August 20, 2015
Maori screen workers asked to work cheap
Maori screen industry organisation Nga Aho Whakaari says workers are paying for systemic under-funding of Maori broadcasting.
The roopu is surveying members who make up 20 percent of Maori in the sector.
Preliminary results show that two thirds of respondents have been asked to work more than 10-hours a day and they are increasingly being asked to work for less pay or nothing because the kaupapa is Maori.
Acting executive director Hineani Melbourne says the online survey, which closes this week is putting some hard data behind the anecdotes.
She says when National became the Government they froze funding for Maori Television and other broadcasters, but demand continues to grow with more programmes being produced.
"The workforce are working long hours sometimes in dangerous situations and long hours themselves are dangerous. If you work a 10 hour day and then the next morning have to get up and travel to work another 10 hour day, that's dangerous. You're putting people at risk," Ms Melbourne says.
She says the majority of Maori working in screen and television live in Auckland, and they are concerned at the prospect of Maori Television being moved elsewhere.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HINEANI MELBOURNE CLICK ON THE LINK
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