5. HONE HARAWIRA (Māori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) Link to this
to the Minister of Broadcasting
He aha ngā nekehanga whakamua kua oti i te whakatūnga o te Māngai Whakatakoto Hōtaka Māori, nā Te Reo Tātaki o Aotearoa i pānui i ngā marama e toru ki muri, hei wāhanga o tā rātau kapa ārahitanga whānui ake, ā, i runga pea i te whakaaro, ka mana tā rātau kawenata kia tino whai reo a ngāi Māori i roto i ngā mahi whakatakoto hōtaka, whakatakoto mahere hoki?
[What progress has been made in appointing the Māori programming commissioner, which Television New Zealand announced three months ago as part of its broader leadership team, and which presumably was intended to fulfil its charter obligations to ensure Māori participation in programmes and planning?]
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Broadcasting) Link to this
Ka nui te mahi. However, employment matters are an operational issue for the chief executive.
Is the Minister aware that Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has put its Māori programming commissioner position on hold as a consequence of Te Māngai Pāho’s decision to delay any further funding rounds until June 2008, and can he explain to the House why this unprecedented delay in television funding has occurred?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
I understand that the positions have been delayed while decisions are made by Television New Zealand as to the future of the Māori programming, which does go to funding issues.
Pita ParaoneDoes an increase in the use of the Māori language outside Māori-specific shows such as Te Karere and form part of TVNZ’s charter obligations, and would the Minister agree that the shift of and to less popular timeslots shows TVNZ is paying only lip-service to its commitment under the charter to promote the Māori language?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
In response to the last part of the member’s question, I am advised by TVNZ that the screenings have increased from two to three times a day, and, in fact, that there has been a 75 percent increase in programme reach as a result of that.
If there is no new funding, how will Māori Television be able to create and produce the new Māori language channel, which is due to be launched in March of 2008?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
Clearly, these funding issues are things that are being worked through at the moment. Priorities have to be set, and there is a big debate about how much of the content should be on TVNZ and get a very broad spread, how much should be on the first Māori channel, and how much should be on the Māori language channel. That is something that gets worked through.
Is the Minister aware that in August 2007 Māori Television recorded its highest ratings ever with a monthly cumulative audience of 767,000 viewers, and how does he suppose that Māori Television can satisfy its ever-increasing demand for programmes, given that independent production companies will not be able to access any funding for new productions for at least another 6 months?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
I do not accept that the assertion in the last part of the member’s question is necessarily correct, but the member is right that the cumulative numbers are going very well. I am sure many members of this House are responsible for three or four of those viewings during that month.