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I’ve seen some crazy things as a journalist over the years.
I’ve seen emergencies unfold, lives changed forever, and yes, I’m not ashamed to say that there were times when I was scared.
But nothing prepared me for this: the horror of watching my middle-aged robot dance on a couch.
Preparation for my interview with a Supreme Court justice, sadly, did not include warming up my delts and traps. But who would have thought that we would end up dancing on the couch and lip-syncing like Maori Milli Vanilli?
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Stuff
Judge Joe Williams and Stuff journalist Joel Maxwell appear in a solo video released for Te Wiki o te Reo MÄ ?? ori.
Justice Joe Williams, the first Maori person to hold a seat on the Supreme Court, has joined a crowd of people appearing in a live singing video released for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
The song is September, (September) by Pere Wihongi, published by the Māori Language Commission.
Sadly, as a two-for-one deal you never wanted, you get Garfunkel with Simon. Yes, I am there too, along with Judge Williams.
I was there to interview him in his chambers for a National Portrait performance that will be presented on Saturday. He offered extraordinary ideas for the interview. But then there was this other thing.
Supplied
Justice Joe Williams is an inmate speaker and the first member of the Maori Supreme Court.
Judge Williams was asked to join a video that Te Taura Whiri was cutting together; all she had to do was record herself lip-syncing to the song.
Earth, Wind & Fire’s original 70s song is an incredibly catchy worm, reinvigorated here in a new language, with a new message.
The judge was courteous, but firm. I was going to lip sync to him.
Frankly, you don’t say no to Judge Joe.
Maori Language Commission
This year’s theme is Kia kaha te reo Māori.
I will personally try to ignore the comment a friend made about our dance. We moved in, he said, as two “middle-aged white women.”
Yet I’m just a space occupier on the couch: shaky like Old Pinocchio, too tight at the shoulders to cut his own threads. Justice Williams is the star.
He has reached the highest position in the judiciary and his reaction is not to look down, but to look out.
THINGS / Things
Stuff reporter Joel Maxwell says he was lucky to get the chance to do kanikani together with the judge and the others in this video.
Like others in the video, young people, famous people, fluent speakers of the language (young people, famous people, expert language speakers) offers inspiration.
I hated seeing myself, and yes, we actually look weirdly like twins, but in the end I was lucky enough to get the chance to do kanikani together with the judge and the others in this video.
The winner of the day was the prisoner: the likes of Justice and others are his present and future.
JASON DORDAY / THINGS
Learning Maori te reo is a valuable process, but so is learning to dance.
Who made the music happen?
September.
Written and composed by: Maurice White, Al McKay, Allee Willis, Maori lyrics by Ngahiwi Apanui
Producers: Ngahiwi Apanui, Troy Kelly Studio: The Armory Choirs: Toni Huata Band: Jason McMahon (drums), Elliot Fuimaono (bass), Jed Lesa (keys), Ngahiwi Apanui (guitar) Video editor: Kiriana Eparaima-Hautapu
Featuring appearances by: Pere Wihongi, Justice Joe Williams, Teamam Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Matai Smith, Hinewehi Mohi, Stacey Morrison, Jeremy Tātere MacLeod, Paraone Gloyne & Whānau, Jack Tame, Jenny-May Clarkson, Sonny Ngatai, Māori Television, Raukawa Pulse University, Jeremy Hantler ‘The Harmonic Resonators’, Karen O’Leary’ Wellington Paranormal ‘, Kuru Dewes & Nikau Hindin, Rito Primary School, Nikki Kennedy & Ani Hepi’ Equipment Design ‘, Luke Moss’ Kultured Clothing’, Jessica Hita ‘ Pukapuka Puipuiaki ‘, Mariam Arif and friends and family from the Maori Language Commission.
