February 23, 2016
Oral taonga locked away
A veteran broadcaster is accusing Radio New Zealand of taking a mean-spirited approach to the archives it holds of Maori voices from the past.
The state broadcaster is under fire from Maori radio umbrella group Te Whakaruruhau for its minimal coverage of Maori news and current affairs.
Haare Williams, who with the late Henare Te Ua helped create an archive of live recordings and interviews with kaumatua, says in the 20 years since it has been hard for other broadcasters, filmmakers and students to access that material.
He says elders of the time like John Rangihau, Dame Whina Cooper and Sir James Henare were clear about the importance of the oral taonga.
"They made it very clear to us that taonga should be available for tertiary studies, for making movies that have a non-profit value, it should be available for Maori radio and Maori television, so Radio New Zealand at the moment is taking a very mean attitude. It is an abslute breach, a betrayal of the treaty of Waitangi," he says.
Haare Williams says in times of austerity it’s always the treaty partner that gets cut first.
FULL INTERVIEW: HAARE WILLIAMS
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