Alliance says Maori Television bid for rugby world cup a great opportunity

Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sunday 11 October 2009

The Alliance Party has congratulated the Maori Television Service putting together a very competitive bid for the rights to provide free to air coverage of the rugby world cup.

Alliance Party co-leader Kay Murray says it is a great opportunity to promote Maori television and Maori culture both within New Zealand and the world.

"It will help grow the network and it will provide much needed job opportunities for Maori. The importance of this should not be underestimated with significantly more Maori experiencing job losses as a result of the recent economic downturn than other New Zealanders and young Maori finding it harder to find first jobs."

Government funds are part of the bid package, but Ms Murray says she cannot see why this has politicians from National and Labour in such a froth.

She points out that while there is $3 million of government money from Te Puni Kokiri behind the broadcasting rights bid, $15 million of government money has been allocated to the building of the new stadium in her home town of Dunedin alone, purely to host a handful of pool matches in the World Cup.

To say nothing about what has been spent in other regions. And that money was handed out without a moment’s hesitation.

Ms Murray says it is a pity that Te Puni Kokiri felt so unsupported by both National and Labour that they kept their involvement in the process a secret for fear that the Maori Television Service bid would be thwarted.

Likewise National MP Georgina Te Heu Heu, who is obviously a lone voice within the National Party. It speaks volumes about both parties commitment to biculturalism.

The Alliance calls on all parties to get behind Te Puni Kokiri and the Maori Television Service. In the long run New Zealand can only benefit from a strong and vibrant television Maori television network. If hosting the televising of the rugby world cup can help develop this, MTS should be given every encouragement to go for it.

ENDS

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