Interim chief for Maori TV

The Maori Television Service has appointed Wayne Walden its interim chief executive.

Mr Walden, 55, is deputy chairman of the Meat Board and ran the Farmers Deka retail group for seven years until two years ago. He owns a beef and sheep farm in Northland and is estimated to have a net worth of $9 million.

Mr Walden fills the gap left by Canadian John Davy, who lasted fewer than seven weeks in the job before he was exposed as a fraud who had lied about his education qualifications and work experience.

MTS has contracted Mr Walden to head the channel until it appoints a chief executive. It is expected to be on air before the end of this year.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia welcomed the announcement.

"Mr Walden is well known as a man of integrity who has a long and successful history in business enterprise. Mr Walden and his team will provide advice to strengthen the service.

"This will allow MTS to move forward and focus on its business of getting a quality television service to air," he said in a statement.

This week an Ernst and Young report found Davy had used inadequate accounting methods in his short tenure as chief executive of MTS.

The review found his analysis of three critical strategic initiatives would have to be redone in greater detail.

Ernst and Young was also reviewing documents and the contract relating to Davy's appointment.

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