The president of Māori screen workers guild Ngā Aho Whakaari says the Government’s bailout of the media sector does little for Māori companies facing higher costs in a COVID-19 environment.
Hineani Melbourne says most of the money will be sucked up by overseas-owned companies, while work on addressing the future of the Māori media sector is put on hold.
Meanwhile, to get back to work they will face longer production times and higher costs as increased health and safety measures are put in place on set.
"I fear for our companies. I fear for our people because when they do come back to work the extra money in the budgets is going to be sucked up in health and safety. It won't be going to the workers. They will still be on the low wages Māori productions seem to work under that will put more pressure on families," she says.
Hineani Melbourne says Māori media risk being swept away by the changes COVID-19 will wreak on society.
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