Photographs and words nā Phil Tumataroa
Te Ao o Te Maori
A window into the rich lifestyles of contemporary Māori.

They say you can take the boy out of the bay, but you can't take the bay out of the boy – Colac Bay, south of Riverton, that is.

One half of the Tahu FM breakfast crew Rāniera "Rā" Dallas – the larger than life DJ – has been a regular voice on the airwaves keeping us company in the kitchen every weekday morning for the past six years.

Born and raised in Invercargill, Rā (Ōraka Aparima, Awarua, Waihōpai) is the quintessential kapa haka kid starting as a pēpi with Te Arohanui, a community group mother Wendy Dallas-Katoa performed with. He has also performed with a number of other groups over the years, but today he is a mainstay in the successful Te Ahikaaroa group in Christchurch.

"I've always loved haka, it keeps you grounded and keeps you connected," he says.

Rā and partner Manu Paringatai (Te Araroa) have three children, Kalyne (17), Zariah (16), and two-year-old Rangitohiora with a fourth due in May next year.

Rā never dreamed he would one day work in radio, but the natural extrovert and self-confessed joker says when the opportunity came his way, the transition from performing on-stage to the airwaves was a relatively easy one.

"And people often tell me I have a great face for radio!"

Rā started on the drive-time show and then moved to Brekky with co-host Lisa Reedy. "We have a lot of fun on air, early starts wouldn't be my choice but getting to go out in the community to MC and interact with the whānau makes up for that. The people you get to meet is the best part of the job – from the rich and the famous to the cuzzies down the road – I love it all."