The chief executive of Māori Television says the future of the service is online – but it needs more money to fully get there.

Shane Taurima appeared before parliament’s Māori Affairs Select Committee yesterday for the annual financial review.

He says despite trying conditions with the start of the pandemic, Whakaata Māori increased its online audience engagement by 118 per cent in the 2020-2021 financial year and its news audience by 65 per cent.

He says much depends on what comes out of the review of the Māori Media Sector commissioned by Māori Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson.

“The role of Whaakaata Māori as a linear service has to change and shift because our people, our audiences, they’re moving to online, they’re already there, and they’re consumers of not only Māori content but global content. There is a contest we’re very much aware of, trying to win the hearts and minds of our own people but also non-Māori too, to take up the language, to learn the language, to be inspired to use the language,” Mr Taurima says.

He says there seemed to be support for Māori Television’s position from all parties on the committee.