PUBLICITY RELEASE
FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 2008

Election Night Countdown – On Maori Television!

Maori Television steps up its coverage of the General Election – from a Maori perspective – with the release of its last two polls and the final two episodes of its political programmes leading into a live-to-air election night special on Saturday November 8.

The results of a poll of Maori voters’ opinions of political parties and politicians in the Maori electorate of Hauraki Waikato – a showdown between Labour’s Nanaia Mahuta and Angeline Greensill from the Maori Party – will be unveiled on current affairs show NATIVE AFFAIRS on Monday November 3 at 8.30 PM. Also being released on NATIVE AFFAIRS that night is Maori Television’s final political poll in the Maori seat of Ikaroa Rawhiti – a closely contested campaign between sitting Labour MP Parekura Horomia and Maori Party candidate Derek Fox.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party is the focus of the one-hour KOWHIRI ’08 special on Tuesday November 4 at 8.30 PM with studio guest, Prime Minister Helen Clark. Then, on Wednesday November 5 at 8.30 PM, the featured party is National with leader John Key participating in the studio discussion. Presented by Julian Wilcox and Tina Wickliffe, KOWHIRI ’08 also includes expert commentary from panelists Ms Sandra Lee and Dr Ann Sullivan as well as additional observations by political scientist Dr Maria Bargh and Dr Ranginui Walker.

Maori Television continues its comprehensive coverage with a live election night special on Saturday November 8 at 8.00 PM. Julian Wilcox and Wena Harawira will co-host the programme supported by a team of journalists reporting live from the Maori electorates – Te Tai Tokerau, Tamaki Makaurau, Waikato-Hauraki, Te Tai Hauauru, Waiariki, Ikaroa Rawhiti and Te Tai Tonga – as well as MP headquarters in Auckland (Helen Clark and John Key) and Tauranga (Winston Peters).

According to Wilcox, this election will be a tight race no matter what the political polls say – “so why wouldn’t people want to watch how an eagerly anticipated, closely fought campaign will pan out? This contest will also be decided by a minor party, and most consider that party to be the Maori Party. The focus, therefore, on the Maori seats becomes of greater interest. And there is no other broadcast on election night that is dedicating itself to what happens in those seats. As we say, Maori Television is for all of us. And given the dynamics surrounding this election, what happens in these seats will undoubtedly affect all of us.”

Maori Television’s coverage of the 2008 General Election – KOWHIRI ’08 – screens on Tuesday November 4 and Wednesday November 5 at 8.30 PM followed by live election night coverage on Saturday November 8 from 8.00 PM.

ENDS

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