Press Release (Embargoed till 2pm)

Iwi stands by it’s call for MP Clare Curran to resign

“We believe that the admission of Paora Maxwell’s statement to the parliamentary record is some what of a vindication for him but Clare Curran needs to either step outside parliament to say the things she did or make a public apology for getting it wrong” said Te Maru o Ngati Rangiwewehi Chairperson, Te Rangikaheke Bidois.

Ms Bidois said this in response to Paora Maxwell’s statement being admitted to the parliamentary record today. (A copy of the text of this statement is attached)

“ Clare Cullen said things in relation to one of the applicants for the position of CEO at Maori TV that were untrue and trampled on the mana of one of our relations and thus she trampled on the mana of his iwi, worse still she said some mis-truths under the privilege of parliament & has potentially prejudiced Paora’s chances with the Māori TV CEO position” said Te Maru o Ngati Rangiwewehi Chairperson, Te Rangikaheke Bidois.

“ We have written to her and asked her to meet but she has declined the invite. Clare should resign for what we believe to be the wrongful use of parliamentary privilege.”

With regards the political process that has taken place Ms Bidois said “ We are glad that Parliament has this redress process in place but Members of Parlaiment should be reminded of the special privileges they have and they certainly should not be abused in the way that Clare Curran has abused them. She had a right to raise her concerns about the process of selection but she should have been very careful about repeating unfounded gossip about one of the candidates before repeating it & maligning them. ”

Response presented under Standing Orders 156–159

on application of Paora Maxwell relating to references made by Clare Curran on 4 and 5 September 2013

On Wednesday, 4 September and Thursday, 5 September 2013, Clare Curran, MP for Dunedin South, referred to me by name or by implication during questions for oral answer. Ms Curran’s statements infer that there was something to hide about my leaving my previous position at Television New Zealand; she stated that I “left without a reference and under a cloud of financial and staff mismanagement”. She also stated that I was only shortlisted for the position of Chief Executive of Māori Television as a result of improper influence by the Māori Television Board Chairperson. Ms Curran also alleged that my production company, Aratai Film and Television Productions Limited, owes money to the Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency, Te Māngai Pāho.

Ms Curran’s comments about both my production company and me are untrue and have damaged my professional reputation both presently and in the future. The statements made in the House could well have adversely affected both my application for the Chief Executive position at Māori Television, and also if I choose to apply for any job in the public sector in the future. For the record, my primary reason for leaving Television New Zealand was that I was satisfied with what I had achieved during my tenure as the General Manager of Māori and Pacific Programmes, and I was also confident that the Māori and Pacific department would be retained in the future and remain under the auspices of Television New Zealand. I left with a reference from the Head of News and Current Affairs at Television New Zealand. Additionally, I reject the suggestion that the Chairperson of Māori Television would have acted inappropriately in dealing with the shortlisting process. More likely the reason for my shortlisting was that I have twenty-six years of experience in the television industry, having served in various senior roles, and am one of a handful of people with the senior management experience to fill the role of Chief Executive of Māori Television. Ms Curran’s statement in relation to Te Māngai Pāho is also untrue as Te Māngai Pāho has confirmed that I have no current debt to it.

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