Reo Journeys: Te Pou Herenga Tai
Three friends — Eugene, Adam and James — are learning te reo Māori while cycling Te Pou Herenga Tai, the Twin Coast Cycle Trail in the Far North. The series follows their bilingual journey along the trail, mixing language lessons with travel and conversation. It is produced by RNZ and presented primarily in te reo Māori with English context. Nau mai, haere mai — listeners are invited along for the ride.
Episodes
Poroaki
Every journey must come to an end, but the stories continue. In the final episode, the riders complete their crossing to Hokianga, reflecting on everything they've learned along the way. They revisit the people who have shaped the trail, explore the history that continues to echo through Te Tai Tokerau, and meet Whaea Wikitoria Makiha whose karanga has guided listeners throughout the series.
It's
Whanaungatanga
Sometimes the best journey is the one that leads you home. As the ride reaches Kaikohe – Te Pū o te Wheke – Eugene returns to a place deeply connected to his own whakapapa. Alongside stories about the origins of Kaikohe, the revival of te reo Māori and the history of the district, the episode explores the meaning of whanaungatanga, our connections to people, place and one another. Language learnin
Whenua
What stories lie beneath the whenua? From geothermal springs and ancient pūrākau to forgotten bridges and quiet country roads, the journey continues through the heart of the Far North. Along the way, Eugene, Adam and James discover how every landscape carries its own history, and how listening carefully can reveal stories that might otherwise pass unnoticed.They also pick up more practical te reo
Kua Rere te Reo
What does a vintage train have to do with a bike ride across the Far North? As the riders leave the Bay of Islands behind, they discover why one section of Te Pou Herenga Tai is travelled by vintage railway. In Kawakawa they spend time with respected kaumātua Walton Davis, whose stories weave together whakapapa, history, te reo Māori – and giant tuna (eels).From the “Hellhole of the Pacific” to th
Karanga Mai
Can learning te reo Māori change the way you experience a place? Three friends find out as they set off on an 87-kilometre adventure across Te Tai Tokerau. Eugene, Adam and James introduce themselves, explain why they're learning te reo Māori, and begin their ride on Te Pou Herenga Tai, the Twin Coast Cycleway. Along the way they meet trail manager Trace Dalton, as well as Far North mayor Moko Tep
Introducing: Reo Journeys: Te Pou Herenga Tai
Three friends learning te reo Māori together take an unforgettable ride across the Far North. Whether you're fluent in te reo, just beginning your own reo journey, or simply curious about the stories of the north, climb on the bikes and come along for the ride.Join journalists Eugene Bingham and Adam Dudding, alongside musician James Dansey, as they cycle Te Pou Herenga Tai, the Twin Coast Cyclewa
