Explanation

This thirteen-part serial has been designed for intermediate and more advanced learners to develop listening comprehension skills. It is a serial about a city restaurant run by the whānau that own the restaurant land as the result of a land claim. The emphasis is on modern colloquial Māori. The story centres on themes that come from the textbook, study guide, CDs and podcasts of Te Whanake 2 Te Pihinga. If you have completed most or all of this textbook and accompanying resources you will enjoy and benefit from watching and listening to each episode of Te Kai a Te Rangatira and completing the related activities. There are also interesting discussions in Māori about aspects of Māori culture.

In the serial you will meet the family:

• Tahi is the elder of the family and is 65 years old.
• Hāriata is his daughter and is 32 years old.
• Mākuīni is a widow and is Tahi’s sister. Her son, who has died, was Raiha’s husband. Raiha is from Tūhoe.
• Mangu is the chef of the restaurant. He and his wife have separated but he has twins. He is from Ngāti Porou.
• Andre is 30 years old and is an accountant. Money is his obsession. He and Mākuīni want to sell the building that the family has obtained. He is in love with Hāriata.
• Hine is Raiha's daughter. She is 17 years old and is a student at university.
• Tū has been living on the streets for two years. He is 18 years old.