Ngāi Tūhoe kaumātua Rapaera Black stars in the new TV series, Tuna Dundee – Keeping it Native, which premiered on Tuesday at 7pm on Whakaata Māori.

It is also available to stream on MĀORI+. Set in Rūāatoki, the series follows Black, his daughter, Whāriki Black, and his nephew, Rapaera Tawhai, a former Te Karere journalist returning home as the ultimate townie to learn from his country-based whānau.

Tawhai swaps city life for bush skills, setting hīnaki, gathering and preparing traditional kai, and learning tikanga – even swapping Wi-Fi access for tuna (eels).
It is a story of reconnection, mātauranga Māori, Tuhoetanga, and the enduring strength of living off the land.