August 21, 2015
Maori screen strife wake up call for ministers
Labour’s broadcasting spokesperson Clare Curran says a survey showing low wages and unsafe working conditions for Maori working in television should be a wake-up call for Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams.
Preliminary results of the survey by Maori screen guild Nga Aho Whakaari show two thirds of Maori screen workers in television are working long hours, with low to no pay, in unsafe conditions.
Ms Curran says that's the consequence of seven years of frozen funds to Maori TV and TVNZ.
She says management at the two organisations hasn't fought hard enough for adequate funding, while at the same time they are putting more pressure on staff and production houses.
She's calling for an urgent review of the working conditions and salaries of Maori screen workers.
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