Maori TV Service
A Maori Television Service is expected to be on air from June 2002. The new service will broadcast in Maori and English. When the service goes on air, it will screen a mixture of original programming and archived material. At the proposed funding levels it's expected there would be about 2 hours of original programming a day. This will build to 3 hours by the third year of operation. About 70% of NZ households should be able to receive the channel on UHF frequencies. The channel could also be simulcast on a digital satellite service.
Legal Structure
After an interim phase the Maori Television Service would be established as a statutory corporation, with its own legislation - planned to be introduced into Parliament this year. There will be seven directors on the board and a board-appointed Chief Executive. Three directors would be appointed by the Crown and four by an electoral college, comprised of representatives from Maori organisations. The service could also set up a Kaumatua Council, which would have some kind of advisory role.
Funding
It's thought that funding for Maori programming would need to be increased above current levels by up to $7.3 million in 2002/03, $14.6 million in 2003/04, and about $21.9 million in 2004/05 and the years beyond this. This would mean that the total funding dedicated to Maori television programming would be (in 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05, respectively):
- Maori television programmes: $29.9 million, $34.291 million, $41.683 million, $49.074 million;
- MTV operations and transmission: $3.863 million, $6 million, $6 million, $6 million;
- total Maori television: $33.763 million, $40.291 million, $47.683 million, $55.074 million.
Both New Zealand On Air and Te Mangai Paho currently fund Maori television programmes. Most of that funding will be available to the new Maori television service, with TVNZ retaining funding for its current in-house production of Maori programmes.
Funding will continue to be allocated through Te Mangai Paho. Although it's expected that the Maori Television Service will be able to make programmes in-house, it's likely that most of the new programmes would be produced by independent producers. Regarding archived Maori programmes, arrangements over archival material would be negotiated with Te Mangai Paho, relevant broadcasters (Television New Zealand, TV 3 and TV 4), and relevant production companies.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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