The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has found a Magic Talk Afternoons with Sean Plunket interview about the legal basis for iwi roadblocks under Covid-19 restrictions, amplified negative stereotypes about Maori and had the potential to cause widespread harm.

It has upheld two complaints about the interview of Te Whānau ā Apanui spokesperson Louis Rapihana.

He was questioned about roadblocks in the eastern Bay of Plenty under Covid-19 Alert Level 4 and what the iwi intended to do if anyone refused to comply with the travel permit requirement established under Alert Level 3.

“The broadcaster felt the segment did not contain a ‘high level of vitriol’. We disagree,” said the Authority.

It said Mr Plunket’s comments and approach had the effect of reflecting and amplifying casual racism towards Māori.

“We consider Mr Plunket’s tone, dismissiveness, repeated interruptions of Mr Rapihana and the comments he made following the interview, were either intended to encourage harmful tropes and views, or reflected ignorance at a level that is offensive and harmful to Māori.”

Given the high level of harm, it determined a broadcast statement and $3000 in costs to the Crown were appropriate.

Ko te whakahau a te BSA me tutuki he whakapāhotanga tauākī whakapāha me te utunga $3000 hei whakawhiu i a Magic Talk Afternoons with Sean Plunket.

I kitea e te Mana Whanonga Kaipāho (BSA) i whākahatia ngā kiritoka kino mō te Māori, ā, tērā pea ka hua mai ngā tūkinotanga whānui i tētahi uiui a Magic Talk Afternoons with Sean Plunket mō te take ture o ngā aukati huarahi ā-iwi i raro i ngā rāhuitanga Kowheori-19.

I whakaūtia ngā amuamu e rua mō te uiui i a Louis Rapihana te kaikōrero o Te Whānau-a-Apanui.

I uiuitia ia mō ngā aukati huarahi i Te Moana-o-Toi i raro i te Pae Mataara 4 o te Kowheori-19, me ngā whāinga a te iwi ki te kore tētahi e whai i ngā whakaritenga hāereere i whakapūmautia i raro i te Pae Mataara 3.

"I pōhēhē te kaiwhakapāho kāore noa i 'nui te mauāhara' i roto i taua wāhanga. E whakahē ana mātou," te kī a te Mana Whanonga.

Ko tā rātou kī, ko te pānga o ngā kōrero me te whāinga a Mr Plunket e whakaata ana, e whākaha ana hoki i te āhua kaikiri ki te Māori.

"Ko tā mātou, ko te reo o Mr Plunket, tōna wairua kawa me ngā tini haukotitanga i a Mr Rapihana, me āna kōrero hoki i muri o te uiui, he takunetanga e akiaki ana i ngā tōaitanga me ngā tirohanga kino, e whakaata ana rānei i te kūaretanga i tētahi taumata e rihariha ana, e kino ana ki te Māori."

Nā te tiketike o te kino, i whakatauhia e te mana whanonga he tika kia whakapāhotia he tauākī whakapāha me te utunga i te $3000 ki te Karauna.

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