No news is bad news for critics

Maori television has been criticised for stopping its nightly news broadcast for almost a month over the Christmas-New Year period.

Te Kaea, which usually broadcasts every night at 7.30pm, was stopped on December 24.

It will return on January 17.

Waitangi Fisheries Commission chairman Shane Jones said he was appalled that Maori TV had decided to "go on holiday".

"It's hard to imagine a busier time within Maori communities. People are meeting for unveilings, celebrating the better things in life."

He said the publicly funded channel was slacking in its role as a quality Maori news provider.

"If you want to consistently promote the language in a healthy fashion, then you have to perform.

"The civil service may be on holiday but the Maori language is not, and Maori stories continue to bubble away unreported and neglected."

TV One's te reo news bulletin, Te Karere, and urban iwi station Radio Waatea have continued to broadcast.

Maori Television Service spokeswoman Sonia Haggie said the news service was stopped because of staffing levels.

The service did not have enough staff to keep the news service going and give employees a break over Christmas.