Maori broadcasters miss out

A No-English-language policy at this year's Maori Media Awards means many Maori broadcasters will be excluded.

Mangere-based Radio Waatea will boycott the March awards following a decision by the event organisers, Te Whakaruruhau o Nga Reo Irirangi Maori, that non-Maori-speaking programmes cannot enter.

The ban affects a number of the urban radio station's programmes and announcers, including Julian Wilcox, Syd Jackson and Titewhai Harawira, because their programmes are in English or a bi-lingual mix. Also excluded are leading national mainstream Maori journalists including Gideon Porter and Jodi Ihaka of TVOne and Mike McRoberts of TV3.

Te Whakaruruhau o Nga Reo Irirangi Maori chairman Hone Harawira said the awards were designed to promote the Maori language.

"It's not about elitism, it's about promoting the Maori language.

"We are not anti the English language."

But Radio Waatea general manager Willie Jackson said the awards should be about promoting Maori excellence in broadcasting - "not about te reo fundamentalists pushing an elitist agenda".

"Maori media is not just about te reo, it is about putting a Maori perspective - and sometimes that is in English - and they [the award organisers] don't want that acknowledged.

"Whakaruruhau are saying that the only broadcasting that counts are the ones using the Maori language. That is discriminatory.

"Ironically it's people like Hone's mother - who makes a major contribution to Maori broadcasting - who are cut out by this decision," Mr Jackson said.

The awards are in their second year. The presentation ceremony will be held in Rotorua on March 19.