November 16, 2015
Walking the talk means talking te reo – Maori Television
Maori Television chief executive Paora Maxwell says the service needs to walk its talk – and that’s why two receptionists who can’t talk Maori must walk.
MTS has come under fire for readvertising the jobs of two long-serving receptionists, with the criteria that the successful candidates must be fluent in te reo Maori.
Mr Maxwell told Radio Waatea host Willie Jackson that just as reporters on news programme Te Kaea need to be fluent, so too do the people in what is the biggest public-facing role.
"The decision wasn’t against any personal vendetta anyone had against any person at Maori Television. In fact we try to live by our values, kia tika, kia pono, kia aroha, but the fact is sometimes the kaupapa is more important and in this case this is a clear sign to Maori Television, to all our staff and indeed to the world that we’re serious about bilingual opportunities." he says.
Mr Maxwell says the decision whether to speak te reo Maori when first contacting Maori Television by phone or at the desk should be made by the manuhiri, not by the staff.
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