Waipounamu Te Karu – “my job is to connect with the people”
If you’re an avid listener of Tahu FM, you’re bound to recognise the infectious laugh of Kurakura Pounamu host, Waipounamu Te Karu.
Waipounamu has been a member of the Tahu FM crew since 2012 and back when she was just 14 she completed work experience at the radio station.
Waipounamu, now 27, says that from a young age the thought of working in the broadcasting industry and entertaining others was appealing.
“It seemed like it would be a fun career and I like to make people laugh – I feed off it,” she says.
Waipounamu (Ngāi Tahu – Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Tūhoe, Tainui)
says that when she visits her marae at Tuahiwi (Maahunui II) many of the kaumātua approach her and praise her work on the show, and it’s their encouragement that she values.
Every morning, she spends an hour prepping content and getting up-to speed with national and international news.
“At times it’s looking for stories that are related to my audience – so often the news is all doom and gloom and my job is to connect with the people,” she says.
Waipounamu says her favourite bracket during her show is from 12-1pm, when she is able to play some great reggae music. It’s not at all surprising that Bob Marley is her all-time favourite artist.
Tahu FM is Waipounamu’s first fulltime radio job. She has worked in the tourism sector, performing at kapa haka shows and has also spent time working as a teacher aide in bilingual education – kura kaupapa.
For much of Kurakura Pounamu, Waipounamu likes speak to her audience in te reo Māori. It is a language that she has fluently conversed in since she was eight. She adds that she is the only one in her immediate whānau who can speak te reo. She says this was because, as the eldest granddaughter, her pōua strongly encouraged her to attend kura kaupapa.
“Because we are an iwi station, I think te reo should be a number one priority. The more I can help to spread the language, the better off our hapū and iwi will be.”
Waipounamu says since working at Tahu FM, she has been fortunate enough to interview some special people. Her most memorable interview was recently when she spoke to The Dead Lands actors, James Rolleston and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
“I was really nervous before they rocked up but as soon as they came we had a chat before we went on-air – it helped and it was like we were old friends,” she says.
Pou says nerves are to be expected but to overcome them she tries to be as confident as possible.
“I remind myself – it’s my show, they (the interviewees) have come here to see me, they’re probably just as nervous as me,” she says.
Unlike the nerves that she sometimes experiences at work, she says she is never nervous around kapa haka.
“I’m a loud person naturally – kapa haka is my thing,” she says.
Waipounamu lives and breathes kapa haka and like most whānau she can’t wait for Te Matatini. She has been performing kapa haka for more than 10 years and is a member of the wellknown, Ōtautahi group, Te Ahikaaroa Kapa Haka.
“It’s the best way for me to express myself – I love the limelight. It’s also a way for us to express our culture and Māoritanga,” she says.
Not only will Pou be performing in one of the groups at Te Matatini 2015, she will also be working for Tahu FM as an one of the anchors during the festival. This role is particularly important and means that she’ll be a set of eyes and ears for those who can’t make the four-day event.
Leading up to Te Matatini, Waipounamu and her fellow anchors will undergo training – it’s opportunities like working at Te Matatini that make the job exciting she says.
Waipounamu encourages others who are considering a career in broadcasting to give it a go.
“Do whatever you need to do, to get to where you want to be. Nothing is impossible and actions speak louder than words – I was really hungry for this job,” she says.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to be both Māori and to be working in this industry. I am able to express my culture and my voice is heard. And in my position I need to be a positive role model for whānau and rangatahi.”
Insert photo and caption: Waipounamu Te Karu 1.
Insert photo and caption: Waipounamu Te Karu 2.