The Gissy Bros have got a thing or two to show us.

Kordia is a company that I lead that does a range of fun technical things like providing the delivery platform for most free to air radio and TV programs in NZ, and in Australia it also operates and maintains the Vodafone network and the Broadcast Australia network.

Sometimes we get involved in celebrating some of the achievements of those industries that use our services and so I found myself in Gisborne last weekend as a part sponsor of the Maori Media Awards. The usual bad weather forecast turned out to be quite wrong (like at Easter) and Gisborne put on blue skies, sunny days and great surf which I shared with kids from all over NZ attending the National Scholastic Surf championships with our own Northland team coached by the Far North’s Billy Hale.

Gisborne is another town that has done great things with its main street, palms, cobbled paving and street furniture designed to slow traffic and encourage pedestrian activity without those annoying bays that prevent you turning where you want to (like we had inflicted on us in Kaitaia). Why can’t we get our street upgrades to look as cool as they do in Gisborne, New Plymouth or even little towns like Ohakune? Beats me, but we seem to hire the most expensive useless Auckland designers for everything that happens up here.

Anyhow we went to the Maori Media Awards that evening and what a great show it was, celebrating the saving and renewal of Te Reo, the Maori language, with a stream of bright, confident, and talented young Maori raised in the Kura Kaupapa system from Kohanga Reo schools all over the country and now making names for themselves in many Maori radio stations and on Maori TV.

It was great to be able to korero enough to make a small contribution while handing out an award and to really feel what it is that makes each of us Kiwis and not just another Australian (the new JAFAs).

It was also great to see the respect that Maori of all ages have for their elders whose long speeches were not only indulged but given great support with following waiata. In one case a truly memorable off the cuff version of the Ngati Porou haka started by one elderly chap whose call was answered by many from the floor who dropped what they were doing to join him on stage in a stirring rendition.

We can learn from this with a bit more respect where it is due and with young people full of confidence and positive.