Maori launch search for achievers in TV

By Richard Knight

Maori who want to set up their own television centre before the end of the year have started recruiting Maori experienced in all parts of broadcasting.

Hone Harawira, chairman of the electoral college Te Reo Maori Television Trust, said the plan was to appoint six trustees by early March.

"The search is on for Maori achievers in the areas of television broadcasting, Maori language, education and business to lead the new Maori channel," he said.

The trustees would probably set up a small operational company to manage the channel under contract to the trust. The management company would have the technical and editorial responsibility for getting programmes to air.

Mr Harawira said only 8 per cent of Maori adults spoke the language fluently and with one-third of those speakers over 60 years it was up to the youth to keep the language alive.

"Given those statistics, the proposed channel will have to screen Maori language programming to attract and hold the interest of young Maori in particular," he said.

The electoral college did not expect the channel to earn money in its early years and would depend on Government funding.

Last May, the Minister of Maori Affairs, Tau Henare, and the Minister of Communications, Maurice Williamson, announced the Crown's intention to set aside $11 million to help set up the channel.

Annual funding would then come from the Maori broadcasting funding agency, Te Mangai Paho.