Shane Jones
List Member of Parliament
Media Statement

27 March 2008

Jones warns National will sell off Maori TV

National’s refusal to outline its policy on Maori broadcasting should have Maori alarmed that they will sell off Maori Television, warns Labour Cabinet Minister and Northland List MP Shane Jones.

“I understand when Georgina Te Heuheu (National) was asked at the World Indigenous Television Broadcast Conference in Auckland today to declare her party policy on Maori Television she refused to come clean,” said Mr Jones.

“They (National) are deliberately refusing to tell us the truth over their secret agenda for Maori Television and all Maori should be up in arms, fearful and angry that they will sell off Maori Television.

“It has always been National policy to hock off all our State-owned-enterprises (SOE) and we know that because they had clear plans to privatise TVNZ before the 1999 elections.

“We have to be very concerned about what happens with this successful, fledgling indigenous broadcasting industry which can be seen as a bi-partisan issue and deserves open and honest discussion.”

Mr Jones said staff and personnel at Maori Television deserved to know the truth about what will happen to them.

“National is cruelly and unfairly creating anxiety at a time when everyone at Maori Television deserves assurance, job security and congratulations for the work they are doing.

“Maori have much to fear. When the Treaty claims are over National wants to be rid of the Maori seats in Parliament. I fear Maori Television will go the same way as the Maori seats.

He demanded that National declare whether it will sell out on Maori Television as it has done on the Maori seats.

ENDS

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