"The series really took me back to my roots. I fell off heaps and was bolted by a horse but I also met lots of great characters along the way. It was very special."
Producers Brent Iremonger and Michelle Lee of Kapu Ti Productions said season three had a fresh and exciting feel.
"Hoiho is a celebration of Maori communities and how horses are a relevant component in their lives," Ms Lee said.
"Hoiho evokes a sense of nostalgia for those of us who may no longer live in country places but still relate to them from the past. Every Maori whanau has their horse story."
Hoiho will screen every Thursday, from January 22 at 8pm on Maori Television.
Programme schedule
Episode one - screens January 22
New host Amomai Pihama takes a trip to Matakana Island for the Ra Hoiho and meets Hone Ngatai and his heavy horses.
Episode two - screens January 29
Amomai relives her pony club days with Geraldine and Maddison Puriri-Smith at the Poraiti Pony Club near Napier.
Episode three - screens February 5 at 8pm
The Awaroa Sports Day held near Kawhia is a highlight for the locals and those reviving horse sports in the district.
Episode four - screens February 12
Ambury Park in Mangere is the home to the Riding for the Disabled and Ambury Park School. Amomai meets the dedicated staff and students of this special place.
Episode five - screens February 19
Richard Kettle from Pakipaki is on a mission to teach a bunch of hard-case boys from Hastings the game of polo. Amomai goes in swinging.
Episode six - screens February 26
We profile the godfather of New Zealand rodeo - the legendary Mervyn Church.
Episode seven - screens March 5
Amomai joins more than 150 riders and horses in Opotiki for the Peggy McDonald Trophy day.
Episode eight - screens March 12
Yeehaa! Amomai is off on a wild cattle round up on the remote West Coast of the North Island at Mangatoi Station.
Episode nine - screens March 19
The tiny village of Taharoa in the King Country hosts Amomai for a unique trek across their whenua. It's a place that rarely gets seen by outsiders.
Episode 10 - screens March 26
Rising star Chad Ormsby is taking on the best in the sport of kings: horse racing. Amomai joins him in Matamata for the day to see what makes him a champion.
Episode 11 - screens April 2
Amomai joins in on the Great New Zealand Trek with Hepa Paewai and his brothers Manahi and Ray. They traverse the beautiful mountains of Te Wai Pounamu raising money for Multiple Sclerosis research.
Episode 12 - screens April 9
Horseman Taukiri Te Whata from Kaikohe learned his craft from the masters of natural horsemanship. He now trains horses and riders from all over New Zealand and is looking to pass on his vast knowledge to the next generation.
Episode 13 - screens April 16
Best of season three. We look back at the special places, people and horses of series three of Hoiho.
