Māori broadcasting and e-Media framework unveiled

Māori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia today announced the government’ policy settings for Māori broadcasting have been expanded to recognise the importance of e-Media.

The announcement of a new Māori broadcasting and e-Media Outcomes Framework was made to stakeholders at a hui in Wellington and is part of the Labour-led government’s economic transformation agenda. It also continues the ongoing drive to enrich our national identity, Mr Horomia said.

“The framework sets out clear outcomes for the sector to provide a consistent and coherent approach to developing Māori broadcasting and other electronic media.”

The term e-media has been adopted as it refers to both analogue and digital broadcasting and extends to electronic equipment such as television, radio, internet, telephone, desktop computer, game console and handheld devices.

The expanded policy settings identify objectives, principles, long term and intermediate outcomes for Māori broadcasting and other electronic media. They aim to ensure a continued presence of Māori language and culture in the digital environment, and to support Māori participation in the innovation economy, Mr Horomia said.

The framework aligns to related work streams across government such as the Digital Strategy, the Public Broadcasting Programme of Action and, of course, the Māori Language Strategy.

“Te Reo Māori and tikanga remain an important focus for government. We want to make Māori language and culture accessible to all New Zealanders.”

“We are doing our bit to facilitate the expansion of opportunities across Māori broadcasting. That’s why we made such a significant new investment of $27.1 million in Budget 2007 into the sector.”

Broadcasting and e-Media offers many opportunities for iwi as both information and educational tools to support language revitalisation across communities.

“Broadcasting and e-Media will also become increasingly important in enabling access to information for decision-making among whānau and communities about the issues they face,” Mr Horomia said.

“At the same time we want to support those working in the sector to continue to develop skills that place them at the leading edge of the innovation economy.”

Question and Answers – Maori Broadcasting and e-Media Outcomes Framework

Key Messages

The Māori broadcasting and e-Media high level outcomes provide a framework to determine where to focus our efforts and investments within the context of the changing digital environment.

The Framework aligns to related work streams across Government such as the Digital Strategy, the Public Broadcasting Programme of Action and the Māori Language Strategy

Te Reo Māori and tikanga remain an important focus for Government.

The digital future offers unprecedented opportunities to encourage Māori creativity and innovation, for Māori stories and storytellers to reach global audiences, and for greater connectedness within Māori communities.

Questions and Answers

What are the benefits of the Māori Broadcasting and e-Media Outcomes Framework (Outcomes Framework)?

The Outcomes Framework sets out clear outcomes for the sector to provide a consistent and coherent approach to the development of Māori broadcasting and other electronic media.

Why is electronic media included as part of the Outcomes Framework?

The policy settings for Māori broadcasting have been expanded to include digital broadcasting and other electronic media to ensure a continued presence of Māori language and culture in the digital environment, and to support Māori participation in the innovation economy.

How will the Outcomes Framework contribute to Māori language revitalisation?

One of the long term outcomes of the Outcomes Framework is to increase Māori language use and proficiency, particularly in the home.

The focus of reversing language shift in New Zealand is to restore intergenerational transmission. Māori broadcasting and e-Media is an important mechanism for supporting intergenerational language transmission.

Broadcasting and e-Media also contributes towards increased Māori language skills by providing language learners with opportunities to build and use their language skills, particularly listening skills. The results of the 2006 Health of the Māori Language Survey showed an increase in the number of people that can converse in Māori and use Māori in their homes and communities.

It is also important is that the language is seen to be a normal part of society. The third long term outcome of the Outcomes Framework provides that the Māori language and culture be valued as an integral part of the New Zealand’s national identity.

Broadcasting and e-Media play a key role by portraying the Māori language as a living language and therefore enhancing the status of the language. The pervasiveness of broadcasting and e-Media as forms of communication means that they can have a significant impact on individuals, communities, and on wider society.

What are the funding implications of the Outcomes Framework?

The Outcomes Framework identifies objectives, principles, long term outcomes and intermediate outcomes for Māori broadcasting and other electronic Media. The second stage of this work will include the development of the operational aspects of the Outcomes Framework, including consideration of appropriate resource and allocations.

How were the high level goals of the Outcomes Framework developed?

The outcomes framework was informed by: a literature review of minority language broadcasting; analysis of existing and developing workstreams in public broadcasting and digital development; engagement with key stakeholders; and review of existing data about the health of the Māori language and the impact of Māori broadcasting.

What happens next?

The second stage of this work has already begun. A hui with a cross section of Māori broadcasting, e-Media, and language revitalisation sector experts and practitioners is being held today (12 October meeting) with Te Puni Kōkiri officials. The purpose of this hui is to consider and discuss operational issues such as the role of Iwi in broadcasting and e-media, and the impact of converging technologies on language revitalisation.

© Scoop Media