December 09, 2015
Native Affair now a quickie
Maori Television is claiming audience demand is behind the decision to cut its Native Affairs programme in half.
Maramena Roderick, its head of news and current affairs, says the audience wants shorter and sharper stories.
Hence the move to a 30-minute format and an 8pm time slot when the show returns in March.
There will be no production jobs lost but Wade Kamo is out for the new season and it’s back to one presenter, Billie Jo Ropiha.
She says ratings have held up this year despite this year’s changes, including the departure of presenter Mihirangi Forbes, and there has been a 62 percent increase in people watching its stories online.
Labour’s Maori broadcasting spokesperson Peeni Henare says the change represents a real loss to investigative journalism in New Zealand.
He says it diminishes the capacity of Native Affairs to advocate for Maori by investigating and breaking important stories, and holding the powerful to account.
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