Native Affairs Discusses Death of Corporal Douglas Hughes

May 6, 2013

Native Affairs Special Investigation into the Death of Corporal Douglas Hughes

NATIVE AFFAIRS, Maori Television’s award-winning current affairs show, will tonight reveal details of the defence force’s enquiry into the death last year of Corporal Douglas Hughes, in Afghanistan.

Corporal Hughes was a perfectionist with exacting standards and a bright future ahead of him. He was also struggling with his sexuality, and took his own life just days before he was due to return home from Afghanistan.

A year later, his whanau are demanding more answers about his death. They spoke to journalist Semiramis Holland in this special extended report to screen at 8.30pm tonight on NATIVE AFFAIRS.

NATIVE AFFAIRS Producer Annabelle Lee-Harris says it is an important story for all New Zealanders.

“What happened to Doug Hughes raises questions about the training provisions of his contingent, known as CRIB19 and how the NZDF deals with homosexuality on the front line,” she says.

Also on NATIVE AFFAIRS tonight, Adrian Stevanon reports on Dunedin mana whenua and recreational fishermen who are up in arms over the Ministry of Primary Industries’ proposal to open protected paua grounds to commercial divers, and Ruwani Perera talks to three Maori riding high in the world of horse racing.

Mihingarangi Forbes meets Channelle Bennett, who was only two years old when her father, Teina Pora, was imprisoned for the brutal rape and murder of Susan Burdett.

Now 22 and with a child of her own, Channelle is one of Pora’s strongest supporters in the appeal to have his conviction quashed.

A documentary about the Teina Pora case – The Confessions of Prisoner T – is available for catch up viewing at http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/pakipumeka-aotearoa/S04E001/confessions-prisoner-t-ao.

Tune in to NATIVE AFFAIRS tonight, May 6 at 8.30pm.

ENDS

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