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Iwi radio umbrella group Whakaruruhau has confirmed Willie Jackson will stay on as its chairperson.
The group of 21 iwi radio stations met in Auckland yesterday and discussed the controversy that led to Mr Jackson being stood down until the end of the year at Radio Live.
He has also stepped aside from his on-air role at Radio Waatea.
Deputy chair Mike Kake says executive members and station managers gave their full support for Mr Jackson to continue as chair because it’s a different role than on air presenting at Radio Live.
Meanwhile, a leading Maori rape prevention expert says radio hosts Willie Jackson and John Tamihere need counseling about their attitudes to rape and sexual violence.
The pair were stood down by Radio Live after an advertising boycott prompted by their line of questioning about the Roast Busters, a group of young men who have boasted online about raping underage women.
Russell Smith is co-director of Korowai Tumanako, a kaupapa Maori service designed to support iwi, hapu and whanau who have been affected by sexual violence.
He says Radio Live should have directed them to get some counselling and education about the issues involved.
"People should have to take responsibility for what they say, and if it is out of their league they should be directed to talk to people who are specialists in the field and have a think about it, because those types of conversations, I'm not just talking about Willie and JT, but I'm talking about many men who jave these conversations like they have the right to go and do this, like 'her dress is too short,' it's putting all the blame on the victim," Mr Smith says.
He says attitudes like those displayed by Mr Jackson and Mr Tamihere cause ongoing harm for victims of sexual violence, male and female.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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