January 23, 2013
Cabinet hurdle for Māori FM frequencies
The Māori radio broadcasters group Whakaruruhau is trying to unlock a bundle of FM frequencies set aside to promote Māori language and culture.
The government is considering auctioning off the spectrum because no service has emerged, and it is unwilling to fund one.
But Whakaruruhau chair Willie Jackson says the government would be wrong to do that.
He says Whakaruruhau has asked the National Urban Māori Authorities to manage the frequencies, and it put a case for a national Māori service to Cabinet in November.
He says a national service could be commercial, and it would not need to affect what happens to the 21 existing Māori stations.
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