Maori TV looks for 140 'right people'

The Maori Television Service is looking for 140 of the "right people" so it can make its much-delayed broadcasting start by the end of the year.

Chief executive Derek Fox said yesterday the service would be hiring "professional and technical team members" in four blocks between now and August.

"This approach ensures that the right people are recruited to the right positions at the right time," he said.

The service was to have started transmissions last year.

It has gone through a series of delays and arguments over how it would be set up, how it would transmit and who would run it.

Last year, it sacked its Canadian chief executive when it was revealed that he had lied about his background.

Mr Fox said yesterday the service would use recruitment company Executive Taskforce Group to recruit its new staff.

It had secured the MTS contract after a competitive tendering process, and would use a "collaborative approach" to find the people required.

Executive Taskforce Group's recruitment project manager Bill Clark said the search for people with "particular and specialist" television and broadcasting skills would start next week.

"Effectively, Maori Television is starting from the ground up and that will create opportunities for editors, reporters, production teams, camera, sound and studio crew alike."

- NZPA