Fox role at Maori TV in question

By LOUISA CLEAVE

The Government's partner in the Maori Television Service is threatening to withdraw its support for chairman Derek Fox.

Te Putahi Paaho, the Electoral College of Maori organisations and language groups, said yesterday that it had agreed to Mr Fox's appointment in a secret deal with the Government.

Faith Denny, Te Putahi Paaho project manager, would not reveal details of the deal but said it was "very indirectly related" to the service.

"In exchange for an agreement from [Maori Affairs Minister] Parekura [Horomia] about something Te Putahi Paaho is interested in - and it's relating to the language, the regeneration of te reo - [Te Putahi Paaho] agreed to Derek being the chair."

The college has written to Mr Horomia asking the Government to honour the deal or it will withdraw its support of Mr Fox.

Faith Denny said the college wanted tangible evidence that the Government would do what it promised.

"And the only leverage they have at the moment is withdrawing their support."

She said there was no immediate threat to Mr Fox's chairmanship, "unless it becomes very obvious that ... there is not going to be any resolution".

The college board expected an agreement before the end of the year.

In Parliament yesterday, Act MP Rodney Hide asked Mr Horomia if the Electoral College had written declaring it had no confidence in Mr Fox.

Mr Horomia said there was "a testing" of Mr Fox's chairmanship but he was comfortable with that.

Faith Denny said the letter to Mr Horomia was not a vote of no confidence in Mr Fox.

She said a separate letter had raised concerns about whether Mr Fox's freelance work at TVNZ was in conflict with his board position. Mr Fox is a presenter on the Sunday morning Marae programme.

"The board [of Te Putahi Paaho] wrote to both Derek and responsible ministers expressing their dissatisfaction with him holding the chairmanship while working, to all intents and purposes, for their major competitor," said Faith Denny.

"But it is not something they feel sufficiently strongly enough about to say 'we'll withdraw our agreement'."

Derek Fox would not comment on electoral college business or politics.

Further reading
Feature: Maori TV