Sad, moving, exciting, and even funny stories - no one knows better than the veterans themselves the amazing tales of humanity that can emerge, even from the depths of war. Now the call is out for those stories to be told, as never before, by communities from the Pacific Islands.

New Zealand's indigenous broadcaster, Maori Television, is on the hunt for compelling and personal yarns it believes are yet to be told by its Pacific neighbours, by former military people and their families. Sad, moving, exciting, and even funny stories - no one knows better than the veterans themselves the amazing tales of humanity that can emerge, even from the depths of war. Now the call is out for those stories to be told, as never before, by communities from the Pacific Islands.

New Zealand's indigenous broadcaster, Maori Television, is on the hunt for compelling and personal yarns it believes are yet to be told by its Pacific neighbours, by former military people and their families.Those stories will be filmed, and screen as part of their ANZAC Day broadcast on April 25, 2009.

The veterans can be from anywhere - Niue, New Caledonia, Rarotonga, Samoa, or Tonga to name just a few - and their anecdotes can be from any conflict of the 20th Century, including World Wars I and II, Malaya, Borneo, Burma, Korea and Vietnam.

"We hope to find those amazing tales from the veterans and their families that will inform and touch our viewers," says Ross Jennings, who will produce the programme for Maori Television.

"It may be a dramatic story of being shot down by the enemy, or being held as a POW, or it may be something more poignant and personal. Perhaps it's some item of memorabilia that ended up in the hands of a mate or colleague, in safe keeping until it can be returned to the owner's family. Or maybe there are old aircraft or wreckage left over from the wars that only village locals will know about.

"We want to tell those stories, and if possible even help locate long-lost friends, or their descendants."

The channel plans to devote 18 hours of broadcasting to commemorate ANZAC Day.

If you have a story, or know of someone with a story to tell, we want to hear about it. Please contact Damian Peters on +649 5397000 or email damian.peters@maoritelevision.com

20/01/09