Maori TV programmes 'piling up in a tin shed'

By AUDREY YOUNG Political Editor

Former MP Tukoroirangi Morgan has received $3.2 million from Te Mangai Paho to make television programmes, says Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia.

He issued the information yesterday after parliamentary questions from Act MP Rodney Hide.

Mr Hide said his beef was not with Mr Morgan, but with Government MPs who from the Opposition had criticised Mr Morgan for having spent $89 on boxer shorts from money he received helping to set up the Aotearoa pilot Maori channel.

"If you listened to [Prime Minister] Helen Clark and [Education Minister] Trevor Mallard when they were in Opposition, they complained bitterly for weeks.

"They have turned around and got into power ... and he has turned around and secured $3.2 million.

"Good luck to Tuku, but what is going on with this money and how is it being spent?"

According to Mr Horomia, Mr Morgan's production company Astraeus NZ has received nine funding approvals from Te Mangai Paho since 2000, including $1.8 million for 10 programmes in a series Hawaiki on Polynesian history.

The most recent was $200,000 in May this year for a programme called "Golfing Mad" for Maori Television Service.

"I worry about every one of these shows," said Mr Hide." I worry about Golfing Mad. It is probably a lot better than Brian Edwards' show but we can't get to see it.

"At least we have the choice of turning Brian Edwards off," he said in reference to a attacks he has made against funding for Edwards' Saturday night show on TV One, Edwards at Large.

"We don't have the choice of turning off Tuku ... because it ain't put on air.

"As far as I can tell these programmes are just piling up at the back of a tin shed. We are at the point where we should say 'enough already'."

A little more than $2 million of the funding has gone on productions not aimed at MTS.

The service is more than a year behind schedule, plagued with problems including appointing fraudster John Davy as chief executive, and lengthy delays in settling on a broadcasting platform.

MTS spokeswoman Sony Haggie said it was hoped the channel would be on air this year. She said there was commercial sensitivity around the programmes.