21 July -- The world's most famous sea sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, is set to make his debut in te reo Māori as part of Māori Language Week.

For the first time ever, Nickelodeon New Zealand fans will see SpongeBob and his sea-dwelling Bikini Bottom friends, including Squidward, Mr Krabs and Patrick, speaking in te reo Māori for five days from Monday 27 - Friday 31 July 2009 as part of a collaboration with Te Māngai Pāho and Cinco Cine Film Productions.

Nickelodeon New Zealand (SKY Digital, Channel 041) will broadcast a premiere and 3-4 daily repeats of SpongeBob Tarau Porowhā in te reo Māori weekdays during Māori Language Week in addition to multiple screenings of an English language 'Behind the Scenes' programme showing the making of SpongeBob Tarau Porowhā in te reo Māori (see times listed below). The Nickelodeon New Zealand website (www.nicknz.co.nz) will also host downloads and a competition around the five te reo Māori episodes of SpongeBob Tarau Porowhā streaming them online.

Award-winning local production company and specialists in Māori language children's programming, Cinco Cine Film Productions, recorded the te reo Māori voiceovers for the five landmark episodes of SpongeBob Tarau Porowhā. Casting for the te reo Māori voices was critical to ensuring that the Māori SpongeBob voice conveyed the much-loved style familiar to viewers. The result is exciting interpretations of the characters with Pukana host Tiare Tāwera voicing the te reo Māori SpongeBob and Matutaera Ngaropo voicing the characters of Patrick and Squidward.

John Bishara, CEO of Te Māngai Pāho, the Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency is delighted about children viewing one of the world's most popular animated characters speaking te reo Māori.

"Maori Language Week, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, is intended to encourage New Zealanders to learn te reo Māori. We believe the SpongeBob Tarau Porowhā shows will contribute to the education of New Zealand kids about te reo Māori - in a way that is fun."

Lauren Nola says the Nickelodeon NZ team and Nickelodeon International are excited about seeing te reo Māori episodes of SpongeBob Tarau Porowhā going to air. "SpongeBob's lovable humour and quirky wit resonates across all demographics from kids right through to parents. By leveraging the global Nickelodeon brand, we are able to strengthen our local connection with Kiwi kids and encourage the use of Māori language to a broader audience. It's also a very fitting way to celebrate SpongeBob's 10th anniversary."