Media Statement
For immediate release
Thursday, 17 April, 2003

RIP Aotearoa TV 1997; RIP Maori TV 2004?

There's no rhyme nor reason to Labour's support of Maori television, United Future's broadcasting spokesman Marc Alexander said today. "And it is most certainly not, as Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey seems to think, one of the 'most exciting public broadcasting projects ever'," Mr Alexander said.

"If by exciting, he means that rush you get when you stake your house on the roulette table, then he might be on to something, because that is the kind of gamble being taken here with public money.

"The people of this country can have no confidence that the millions being poured into this project will not go the way of the Aotearoa Television Network.

"And when it does collapse, you'll find Maori television's backers will be nowhere to be found. They'll be shrugging their shoulders and, on past form, no one will be held accountable," Mr Alexander said. The whole Maori Television Service concept was divisive and badly planned, he said.

Ends.

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