Hon. Parekura Horomia
18 March 2006 (5pm powhiri) Speech notes

Māori Media Awards 2006
The Showgrounds Park Event Centre,
20 Main Road, Gisborne

Tihei Mauriora, E ngä Kaiwhakapäho o ngä reo irirangi Mäori me ngä pouaka whakaäta Mäori, ä, täpiri atu ki ngä manuhiri tuärangi kei waenganui i a tätou i tënei wä, tëna koutou, tëna koutou, tëna koutou katoa. Ka mihi au ki o tätou tini aitua kua haere nei ki tua o te ärai, kua okioki rätou, kua wahangü, ä, kua kore e hokimai ki te ao ora, ki te ao märama ränei. Haere koutou, waiho mai ko mätou ko o koutou kanohi ora ki konei takatu ai.

It is an honour to join you all for a third time to celebrate the best of Māori Radio and Television broadcasting – the best people and their best work.

All Māori broadcasters are role models of the sort of success I am committed to continuing to encourage as Minister of Māori Affairs. My focus is on realising Māori potential. That means Māori being successful and playing a full part in society without compromising what it means to be Māori.

I believe “Māori realising their potential” has the greatest power to inspire, enthuse and encourage Māori people to make the most of current and future opportunities.

In last year's Budget I announced additional funding for Māori radio - $3.4million (GST exc) to be allocated to the upgrade of broadcasting equipment.

The identification of broadcasting as one of the optimum means for the revitalisation of te reo Māori makes it imperative that the Māori radio industry remains sustainable. This funding will enable Māori radio stations to maintain a competitive footing with their industry counterparts and to meet the expectations of an increasingly sophisticated Māori audience.

Te Māngai Paho are administering this funding in conjunction with their existing systems for funding Māori radio.

I'm pleased to announce this evening that this week the Board of Te Māngai Paho has approved the allocation of just over $2.8million of this additional funding.

Māori radio has and continues to present incalculable opportunities for the promotion and exposure of te reo Māori as well as benefits in terms of business, professional, and community outcomes.

Māori radio and television have much to be proud of and I have total confidence that we are in for better and bigger things in the years ahead. Realising Māori potential through broadcasting.

Now to the next and last award. It is an honour to be presenting the Takoha nui o te Tau award – Most Significant Contribution to the Industry.

This person has been selected by the Executive of Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori o Aotearoa. I understand that this was a challenging selection as so many of you have made an enormous contribution and made a significant difference in your industry.

I pay tribute and acknowledge the effort, energy and enthusiasm this person has given to the broadcasting industry. I would now like present this award to…..

Kia kaha!

ENDS

© Scoop Media