And in the best way she knows how. <\/p>\n
![\"Comedian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/comedian-and-actress-kura-forrester-BOKML7WKNVBV3A3PKJGKPWETUA.jpg\")
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Comedian and actress Kura Forrester (Source: Supplied)<\/p>\n
\u201cM\u0101ori \u2013 particularly, right? \u2013 we\u2019re the best at [comedy] as far as I\u2019m concerned, and I think we\u2019re just natural storytellers,” Forrester says.<\/p>\n
“Storytelling and comedy is just our way of sharing and healing and educating, right? So, for me, I think the comedy part is just a natural way of communicating.\u201d <\/p>\n
The show features skits and set ups, with Forrester utilising her comedic skills for the greater good to ask questions of some \u201cpretty tricky\u201d situations. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think if you bash someone over the head with a hardcore idea then they\u2019re not maybe going to take it on as easily. So comedy to me is always kind of, not sneaky, but like a gentler way of talking about the harder stuff.\u201d <\/p>\n
And the harder stuff is met head-on as the first episode unpacks what cultural appropriation means with activist and commentator Tina Ngata. It\u2019s an interview she hasn\u2019t stopped thinking about since filming it, Forrester said. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe sort of described to me what the colonial mindset is and how far back this cultural appropriation actually goes.” <\/p>\n
Understanding the history of appropriation and how it continues to manifest today has helped her to easily identify when instances occur. <\/p>\n
Take the emotion out of it<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019m loving is learning about why potentially that is happening. As well as opposed to just being pissed off about it, it\u2019s kind of like, \u2018Oh, you do that because you think it\u2019s OK\u2019. <\/p>\n
“And then it kind of takes some of the emotion out of it for me and it\u2019s a bit more intellectual and it\u2019s a bit easier to talk about it to be honest.\u201d <\/p>\n
Each episode explores a different aspect of M\u0101ori culture: haka, art, representation on screen, and te reo M\u0101ori. <\/p>\n
Forrester said people can expect some laughs \u2013 \u201cOh my god, imagine if it comes out and it\u2019s not funny? Shame!\u201d \u2013 entertainment, and insights from some special guests. <\/p>\n
\u201cOn our shoot, day one, Nicole [Horan, producer] was like \u2018OK, your first interview is T\u0101me Iti\u2019. I was like, \u2018Excuse me? You could\u2019ve eased me in, man!\u2019 And then I really fangirled out. I got to interview Leilani Perese from the Hurricanes.\u201d <\/p>\n
The line-up also includes fellow comedians Courtney Dawson and Tom Sainsbury, producer and director Chelsea Winstanley, artist Otis Frizell, and media broadcaster-slash-reo champion Stacey Morrison. <\/p>\n
She said the series isn\u2019t just for indigenous people and hopes those who don\u2019t identify with a culture still feel interested in watching the series. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou can expect a real broad range of opinions and angles and ways to look at appropriation, and I think it\u2019s hopefully going to be a really fresh take on this topic.\u201d <\/p>\n