Is he or isn’t he?

The shareholding ministers of Maori Television need to come clean over whether Paora Maxwell has been appointed to the role of chief executive at the broadcaster, Labour’s Broadcasting spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

“Bill English and Pita Sharples also need to give an assurance the process was as rigorous as possible for a position of such importance and that clear conflicts of interest were managed.

“The process from the outset has been shambolic with leaks, conflicts of interest and a rebooting of the appointment process.

“Sources have told me that Maori Television staff are being called to a meeting today to announce the new chief executive.

“Bill English and Pita Sharples must say whether reports Paora Maxwell will be given the job are accurate.

“If that is true, the Ministers also need to assure New Zealanders the appointment process was robust because Paora Maxwell is a close friend of former National Party minister Georgina te Heuheu who chairs the Maori Television board.

“Bill English and Pita Sharples have been silent on this for two days now. It is time they ended the speculation,” Kris Faafoi says.

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