Maori working in screen and television are concerned that politicians and bureaucrats are loading them up with extra responsibilities without any extra resources.

Last weekend’s biennial hui of industry umbrella group Nga Aho Whakaari considered Television New Zealand’s plans to ousource its Maori and Pacific programmes.

Producers also complained they had to dig into already tight production budgets to tick the boxes of funding agency Te Mangai Paho’s new right shift te reo Maori strategy.

Nga Aho Whakaari chair Km Muriwai says they’re sick of being taken for granted.

"We’ve been subsidising the kaupapa for a long time now and it’s getting to the level where, especially when producers are being asked to give up their online rights in perpetuity for the whole world, producers are now saying enough is enough," she says.

Kim Muriwai says there is also an expectation independent production houses pick up the training of young staff, which may not be realistic or fair under the current funding model.

FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH KIM MURIWAI CLICK ON THE LINK