Waipapa Taumata Rau Business School Professor Carla Houkamau says the Māori voice is even more critical in light of budget cuts across the media industry.
In recent weeks, Whakaata Māori has started shedding senior management positions as it prepares for a $10 million deficit, while TVNZ revealed on Monday that it posted an $85 million loss and a $39 million drop in revenue.
Professor Houkamau says the wider societal benefits Whakaata Māori brings need to be recognised.
“It’s pretty obvious that the media’s facing financial hurdles that needs to be balanced alongside an understanding that there needs to be a recognition of the wider societal benefits that Māori TV brings, in the absence of a really clear margins narrative and public media,” says Prof Houkamu.
