It's In the Kete!

9:52 Mar 5, 2012 83

One Friday last December I accompanied several of my Media7 friends to Waiheke Island. We were not media lunching (although I'd managed to squeeze in one of those earlier): we were there to attend a recording of It's In the Bag.

The what, you say? Yes, It's In the Bag. The recording in the hall of Waiheke High School was part of Maori Television's fourth series of the iconic New Zealand quiz show. And it was quite marvellous: warm, funny proper-people television that unselfconsciously embraced its bilingual kaupapa. Pio Terei and Stacey Morrison made great, spontaneous hosts and it felt like the sort of TV no one makes any more.

Our two productions have stayed in touch and this this week -- ahead of the recording of the grand final in Whangarei -- Media7 will be hosting producer Libby Hakaria and director Tainui Stephens to talk about the show and about their own paths as Maori broadcasters.

It was Libby who had the idea of bringing back the show -- whose rights turned out to belong to the Toogood family, rather than TVNZ. She contacted family spokesman Kit Toogood and was swiftly rebuffed: they felt the show had been mocked in the past. But after she sent a one-page prop through, they changed their minds. The show was on.

And one happy little gem of knowledge emerged: Selwyn Toogood, the famous host of It's In the Bag on radio and TV, had always been proud of his whakapapa in Ngai Tahu (I guess the freckles were a giveaway).

The money and the contents of the kete have increased in value with the latest series (for the first series prizes included fresh kina and paua), but that's not the point. The point, really, is that this is a show that goes to communities that television doesn't go to any more -- Te Kao, Kohukohu, Waitara and Wellsford -- and that makes itself about those communities.

The series begins screening at 6.30pm, Sunday April 8 on Maori Television (the full screening schedule is here). Me, I'm greatly looking forward to joining the crew in Whangarei on this Saturday. Not just for the recording, but for that beachside lunch they're promising ...

If you'd like to join us for Wednesday's Media7 recording (sorry, no kai moana), we'll need you to come to the Victoria Street entrance of TVNZ between 5.15 and 5.40pm. As ever, try and drop me an email to say you're coming.

83 responses to this post

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Deborah, 11:43 Mar 5, 2012

My dad was on It's in the Bag back when it was a radio show, in the booming metropolis of Ohura. It was a Big Deal for the community. Also a big deal for my mum and dad, who were very poor at the time (shepherds didn't get paid much), so the 70 pounds he won made a big difference to them.

New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report
Jackie Clark, 12:08 Mar 5, 2012

Oh, I am so going to this one. I love this version of IITB. Pio Tere is a real pro, and I love the audiences. Some wearing pearls, some wearing swandri's.

Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report
Craig Ranapia, 12:09 Mar 5, 2012

Golly, so a time-tested and (spectacularly successful) local format gets a classy yet (I suspect) cost-effective re-boot.
TVNZ take notes, is all I'll say.

North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia, 12:28 Mar 5, 2012

Golly, so a time-tested and (spectacularly successful) local format gets a classy yet (I suspect) cost-effective re-boot.
It's probably not cheap as such -- they're driving a whole production (in a bloody big truck) around the North Island -- but I think you do see the budget on screen.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown, 13:11 Mar 5, 2012

It’s probably not cheap as such
No, but I'm reasonably sure it's going to be cheaper, and more entertaining, than New Zealand's Got Talent. And not a penny of it going to under-write Simon Cowell's next personality by-pass. :)

North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report
Ross Mason, 13:32 Mar 5, 2012

NZ's got talent?
We are SO good at kicking someone who is doing their best. Oh...and those who reach up above. Whack! Hah! Another poppy.
Rumour: Brent McKenzie uses ghost writers. He must have. Real Kiwi's can't do that.

Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report
Danielle, 15:41 Mar 5, 2012

Is the theme tune the same? Because MAN, do I love that theme tune.

Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report
Steve Barnes, 16:05 Mar 5, 2012

Jeez, talk about dragging up old shite.
It's in the Bag was a radio version of "Double Your Money" a British TV show fronted by the late Hughie Green, Paula Yates' father, Bob Geldof's partner (but that is another story for another long day) which had the line "Take the money or open the box". When adapted for radio in NZ it was not thought worth the money to employ a carpenter to make boxes. Selwyn had a seamstress run up some bags for the sake of the radio audience and in doing so changed the concept of the program to such an extent as to evade that annoying copyright thing.
The parallels go deeper than you may think. Hughie Green went on to present a show called "Opportunity Knocks" (funnily enough, produced by Jess Yates, husband of Paula's mother, you do the math) OK, as it was never known was the precurse (sic) of Some cuntry's got talentless loons, or whatever.
So, small world nothing changes blah blah blah.

Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report
Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Craig Ranapia, 16:55 Mar 5, 2012

TVNZ take notes, is all I'll say.
Please don't encourage them Craig. Gaia know's how they will 'improve' the show...

Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to Steve Barnes, 17:05 Mar 5, 2012

Jeez, talk about dragging up old shite.
Grinch. Try watching it. It's lovely.
It’s in the Bag was a radio version of “Double Your Money” a British TV show fronted by the late Hughie Green,
Ah! That's what I was trying to find this morning. I knew it had a box rather than a bag.
The parallels go deeper than you may think. Hughie Green went on to present a show called “Opportunity Knocks” (funnily enough, produced by Jess Yates, husband of Paula’s mother, you do the math) OK, as it was never known was the precurse (sic) of Some cuntry’s got talentless loons, or whatever.
Of, there's been talent shows forever. We had Studio One and New Faces. What's new is the manipulative reality-TV element.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown, 18:45 Mar 5, 2012

Grinch.
Yeah, Grinch. ;)

here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report
bob daktari, 19:21 Mar 5, 2012

Homai Te Pakipaki on Maori TV is an excellent watch as well
http://www.maoritelevision.com/default.aspx?tabid=535&pid=211
so simple, so real and so freaking cool

auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report
Islander, in reply to bob daktari, 20:06 Mar 5, 2012

+many

Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report
Steve Barnes, in reply to Russell Brown, 20:41 Mar 5, 2012

What’s new is the manipulative reality-TV element.
So, "The money, the Bag, or the mouthful of glutinous hag-fish?"
Sounds lovely.

Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report
merc, 21:03 Mar 5, 2012

Te Tepu, just on MTV, direct questions, clear answers, awe.
http://www.maoritelevision.com/default.aspx?tabid=75&pid=129

Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report
Ross Mason, 21:47 Mar 5, 2012

1960. Maramarua Hall. Selwyn and the bag turned up. They had a very slick - and small - entourage that ran it. It was the radio version that had a sound guy, a hand waving director guy, Selwyn and the assistant whose name escapes me. All the gear was packed into one car and he was off late to the next town. He did tell us that there were people in the crowd who had been to previous shows and he recognised them. But his system of sorting the contestants meant he was able to rid most of them by hook or by crook. The hall was packed for about the three hours it took to set up sort/pick contestants, record, have half time, finish and clap frantically for the hand waving guy and wind it up. And then we waited.... waited... waited to hear the show broadcast which to a kid seemed like years.

Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report
Islander, in reply to Steve Barnes, 23:01 Mar 5, 2012

So, “The money, the Bag, or the mouthful of glutinous hag-fish?”
Dear Steve B-
we call lamprey/hagfish/slime-eels "kanakana" (because they dance in water - they look like swirls of silk, coming into freshwater from the sea) and we esteem them as a great delicacy...you leave them to exude their slime, kill them by severing their spinal cord, dry them for a day or 2, and then lightly smoke 'em.
They are so much better, richer - and MUCH bigger! than the finest smoked Norwegian brisling.

Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report
Islander, 23:02 Mar 5, 2012

So, “The money, the Bag, or the mouthful of glutinous hag-fish?”

Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report
Steve Barnes, in reply to Islander, 12:23 Mar 6, 2012

Dear Steve B-
Ah, but... my reference was intended to refer to a live specimen.
The exuding of slime is a defence mechanism. When a predator tries to eat a hagfish it finds itself with a mouthful of choking slime. Not pleasant. The other interesting thing about these weird and wonderful creatures is that when they are feeding on carrion, a dead whale for instance, it will sink it's teeth into the flesh and tie itself into a knot, then it will slither trough it's own knot to gain purchase on it's meal thus tearing the flesh from the rotting carcass.
Yuk. You love the strangest things Islander.
;-)

Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report
Islander, in reply to Steve Barnes, 18:26 Mar 6, 2012

You love the strangest things Islander.
Yup, Steve B - you tried kina roe fresh from the echinoderm? Paua stomach soup?Water-fermented bull-kelp stipes?
Yummy delicio!

Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report
Jeanette King, 18:37 Mar 6, 2012

I recall being told by a Tūhoe friend that they found out they were related to Selwyn and met up with him in the Whakatane RSA once when he was touring through ...

Ōtautahi • Since Oct 2010 • 43 posts Report
Robyn Gallagher, 02:57 Mar 7, 2012

And one happy little gem of knowledge emerged: Selwyn Toogood, the famous host of It’s In the Bag on radio and TV, had always been proud of his whakapapa in Ngai Tahu (I guess the freckles were a giveaway).
And he proudly mentions this in his autobiography, "Out of the Bag", though sadly he notes that his mother always wanted to keep that part of their ancestry hush-hush. "Out of the Bag" is a good read - look for it on Trade Me or at your local book fair.

Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report
Steve Barnes, in reply to Islander, 11:34 Mar 7, 2012

Yummy delicio!
I also steer clear of "Rotten Corn". As with most gourmet/cultural foods, their origin is in poverty, as in "if you could afford not to eat it you wouldn't".
Examples;
Snails.
Frog's legs.
Haggis.
Tripe.
Escamoles. (ant's eggs)
Huhu grubs.
Durian fruit.
KFC.
McGonads.
But I guess we will have to get used to it if National stays in power much longer.

Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report
Kumara Republic, in reply to Steve Barnes, 15:17 Mar 7, 2012

I also steer clear of “Rotten Corn”. As with most gourmet/cultural foods, their origin is in poverty, as in “if you could afford not to eat it you wouldn’t”.
Or even Cannons Creek yearling.

The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report
Islander, in reply to Steve Barnes, 15:37 Mar 7, 2012

also steer clear of “Rotten Corn”
I dont like kanga pirau either (or that other N.I delicacy, gorn-orf-shark.) And yes, there is an argument to be made that some culturally esteemed foods were originally for the poverty-stricken. However, huhu grubs, like kanakana (hagfish), were &*are* delicacies ( and importantly,especially in the old days, fat-rich foods. Like titi & other seasonally-taken birds...)
Altho' I am of Scots descent, I dont like haggis - and I've always abominated tripe. I've patronised MacGonads (like!) once in my life...

Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report