September 08, 2022
Jackson strategy finds new way to fund Maori media
Direct funding of Maori Television and new ways to fund Maori radio in English are part of a new Māori broadcasting strategy approved by cabinet.
Broadcasting and Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson says it’s important to have quality Māori content available to all New Zealanders – in both te reo Māori and English – to raise the status of te reo Māori and build cultural and national identity.
He told Radio Waatea talkback host Shane Te Pou that funding Maori programmes in English is unprecedented.
“People don’t know this but the Maori programmes on Maori TV and other areas are all funded by Maori language money. That shouldn’t be the case. They should have their own putea and Maori language funding should be used for Maori language. I’m opening a new way here so we can fund Maori stories, Maori news in English,” Mr Jackson says.
The Government is also increasing funding to Maori language broadcasting.