Many taonga in among a couple of clangers for Maori TV launch

Perfect tone. Wrong key.

The dawn launch of Maori Television had the makings of a feel-good Sunday but putting the wrong Maori name to the wrong Maori face tested the faith.

Before the first hymn one guest was incorrectly keyed as well-known Maori leader Dr Pita Sharples. It was quickly corrected but more name errors followed.

It is a tiny flaw but in broadcasting it is a big sin. Maori, especially, are known to hammer mainstream media for such a slight, and rightly so. Getting more Maori faces on television includes getting their names right. Forgiveness is a luxury MTS can't afford.

The launch did produce a morning star - presenter Julian Wilcox. The former TV One Te Karere news reporter guided viewers, ad-libbed with authority, relevance and at times irreverence.

Wilcox could teach a thing or two to mainstream presenters who become blubbering idiots without an autocue.

As a first live broadcast it was imperative MTS hit the spot technically. Well-placed cameras with solid directing provided great coverage and people spotting. (We love guest gazing at hui - it rates right up there with good kai and clean toilets.)

TVNZ management was there in full force and gifted a taonga of pounamu while TV3 sent its big guns, newsreaders Carol Hirschfeld and John Campbell. TV3 is also providing MTS with stories and technical support for news - now that's a taonga a fledgling station can really use.

Programming proper began with a look inside MTS and its people.

Keeping old hands and executives to a minimum, the show emphasised its young staff and their optimism. It's simple, clever viewer recruitment.

Kai Time on The Road dished up two lucky fullas eating their way across the country followed by the late, great Billy T James. Te News is as funny now as it was 20 years ago but other skits were more nostalgic than side-splitting. Billy T poked fun at Arabs pre-terrorism - what would he make of Brash and present race relations?

Children's programming commanded the afternoon. With the shows in te reo presented by kids rather than adults trying to be kids, the young talent alone is worth tuning in for.

Te Kaea, the news, opened with a wrap of the day. With footage literally on their doorstep, it's the easiest reporting they'll ever do. Yet the lead stories lacked pace and sharpness.

The test will be whether Te Kaea can ask the hard questions on the hard issues. Just as MTS deserves a chance, Maori viewers deserve the answers and nothing less.

* Maramena Roderick is a former Herald and TVNZ reporter.