John Drinnan: A tangled web for Maori broadcasting

Tamati Coffey, who wants to stand for Labour in Rotorua. Maori broadcasters have weaved a tangled web of politics with upheavals at both TVNZ and Maori TV. Photo / Michael Craig

Maori broadcasters have weaved a tangled web of politics with upheavals at both Television New Zealand and Maori TV.

A TVNZ inquiry is looking at use of resources by Labour Party activists and editorial bias during the era when Shane Taurima era was general manager of the Maori and Pacific unit. He appears to be sticking with plans to stand for Labour in the Tamaki Makaurau Maori electorate.

Maori TV head of news and current affairs Julian Wilcox has also been approached as a potential candidate for the same seat, though he declined to reject the idea unequivocally.

Like many at Maori TV he will be focused on plans for Paora Maxwell to be chief executive of Maori TV.

These are heady times in Maori broadcasting. Taurima's resignation has exposed loose oversight at TVNZ and questions how TVNZ missed its senior executive was a favourite to win the Labour candidacy for Tamaki Makaurau.

John Drinnan

After the TVNZ inquiry, Labour extended the deadline for people applying to be candidates, so they could reconsider options after negative publicity for Taurima.

It may be that a career in politics is more attractive.

Elsewhere former TVNZ weatherman and light entertainment player Tamati Coffey is looking for nomination in Rotorua.

Corporate PR man and former TV3 reporter Scott Campbell has decided against standing for National.

These are heady times in Maori broadcasting. Taurima's resignation has exposed loose oversight at TVNZ and questions about how TVNZ missed its senior executive was a favourite to win the Labour candidacy for Tamaki Makaurau.

Taurima replaced Paora Maxwell who was head of the TVNZ Maori and Pacific unit and had left amidst a disagreement about his management style.

It has been revealed that Maxwell is a close friend of Maori TV chair and former National Cabinet minister Georgina te Heuheu. But his political affiliations, if he has any, are unknown.

Maxwell was strongly backed in Parliament by the Maori Party co-leader Te Uraroa Flavell. Maori TV has always maintained a special relationship with the Maori Party, though not to the point it affects editorial policy.

The appointment of a new chief executive comes at an important watershed for Maori TV with questions about its future.

The board has always had a tension between those who want it to focus on development of the Maori language and promote Maori, and those who see it as appealing to a wider commercial audience encompassing both Maori and Pakeha.