This Maori journalist made history in New Zealand by becoming the first individual with traditional facial markings to host the primetime news on national TV.
Oriini Kaipara reached the headlines globally after she hosted her first 6 pm bulletin for Newshub on Three TV Channel, with many claiming this is a victory for the Maori.
Kaipara said that she was very excited and over the moon. She added that it was an honor and that she didn’t know how to deal with the emotions at first.
Her Christmas Day presenting role was the first of her six consecutive news of covering for the permanent anchors, even though her stint will last through early January and she may even be called again in the near future.
Oriini Is Already on TV & Has a Successful Career in Journalism
The 38-year-old Oriini is already a long-term anchor of the 4:30 pm Newshub Live bulletin. She also made history in 2019 when she worked at TVNZ and became the first Maori with facial markings to present a mainstream TV news program.
Maori people are the indigenous people of today’s New Zealand and their facial markings are tattooed on their chin in women and called moko kauae. The men cover most of the face and this is known as mataora.
Kaipara got tattooed in January 2019 and this was a personal decision. It’s a reminder of her identity and power as a Maori woman. She explains that when she’s doubtful of herself, she looks at the mirror and she’s not just looking at herself.
She’s looking at her grandma and mom, her daughters, and theirs to come after her, but also all other Maori girls and all women. It’s empowering, she explains.
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