Maori Programmes get Christmas Relief

Hone Harawira, Broadcasting Spokesperson, Maori Party
Friday 21 December 2007

Maori Party broadcasting spokesman, Hone Harawira, is happy to hear that funding for Te Karere, Marae and Waka Huia will continue up to June 2009.

“Maori is an official language of this country, and TVNZ has a charter that requires them to promote Maori language and culture,” said Harawira, “and all three of them are icon programmes which have been a mainstay of Maori broadcasting for decades.”

“And it’s good to hear that Te Mangai Paho has given TVNZ the hard word about their policy of shunting Maori programmes into poor time slots to suit corporate obligations,” said Harawira.

“That policy of “ghetto-ising” Maori programmes has never been accepted by Maori people, and is an insult to all New Zealanders.”

“Following on the heels of Rick Ellis’ idiotic comments about ‘Policewatch’ forming a strand of his Maori programming strategy, this decision to only throw TVNZ a six-month funding lifeline for their Maori programmes suggests the need for a Maori Programming Commissioner with some real clout, is long overdue.”

“So we’re glad to see these programmes continue,” said Harawira, ”but we’d rather have Santa bring us a TVNZ where decent Maori programmes got decent television timeslots.”

ENDS

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