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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.
