New to Heartland, tonight’s heart of the Heartland documentary, New Zild is the story of New Zealand English. Presented by Jim Mora, it examines where our accent came from, what is unique about it, how it has evolved over the last 200 years, and what it might sound like 100 years into the future. Will we all start sounding like Judy Bailey or Lynn of Tawa?

New Zild: The Story of New Zealand English looks at the regional variations of our dialect, such as the so-called ‘Rolling R’ of Southland, and the different words that West Coasters use. It examines the way that Maori have evolved their own distinct form of New Zealand English, and it questions our attitudes and prejudices towards the sound of our own voice.

Doing a bit of ‘linguistic archaeology’, New Zild goes in search of the earliest roots of the New Zealand accent – to find out where it was first spoken and by whom – and what it sounded like. The Origins of New Zealand English (ONZE) project at Canterbury University holds some unique recordings. They were made in the 1940s and are of NZ born speakers in their 80s and 90s. This meant that they learned to speak in the 1850s and 1860s – during the times of the Gold Rush and the New Zealand Wars. These were the first speakers of our accent.

On the surface it might seem like a dry and worthy topic, but it is treated in a very entertaining way. It’s quite hard to illustrate the sounds of our accent – we’re so used to it that we don’t perceive it as being special. Comedians are particularly adept at spotting trends in speech and highlighting them. Examples are: Fred Dagg, who highlighted the speech of the ‘post-colonial bloke’; Lynn of Tawa – who satirised the way young suburban females were beginning to speak; and Billy T James, who pointed out the hallmarks of Maori accented New Zealand English. There are even cameos by Elton John and Sam Neill.

The video quality is poor, but this was back in the days of VHS and I was only 12!

The coverage – presented by senior Māori Television journalist Wena Harawira and co-hosted by former One News presenter Judy Bailey and Māori Television’s Julian Cox – begins at 5.50 am live from Auckland War Memorial Museum’s dawn service.

Special segments screening throughout the day include stories and discussions on our role in the Pacific Islands; appearances with noted ANZAC historian Chris Pugsley; a talk with our oldest combatant; songs from the “Musical Island Boys”; delayed coverage of the Sydney March, the Pacific Islands and Gallipoli ceremonies; the classic movie, “Battle of the River Plate” and the documentaries “Sisters Reunited”, My Fathers War In Italy”.

ANZAC – Kotahi Te Wairua
Programme Breakdown

5:50am
Live from the Auckland War Memorial Dawn Service
Beginning in Auckland, coverage of memorial services in New Zealand continue through the morning.

6:30am
NZ GOES TO WAR: The Early Years
Starting with the Boer War and WWI, Judy Bailey and Wena Harawira guide viewers through a series of discussions, with insights from noted military historian Chris Pugsley.

7:00am
A Maori Perspective on European War
A comparison of European and Māori approaches to war.

8:30am
An Artist’s View on War
Interpretations of war through weaving, tapestry, photography, sculpture, and postage stamp design.

10:30am
ANZAC Dawn Service in TONGA
Highlights from the cenotaph in Tongatapu.

11:00am
PROJECT: Tracing Ancestors
Sacred Heart School students investigate the stories behind fallen Old Boys. The students travel to France and Belgium to pay their respects at the resting places of the young men who made the ultimate sacrifice.

11:30am
FEATURE FILM: The Battle of the River Plate (1956)
One of the great war movies, this classic tells the true story of New Zealand warship, HMS Achilles. As the German battleship Graf Spee savages British merchant naval ships, Allied forces hunt down their formidable and wily foe. Featuring the actual ship, HMS Achilles, and starring John Gregson, Anthony Quayle, & Peter Finch.

1:30pm
NZ GOES TO WAR: WWII – North Africa, Greece & Crete
Judy and Wena return to hold more discussions on New Zealand’s presence in international conflicts.

2:30pm
Reconstructive Surgery and the Military
An exploration of the work of pioneering surgeon, Sir Harold Gillies, and others.

3:00pm
DOCUMENTARY: Sisters Reunited
UK documentary about an English woman who has grown up feeling different to the other children around her. She traces her true bloodline through a wartime romance back to New Zealand, and discovers both a Māori heritage and siblings she never knew she had.

3:30pm
GALLIPOLI Dawn Service
Delayed highlights from ANZAC Cove.

4:00pm
NZ GOES TO WAR: Turks in New Zealand
Judy and Wena explore Turkish commemorations in New Zealand.

4:30pm
Medals Returned Home
Update on the war medals stolen from Waiouru in 2007.

4:45pm
KANOHI KI TE KANOHI: ANZAC VC Winners
New Zealander, Willie Apiata, and Australian, Mark Donaldson, come face-to-face for the first time and Māori Television is there. Both have won the Victoria Cross medals, from similar acts of bravery.

5:00pm
NZ GOES TO WAR: Japan and South East Asia
Discussions continue about New Zealand’s role in Asian conflicts.

6:00pm
DOCUMENTARY: My Father’s War In Italy
A man traces his father’s footsteps as a Kiwi soldier in Italy during WWII and discovers an unexpected connection to the country.

7:00pm
PREMIERE DOCUMENTARY: Tribute 08 – The Vietnam apology

7:30pm
NEWS: Te Kaea

8:00pm
The ANZAC Address – General Peter Cosgrove
General® Peter Cosgrove (ex-Australian Chief of Defence Forces, Australian of the year 2001) gives the annual ANZAC Day Address at Māori Television. Cosgrove provides a fascinating insight into the ANZAC spirit that unites our two countries.

8:30pm
CONCERT: Yolande Gibson sings ‘We’ll Meet Again’
Once described as “more Vera Lynn than Vera Lynn”, Yolande Gibson takes a trip down memory lane to sing some of the greatest songs from the war era.

9:00pm
CONCERT: ANZAC ‘Hei Kinaki’
A lively line-up of some New Zealand’s performers including, Eddie Lowe and Elizabeth Marvelly, alongside some of Aotearoa’s most exciting emerging Maori talent.