Ex-soldiers take on NZ's harshest

Chris Kumeroa (right), and Barrie Rice, take on some of New Zealand's most unforgiving terrain in Survive Aotearoa, which will screen on Maori Television on September 19.

Chris Kumeroa has been on the front line in conflicts around the world and next week he'll return to his home turf on the Whanganui River in a television series, Survive Aotearoa.

Former special forces soldier Mr Kumeroa, of Ngati Tuera and Ngati Hinearo hapu on the Whanganui River, served in the defence force's mountain troop and counter-terrorism team.

In the 12-episode survival series, he brings those skills together with Matauranga Maori as he travels around the motu/country with Barrie Rice, former soldier from Ngati Kahungunu.

Mr Kumeroa gained his traditional knowledge of bushcraft and hunting from his uncle Bobby Kumeroa, who still lives on the river.

In the first episode, "Ko Au Te Awa", the soldiers were filmed at Atene where they worked with locals Darren Ranginui and Ned Tapa who provided support and shared their knowledge of rongoa Maori.

The series was also about passing on the local knowledge they discovered at the "magical places" they visited.

"It has certainly been challenging on occasions," he said of the series where the former soldiers combined the knowledge of past survival stories with their specialist military training and modern survival techniques.

On Mt Ruapehu they built a snow cave, a first for Mr Kumeroa.

"One of the challenges was putting ourselves in the shoes of those who had survived."

Reconnaissance of the terrain they were going in to was first undertaken, and then a safety management plan of the hazards and risks was put in place.

The two men spent 24 hours in scenarios that could happen to anyone: marooned boaters, lost hikers, stranded mountain climbers or injured skiers.

In the final two episodes filmed this week, Glen Osborne and Matua Parkinson each paired with Mr Kumeroa and Mr Rice in an escape and evasion exercise.

Mr Kumeroa joined the military in 1987 at 17 and was enlisted into the special forces in 1991 and travelled extensively throughout New Zealand and the world, undergoing training exercises in South East Asia, South Pacific, Africa and Europe.

He left the military, bought then sold a gym in Auckland and has since been deployed to the Middle East, where he has helped with post-war reconstruction and infrastructure development.

Survive Aotearoa, 7.30pm, September 19 on Maori TV.