Katene: ‘We’ll be watching, Minister’

Maori Party MP Rahui Katene is welcoming the Broadcasting Minister’s assurance in the House today that TVNZ will be honouring its obligation to promote Maori language and culture.

“We’ll be watching very closely to ensure the Government does exactly what the minister has promised,” Mrs Katene said.

“It took a point of order for the minister to properly answer my question, but I welcome his assurance. All we need now is for that assurance to be put into action by TVNZ.”

As a result of the Privy Council findings in the 1993 New Zealand Maori Council case, the Government had a legal obligation to promote Maori language and culture through TVNZ, Mrs Katene said.

The Maori Party’s questions to the minister were prompted by its concerns that the Government’s TVNZ Amendment Bill would see the state owned company’s charter dropped – a charter which specifically stated that TVNZ shall:

• Ensure in its programmes and programme planning the participation of Maori and the presence of a significant Maori voice
• In its programming enable all New Zealanders to have access to material that promotes Maori language and culture

ENDS

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