Māori Television is proud to be the host broadcast partner for Rise Up Christchurch –Te Kotahitanga, a 12-hour live global broadcast planned for Sunday 22 May – three months out from that fateful date of 22 February.

Māori Television CEO, Jim Mather, says he applauds the Rise Up Christchurch – Te Kotahitanga initiative as a key part of the on-going fundraising efforts of New Zealanders to support, as one, our whanau in Christchurch.

“We have all seen the devastation that the earthquake has caused and, in the weeks since, the desperation of the people of Christchurch as they attempt to rebuild their lives. Rise Up Christchurch – Te Kotahitanga will inspire and unite New Zealanders across the globe to support the people of Christchurch as they ‘Rise Up Christchurch’ from this challenge that Papatūānuku has presented,” Mr Mather says.

Māori Television’s decision to support this television event is driven by a desire, as a broadcaster for all New Zealanders, to make a tangible and valuable contribution to the cause.

“When Māori Television was approached to support this event it seemed like a natural fit for us to provide a nationwide broadcast platform for this event, as we have for CTV to broadcast on our frequency while they get back on their feet. We are also proud to be providing production resources and staff to support this global telethon event,” Mr Mather says.
Rise Up Christchurch – Te Kotahitanga spokesperson Brooke Howard-Smith says the event will feature a wealth of New Zealand talent based overseas and in Aotearoa including Maori Television’s own Julian Wilcox, Carol Hirschfeld, Stacey Morrison, and Amomai Pihama.

“We are delighted to have Māori Television on board as our host broadcast partner for Rise Up Christchurch – Te Kotahitanga. Our team is so thankful for the level of support we have received from New Zealand entertainers, celebrities and of course Fonterra to get this event off the ground,” says Mr Howard-Smith.

Julian Wilcox, anchor of Māori Television’s flagship current affairs show Native Affairs, who earlier this week co-anchored Māori Television’s ANZAC Day broadcast with Judy Bailey, was on the ground in Christchurch covering the stories of Maori who had been affected by the earthquake and contributing to the recovery effort; as rescuers, doctors, nurses, and part of the army.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the telethon. The Otautahi whanau need our on-going support and this is something that we can do as broadcasters to keep Christchurch’s challenges front of mind for Aotearoa,” says Mr Wilcox.

ENDS

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