Key Appointments Announced At Maori Television

Media Release
20 May 2009: Embargoed to 4.15pm

Key Appointments Announced At Maori Television

Maori Television has announced two key appointments to its Programming management team.

Television broadcaster CAROL HIRSCHFELD (Ngati Porou) has been appointed to the newly created position of Head of Programming for the Maori Television channel.

Maori Television manager ERUERA MORGAN (Te Arawa, Tainui) has been appointed to the newly created position of Head of Programming for the Te Reo channel.

The establishment of the two new positions follows a reorganisation of the Programming department that is aimed at increasing the level of professional television production and programming skills, as well as providing dedicated resource to the development of the 100 per cent Maori language Te Reo channel. Both positions report to the General Manager Programming.

Carol Hirschfeld has more than 20 years experience in the television industry working as a news reporter, presenter, director, producer and executive producer. She joins Maori Television following 11 years at TV3 where she co-presented 3 News and, for the past four years, has been executive producer of Campbell Live managing a team of 30 staff. Her producing experience includes news, current affairs and magazine format programmes.

General Manager Programming, Haunui Royal, acknowledged the appointment of Carol Hirschfeld to this key position at Māori Television as a coup that would bring additional sought-after professional television broadcasting skills and experience to the indigenous broadcaster.

“At Maori Television we are focused and committed to growing the quality of our programming. This is a key priority for us. Carol Hirschfeld is a broadcaster who has a wealth of experience and production expertise and whose personal commitment to high quality public broadcasting is a perfect fit for us,” he said.

Carol Hirschfeld said the move to Maori Television offered a unique career development opportunity in an environment where she could contribute her skills towards the advancement of Maori broadcasting. She will commence in her role in August 2009.

"I am truly delighted to have the opportunity to take up this challenging new position. Since its launch five years ago, Maori Television has gone from strength to strength, establishing itself as a broadcasting service that plays a vital role in defining this country's identity. Television needs to be relevant to and reflective of the people it serves, and I look forward to being part of Maori Television's mission to make programmes that resonate with all New Zealanders," she said.

Eruera Morgan has spent his career promoting Maori language through television programming. His television background includes researching, writing, directing and producing a wide range of programming genres including news and current affairs, documentaries, magazine, youth and sports programmes. He joined Maori Television in 2007 as a Commissioner before being appointed Head of Production in 2008. This new role as Head of Programming for the Te Reo channel will see him responsible for developing a schedule of high quality Maori language programmes across a range of genre.

“Quality, in terms of both programming and Maori language, is a crucial component of our work. The purpose of the Te Reo channel is to acknowledge, preserve and showcase the Maori language in all its forms, from classical Maori through to contemporary Maori. Eruera brings to this important role his own personal commitment to the language coupled with an innate understanding of the challenges facing a television broadcaster,” said Haunui Royal.

“Both these appointments signal exciting times ahead for our organisation as we continue to make our contribution to the revitalisation of the Maori language and the nation building of our country.”

ENDS

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