October 17, 2018
Māori radio last bastion of public broadcasting
EBONY DUFF INTERVIEW CLICK HERE
Māori radio operators want a wider remit for their activities than just te reo Māori and tikanga.
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta has asked her ministry to review Māori broadcasting, but emphasised the sector primarily exists to contribute to the promotion and retention of te reo and tikanga Māori.
Ebony Duff from Māori radio umbrella group Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori says while Māori broadcasting is an essential support for language revival, it's not all there is to radio.
"The licenses are granted on te reo Māori use and revitalisation and tikanga. We are taking our people on the journey of te reo Māori and then equally being the voices of the communities who we represent. (Minister) Shane Jones may have called it hokey pokey radio but we know what he was talking about – we want to see ourselves and hear ourselves on our iwi radio stations," she says.
Ms Duff says iwi radio is the last bastion of public community broadcasting in the regions, and it's not just Māori who listen.
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