time on New Zealand screens. U is a commercial free-to-air digital channel which features a mix of real life and factual entertainment programming and is aimed at all Kiwis aged 15-24.

The channel kicks off with our first ever episode of U live – a live daily interactive entertainment music show hosted by Connor Nester, Rose Matafeo and Tim Lambourne. Packed with giveaways, guests and entertainment news, no two shows will be the same. U live airs every day between 4pm and 7pm.

TVNZ has worked closely with Facebook to create a truly interactive show. Fans of the U live Facebook app are able to comment on topics, post pictures, vote in polls and peek behinds the scenes of the show through a live stream “producer cam”. Comments will then be pulled into the broadcast and onto screen, giving viewers a chance to interact with the presenters and each other like never before.

TVNZ’s Head of Digital Media and Channels Eric Kearley says that TVNZ is delighted to bring New Zealand its first true “social television” experience through the Facebook integration.

“It’s the first true technology-driven integration of online social media with television in New Zealand.”

U tv, which starts tonight and airs every Sunday at 8.30pm, gives viewers another chance to interact with the broadcast. People can enter a competition to be the U programmer for a month via the channel’s website. The lucky winner will effectively “own” the slot, choosing what viewers watch and then, via a video link, present their choices to NZ.

The rest of the schedule is made up of a selection of shows new to New Zealand audiences that are sure to shock, inspire and entertain. Britain’s Missing Top Model explores the biggest taboo in modelling… the lack of disabled models. The Buried Life follows the real life adventure of four guys on an epic quest to prove that anyone can do anything and to challenge strangers with the ultimate question: “What do you want to do before you die?”. And G Girls follows the glitzy team behind Britain’s top glossy – Glamour magazine. This is the series that gives fashion fans the kind of inside access they can only dream of.

According to Kearley, U is an innovative step for broadcasting in New Zealand and fills a gap in the market.

“We had identified that there was an opportunity to extend the content available for young New Zealanders with new locally made and overseas programming. U will be the only fully localised youth channel in the market providing bespoke opportunities for New Zealand advertisers to speak to young Kiwis.”

U will be broadcast on Freeview/TiVo channel 6 and SKY/Telstra channel 016.

For more information about “u” Channel please follow this link to the TVNZ page or follow this link to their Face book page.

Its now or never – Native Vision are on their last print cycle of the Crazy Horses Range of clothing.

Which means if you don’t get in quick you might not have another chance to get your patch and represent Crazy Horses in your area.

There are some specials on certain ranges, sizing and styles are limited.

Please follow this link to the Native Vision website, and a list of Crazy Horses BOY Merchandise available.

This could be you!

One of Maori Televisions most watched and favourite shows is about to hit our screens once again with a new season. Homai Te Pakipaki gives entertainers, wannabes and anyone willing to leave their inhibitions at the door and let loose on the stage. You are given your fifteen minutes of fame, and a chance to win $10,000.

From March 18, HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI will once again be broadcasting live from Maori Television’s Newmarket studios every Friday night at 8.30pm. The karaoke show’s producer, Erina Tamepo, hopes to see the verandah full to busting with keen and eager contestants as soon as auditions start at 4.30pm that day.

“From that moment it’s all go as we screen the wannabe contestants and select the ten or so who’ll go on to perform live on air,” says Erina. “It’s always an amazing experience as 90% of the kaiwaiata (singers) have never been in a studio before, so there are usually some emotional moments – for them and for us! Unlike many other television singing shows, most of our kaiwaiata aren’t here because they want to be stars; they just really love singing and dream of singing in front of an audience. Our show is unsanitised, spontaneous and fun.”

Again, unlike many other similar shows, contestants on HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI have no rehearsal, no coaching, no choreography and only a little prep. After being selected to sing, they’re through to make-up and in front of the cameras, where it’s up to them to show the text voting audience at home what they’ve got.

The 2011 season sees the return of hosts Matai Smith (Rongowhakaata, Ngai Tamanuhiri, Ngati Kahungungu) and Te Hamua Nikora (Te Tai Rawhiti), who have both seen a wide range of talent in their time on the show.

“One of the reasons HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI has been so successful is that you don’t necessarily have to be a fantastic singer to get on air, although we’ve had some phenomenal singers on,” says Matai. “There’s so much aroha emanating from our audience that as long as you do your best, that’s all that matters. I love that HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI is so raw and so real. It’s not fabricated and slick – it’s all about the talent.”

As in previous years, the winner of each of the 20 heats receives $1000 and the chance to compete for prizes in the two semi finals, then $10,000 in the grand final, scheduled for August 26.

The auditions are open to anyone and whanau come from far and wide to sing their hearts out on HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI, and it’s not unusual to see familiar faces turning up.

“HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI has quickly become an institution in our nation, one I am extremely proud to be a part of. To be back to co-host the 2011 season of Homai, for me, is both a privilege and an honour. I absolutely love the job and am committed to bringing my own flavour to help with the uniqueness of Aotearoa’s favourite entertainment show” says Te Hamua.

For information on how to enter, visit the HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI page on Maori Television’s website www.maoritelevision.com

Audio Description – the visual equivalent of captioning for hearing impaired audiences – begins on March 1 with episodes of Coronation Street.

Audio description is an optional additional narrative, spoken by a neutral voice, which describes the on-screen action in between dialogue. It’s a service widely available in the UK and US.

It has been made technically possible in New Zealand by developments in TVNZ’s digital infrastructure, and financially possible with a pilot grant of $500,000 from New Zealand on Air.

At this stage the service is limited to Coronation Street, which was requested as the popular choice of the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand.

At the end of a year the success of the service will be evaluated and, depending on available funding, it is expected it will be rolled out to cover more programmes.

Audio Description will be provided on the Freeview digital platform.

TVNZ’s Head of Production Services and Technology, Helen Clifton, says the new service is the result of many years of discussion with the blind community.

“We’re very proud that the technical developments in our digital broadcasting infrastructure have at last put us in a position to help. We’ve been providing captioning for those with hearing impairments for a long time, and we can now make television an experience to be really enjoyed for those with visual difficulties.”

Pollywood Pasifica Short film Festival is now into its ninth successful year, this is an event to watch out for. With each year growing bigger and better, Pollywood has largely become a launching pad for Pasifika Film and multimedia art for the past 9 years. The core focus of Pollywood is to showcase and celebrate Pacific Island writers, Directors and Actors.  Pollywood is the leading Pacific Island short film festival in New Zealand.

Each screening will be introduced by curator Craig Fasi, and promises to please audiences from across Auckland. “I am hubled by the status of films that have been sourced  for this years festival, in light of so much that has changed over the years. I am thankful that Pollywood is still delivering quality Pacific Island art for the community”says Mr Fasi.

There is seven films which will be screened in total with just over 80 mins of heartfelt stories to be showcased. With such a varied mix of short films there is bound to be something for everyone, so get your tickets now. All are welcome.

The premiere of Pollywood Nine2011 is set for Wednesday the 16th of March At Galatos, Galatos Street, Newton 7:30pm.

For more information on this event and ticket bookings please follow this link

Sam Peacock director of award winning film "Manurewa"

Manurewa, directed by Sam Peacocke, was awarded a Crystal Bear in the Generation 14plus Youth Section of the competition.

The jury awarded the film the prize with these comments on the strength of the project: In a very short time this film synthesises and skilfully compresses independent story lines and characters, merging them together into a single irrevocable, ever-changing moment. Our winning film is not only about perpetrators and victims, but also about human beings.

Manurewa explores the tragic murder of Manurewa liquor store owner Navtej Singh and is acclaimed music video director Sam Peacocke’s debut short film. Produced by Kristian Eek, the film is a multi-stranded narrative impression of the real life robbery and fatal shooting that took place in South Auckland, New Zealand. The film premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in July 2010.

The Generation programme receives over 6000 submissions each year and the selection comprises 32 short films and 27 feature length films from 32 countries.

Manurewa was self-funded by the filmmakers and relied on the generous support of sponsors Fuji Film New Zealand, Panavision New Zealand and Park Road Post.

The film was shot on 35mm with a skeleton crew, utilizing available light as much as possible. It was shot on location in South Auckland and features mostly non actors. The film was made with the blessing of the Sikh community and the family of the victim.

Manurewa received post production funding from the NZ Film Commission who also supported Sam Peacocke to attend the festival. International sales for the film are handled by NZ Film, which is the sales arm of the NZFC.

The 61st Berlin International Film Festival ran from the 10th – 20th February 2011. For more information about the Berlin International Film Festival please follow this link