For Release 11.00am Friday 18 May 2007

Release from Te Pütahi Päho

Extra funding for Māori Television and Māori Radio welcomed by Electoral College

Extra funding announced in the budget for Maori Television and Maori radio has been welcomed by the Maori stakeholder in the channel – Te Pūtahi Pāho. The Government announced $20.1 m of extra funding for Māori television in yesterday’s budget for Māori Television, and an extra $3m for capital funding.The funds will go directly to the channel.

Te Pūtahi Pāho is the Electoral College established to represent Māori interests in selection of Board members for the Channel and other governance matters under a joint Treaty–based arrangement with the Crown.

Chairman of Te Pūtahi Paho Tu Williams said this morning that the funding was recognition of the superb efforts of Māori Television in its first three years.

‘Te Putahi Paho acknowledges and welcomes thecommitment from the Crown to making Māori broadcasting a success. The funding would allow the channel to deepen and widen its programming, and continue along the track of promoting Māori language and culture, satisfying the needs of both Māori and non-Maori viewers,’ Mr Williams said.

Mr. Williams also welcomed the $4m operational funding increase announced for Māori iwi radio, which has had major financial struggles in recent years.

‘This new funding for Māori radio will be welcome relief to iwi radio stations, whichhave broadcast the language and and a wide variety of programmes to communities around New Zealand for many years, at a critical time for the survival for the language,’ Mr. Williams said

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