MP: Maori TV grant data revised

History appears to have been rewritten to blur the purpose of a grant for a television station run by high-profile activist Hone Harawira, a National MP says.

Last March National MP Katherine Rich slammed the Community Employment Group's $115,000 grant to "Te Hiku TV", asking why the Government was funding another Maori channel when it was already pouring millions into the Maori Television Service.

The Government, stinging after National leader Don Brash's Orewa race speech, denied it was for a Maori television station and claimed it was recorded incorrectly in CEG's database.

The denial was repeated in an internal Labour Department audit of the grant to Kaitaia-based Te Reo Irirangi o Te Hiku o Te Ika released just four days from Christmas, which said it was for a "sustainable community enterprise in the business of regional television".

Yet documents obtained under the Official Information Act by the Herald after a nine-month delay appear to show a different story.

CEG managers called Te Hiku TV a Maori station, questioned its viability and were worried how the grant would look given the Government was spending millions of dollars on MTS. The papers include:

* A March 2002 file note from CEG worker Colleen Kautai questioning the amount, particularly because of the separate Maori Television Service.

She said Te Hiku TV's business plan was not viable and not suited as a Community Employment Organisation (CEO) initiative.

* A March 2002 memo from CEG's national office said: "The field adviser suggests that the 'project is a timely one in terms of Maori television development'. I'm more inclined to wonder why we should invest a large amount ... when the Government is investing a large amount of money in a Maori Television Service."

* An April 2003 paper recommending approval noted: "The project to establish a regional Maori television service has developed over the past three years with CEG providing funding support to enable research into the idea ... "

Mrs Rich said the subsequent denials about the grant's purpose showed history was being rewritten.

Department chief executive James Buwalda denied the claim yesterday, saying there was "sloppy process in the way things were recorded in the database".

He said valid questions were asked about the grant's purpose when it was being assessed.

It was eventually concluded that the grant was not for a Maori television service but for a non-profit TV service in the Far North region.

Despite that, Dr Buwalda said that in hindsight the grant should never have been made.

Mr Harawira, a former CEG employee, said CEG originally considered the application was for a regional Maori television service similar to MTS, but smaller.

"Those first impressions were entirely their own," he said.

CEG has been disbanded and most of its grant functions will go to the Ministry of Social Development.