Special interest in Sunday series

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 15

Special interest in Sunday series

By

OWEN SHAW

Special interests from yoga to church activities are catered for in a new series of Sunday information programmes beginning next week-end on South Pacific Television. They include “Happy Yoga,” 13 programmes on learning yoga; ‘‘Pet Life,” a six-part series on the care of various pets; “Living Today,” dealing with budgeting and home maintenance; and “Church in Action,” on church activities. South Pacfic Television’s head of information programmes (Rod Cornelius) says the new programmes are aimed at specific audiences and are a “total departure from the normal type of television programme.” "They are purely informative.” he adds. “We are saying to people, if you want to learn yoga or car maintenance, just tune in for seven-and-a-half minutes — you don’t have to watch television all day to get information.” One of the segments of the series will be called “Pacific Viewpoint.” which will present topics of interest to Maori and Pacific inlanders. It is being presented with the help and

participation of Polynesians. One of the early programmes features a Cook Islander talking about child health. The language used with be that of the people appearing in the programme. Gillian Ewart, who is directing several of the new information programmes being produced in Hamil-

ton. says English sub-titles might be used. The frontman will be John Rangihau. a research fellow at the Maori studies centre, Waikato University. “It is slow-paced in the Polynesian manner,” says Rod Cornelius. “But that is the way the people understand things — that is exactly what I want.” Veronica Waring, of Napier, conducts the yoga lessons with three pupils. All 13 of the seven-mtnute-and-a-half programmes were taped in two working days and Miss Ewart is pleased with the result. The series will be of particular interest to viewers who want to improve their figure. The "Pet Life” series is

presented by Graham Meadows, curator and veterinarian of the Auckland Zoo. Each programme runs for seven-minutes-and-a-half. “Living Today,” aims at showing people how to live better for less money, or how to make the dollar go as far as possible. Margaret Evans, a Hamilton City councillor and former journalist, will share alternate programmes with home handyman, Bunny Rigold. The 15-minute church programmes will cover church news in New Zealand and overseas. Donald Hope Evans is the director and Kerry Stevens, a Radio New Zealand announcer in Hamilton, is frontman. Each series will have its regular time slot in the package. Other programmes coming up include child care and development, sewing, cooking and antiques. Gillian Ewart, impressed with the work of the Hamilton team, thinks the service segment should be “an interesting spot to keep an eye on.” Rod Cornelius promises “good solid information — nothing wishy-washy.”