Tamarii – a class act

By Barbara Dreaver
Pacific Correspondent, One News

There’s this kid Tamarii – young, bright with a smile as wide as the sea.
Between him and two other reporters at Cook Islands Television, they do everything to get their news to air every night. When I say everything I mean everything – they interview, they film, they write, they edit, they present. Somehow they put together half an hour of local news five nights a week.
It was into this environment Television New Zealand gifted an O-band kit – a portable kit that would allow CITV to broadcast live.
Tamarii did CITV’s very first live cross breaking into programmes from the Police Emergency Centre interviewing Superintendent Isemaela about a developing tropical depression and the damage done by Cyclone Pat in the Northern Cook Islands.
We did a rehearsal and Tamarii was sweating fear as he stumbled over his words knowing that he would have no second chance when we went to air. Then came the countdown, he looked at the camera, took a deep breath and he was off. He was flawless, it was a class act.
When it was over there was much laughter and he looked at me with triumph blazing from his eyes. I’ll never forget that moment. He’d just made history in the Cook Islands and he knew it. There’s nothing like doing a live cross with adrenalin pumping, nerves pounding and shaky knees. Public humiliation lurks very close but afterwards there is no feeling like it.
It was a feeling echoed in television stations in Samoa and Tonga where we also donated live kits. Apia Broadcasting (TV3) not only did their first live cross, they broadcast their entire news live for the first time. The team in there led by Karl and Analisa totally made it happen with a commitment which left us, the training team, reeling with exhaustion and elation.
And the Tonga newsroom – those girls in there, Vui, Salote and co, are a force to be reckoned with. They took to it like ducks to water while Solo and his team worked into the wee hours to find technical solutions that comes hand in hand with having next to no equipment.
For the TVNZ team it was a great experience giving the island stations resources so they can provide a crucial service for their country. We loved it. And for me it was extra special working with my friends and colleagues in a region which is my own.
And so we come back to our Cook Islands star Tamarii, the young man filled with energy and a passion for life. He was killed this weekend in a car accident. It feels like a kick in the guts. No parent should have to bury their treasured child especially good parents like Tam and Ipu.
But there’s more because to us, Tamarii represented what the TVNZ project was about. It was about taking talent and running with it, it was about developing the skills of exceptional people, our young Pacific people. It was about hope. And Tamarii held the banner for all those things.
We extend our deepest condolences to the Pierre family.