Oriini Kaipara is a New Zealand broadcaster, journalist and interpreter & translator of te reo Maori.
Oriini graduated from the South Seas Film & Television School in 2002 and since then has had an extensive and award-winning career in media. Her first role was on the news show, Te Karere, before training as a journalist at radio station Ruia Mai and moving on to the documentary series, Waka Huia. She joined the team at Maori Television when it first started in 2004, and went back to work on Te Karere as a Producer, Presenter and Reporter which lead her to fronting the award-winning current affairs series, Native Affairs. In 2021, Oriini moved to TV Three where she currently is a Presenter on Newshub Live at 4.30pm.
In 2017 Oriini reached international media, after she had taken a DNA test for a story and was surprised to discover that although she has European ancestors, her parents had passed on only their non-Pakeha genes.
Oriini, who is of Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa descent is pleased by the attention her story brought Native Affairs and says, “it's positive to have a healthy debate about what it means to be Maori.”
In 2019, Oriini made history as the first woman with a moko kauae to read a major news bulletin – fulfilling a lifelong dream for her.
Oriini has won several awards for her reporting and presenting work. Two years running she received the award for the best female television presenter at the Maori Media Awards. In 2018 she took home the award for the Best Maori Affairs Reporting at the National Voyager Media Awards.
As an MC, Oriini is warm and engaging using her media background to seamlessly host any event.
Talking Points
We are delighted to provide this feedback on Oriini Kaipara as our hui MC. Oriini's professional approach and dedication to our hui kaupapa significantly impacted our event's success. From t ... keep reading Waitārehu Communications Ltd