Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of te reo and tikanga Māori. Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket. Te Reo is the station's second channel, launched 28 March 2008. Te Reo is 100% Māori language with no advertising or subtitles featuring special tribal programming with a particular focus on new programming for the fluent audience.[1]
MissionTo revitalise Maori language and culture through broadcasting. The relevant legislation says "The principal function of the Service is to promote te reo Maori me nga tikanga Maori through the provision of a high quality, cost-effective Maori television service, in both Maori and English, that informs, educates, and entertains a broad viewing audience, and, in doing so, enriches New Zealand's society, culture, and heritage". Stakeholders
Programming
SuccessesMāori Television was launched on March 28 2004 and attracted a cumulative audience of 300,000 in its first month on air (April 2004). In April 2007, the channel attracted a cumulative audience of 722,000 viewers – an increase of 140 per cent. Since the launch, more than 1.765 million New Zealanders have watched the station. 70 per cent of all Māori aged 5+ have watched Māori Television; 73 per cent of all Pacific Islanders aged 5+; 43 per cent of Pākehā New Zealanders aged 5+; and 32 per cent of Asians aged 5+. More than 97 per cent of the general population is aware of Māori Television. Some 90 per cent of Māori and 67 per cent of the general population have watched the channel; and 82 per cent of the general population believes that Māori Television should be a permanent part of New Zealand broadcasting.citation needed Māori Television continues to attract a rapidly growing and increasingly broad audience across age, gender and ethnicities. More than two thirds of the audience are non-Māori, who are looking for local programming such as Kai Time on the Road, Kete Aronui and Ask Your Auntie, many New Zealand movies and documentaries, and the diverse range of international movies and documentaries that normally would not get air-time on the main commercial networks.citation needed Awards
Executive TeamThere are seven members of the Board of Directors. These are Crown appointees Wayne Walden, Wena Tait and Rod Cornelius. Te Pūtahi Pāoho appointees are Tahu Potiki, Garry Muriwai, Amohaere Houkamau and Cathy Dewes.
CommitteesThere are two standing committees: The Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee. Members of the Audit Committee are Garry Muriwai, Amohaere Houkamau, and Craig Soper. Members of the Remuneration Committee are Wayne Walden, Wena Tait and Rod Cornelius. ControversiesOriginally, Canadian John Davy was appointed Chief Executive of Maori Television back in 2002. However, it was found that his qualifications were false (i.e. He had a degree from the 'Denver State University') and resigned in disgrace.[3] Newsreader Julian Wilcox fired and reinstated in 2005. Mr Wilcox was dismissed by Maori Television after Mr Wilcox contributed to providing information to other media, which led to negative stories being broadcast and published. [4] Maori TV presenter Ngarimu Daniels who was banned from taking part in protests and whose gay partner was referred to as a "dyke" by a senior MTS manager has been awarded $16,000. Leonie Pihama, a leading Maori academic and film-maker, resigned from the seven-member board citing a conflict of interest over an employment dispute taken against the network by her partner, Te Kaea news presenter Ngarimu Daniels. [5] [6] Notes
External links
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