Rotorua kids help Dora the Explorer say 'Kia ora!' (+video)

DORA DUBBING: Te Rangitakaroro, 9, (front) with sisters Mai Io, 8 and Arawa, 6, are the te reo Maori voices for Dora the Explorer set to screen on Maori Television this month. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 080714SP4

Dora the Explorer is getting a te reo Maori makeover with the help of three Rotorua siblings.

Te Rangitakaroro Hiini, 9, and his sisters Mai Io, 8, and Arawa, 6, have voiced characters in the popular children's programme in a dubbed version for Maori Television. The re-worked series, Dora Matatoa will premiere on July 21 - the start of Maori Language Week.

Te Rangitakaroro was the voice behind Dora's best friend and monkey, Boots. Every weekend he would juggle playing rugby for Whakarewarewa in between travelling to Auckland to record.

"I sat in this chair and would read the words off this screen," Te Rangitakaroro said.

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"I'm looking forward to seeing what I sound like. I used my own voice but tried to make it sound like it was on the cartoon."

His sister Mai Io voiced Tico the Squirrel and a few smaller parts while little sister Arawa, alongside fellow Rotorua youngster Lahaina Kiel, lent her voice as one of Santa's Elves. The children all attend Te Kura o Ngati Rongomai and are part of a family of seven.

Family connection

Their father, Anaha Hiini, a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo - Institute of Excellence in the Maori Language, was a translator on the show.

"My husband Anaha was approached to translate the script for Boots and I said, 'Who's doing the voice?' their mother Grace said. "There was an audition process and Te Rangitakaroro read for them and got the part.

"It's been awesome, they're really lucky to be part of Dora and we went up as a family a few times - just watching it being recorded was really neat," Grace said. "Our babies love Dora and we've had it on a lot at home, in the car just listening to it for them to practise." She said the whole family was looking forward to the programme's premiere and to hear her children's hard work in action.

Maori Language expert Pania Papa has led the project to translate the Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants which will also screen in two weeks. "These programmes are so popular worldwide, the fact they will be in te reo will do much for the status of the language."

Ms Papa said Dora the Explorer will be translated into a national, standardised Maori so that the target audience of children aged one to five can understand. The Spanish language element of the show will be retained so it will be a dual language, Maori and Spanish programme.

The programmes will screen on Maori Television from July 21 from 3.30pm - 4.30pm.