ACT leader Richard Prebble says it's a waste of time and money for the Prime Minister to ask the Auditor-General to investigate the $1.8 million grant to former NZ First MP Tuku Morgan to make a Maori language television series.

"I can tell the Prime Minister now that Mr Morgan has broken no rules because there are none," Mr Prebble said.

"The government gave $55 million for Maori television, with no strings attached.

"There's no difference between Labour's Maori TV and National's Aotearoa Television, which Labour used to criticise - except the amount of money has gone up. Mr Morgan has gone from buying underpants to BMWs.

"No more people will watch Mr Morgan's documentary than used to watch Aotearoa TV.

"Involving the Auditor-General is a waste of time and money. Ms Clark should look at herself because it's her government that threw the money at Mr Morgan.

"ACT pointed out last year that for $600,000 the government could have had a Maori language programme running on Sky TV by Christmas.

"I'm sure that Te Mangai Paho and Mr Morgan are just carrying out Labour's policy which is just a modern version of beads and blankets. It's like blaming 19^th-century Maori for accepting the government land agents' crooked deals.

"Helen Clark is responsible for this waste of money.

"I also reject a claim by Labour MP John Tamihere who claimed on radio that ACT was beating up on this issue and that I intended to raise the matter at the Maori Affairs select committee this week. I made no such statement and have no such intention," Mr Prebble said.

ENDS

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