Whakaata Māori

Whakaata Māori is a New Zealand television channel that broadcasts programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture.[1] Funded by the New Zealand Government, it commenced broadcasting as Māori Television on 28 March 2004 from its studios in Newmarket, Auckland. It has since moved to East Tamaki, Auckland.

Whakaata Māori
CountryNew Zealand
HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
Programming
Picture format
Ownership
Owner
Sister channelsTe Reo
History
Launched28 March 2004 (2004-03-28)
Former namesMāori Television (2004-2022)
Links
Websitewww.whakaatamaori.co.nz
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview5

History
Māori Television logo used from 2004–2022.

Māori Television was launched on 28 March 2004 and attracted 300,000 viewers in its second month of operation.[2] The main channel attracts 1.5 million viewers each month, including half of all Māori aged five or more, and one-third of all New Zealanders.[3] Te Reo, a second channel from Māori Television, was launched on 28 March 2008. [4] In contrast with the main channel, it is ad-free and completely in the Māori language (without subtitles). Te Reo features special tribal programming with a particular focus on new programming for the fluent members of its audience.

On 23 May 2022, the channel announced that it was going to change its official name to Whakaata Māori, the name being used in the Māori since the channel's inception, but until then not at an official scale. The new name took effect on June 9 with a special dawn ceremony.[5]

Operations

The channel operates under the stewardship of the New Zealand government, and the Māori Television Electoral College (Te Putahi Paoho). As of 2021 it had a budget of NZ$19.24 million.[6]

In July 2015, Māori Television's seven-member board of directors decided that Hamilton or Rotorua could be a new home for the broadcaster.[7][8]

Ratings

A survey in 2009 by Business and Economic Research Limited found that 84% of the general New Zealand population think Māori Television should be a permanent part of New Zealand broadcasting.[3]

Whakaata Māori continues to attract an increasingly broad audience across ages, genders and ethnicities. More than two-thirds of its audience are non-Māori. They are drawn by the channel's local programming, such as Kai Time on the Road, Kete Aronui and Ask Your Auntie; New Zealand movies and documentaries; and the diverse range of international features not seen on other NZ networks.

Programming

Mission

The channel aims to revitalise Māori language and culture through its programming. The relevant legislation says "The principal function of the Service is to promote te reo Māori me nga tikanga Māori (Māori language and culture) through the provision of a high quality, cost-effective Māori television service, in both Māori and English, that informs, educates, and entertains a broad viewing audience, and, in doing so, enriches New Zealand's society, culture, and heritage".

Controversies

Canadian John Davy was appointed chief executive of Māori Television in 2002. However, it was found that his qualifications were false — he claimed to hold a degree from "Denver State University" which did not exist — and he was fired.[10] In 2005, newsreader Julian Wilcox was fired (and reinstated) after he contributed to information provided to other media that led to negative coverage of the channel. That same year, Te Kāea presenter Ngarimu Daniels was banned from taking part in protests, and her partner was referred to as a "dyke" by a senior channel manager. She was awarded $16,000 compensation,[11] and her partner, Leonie Pihama, a leading Māori academic and film-maker, resigned from the channel's board, citing a conflict of interest.

In 2015, the channel's star broadcaster, Mihingarangi Forbes, resigned after complaints arose that senior management (including CEO Paora Maxwell) were attempting to shut down a story critical of the Kohanga Reo National Trust Board to be broadcast on her show Native Affairs.[12] An external consultant recommended to the channel's board that reporting "not challenge and critique one another", leading some (including commentator Morgan Godfery) to question whether journalists at Māori Television had the necessary freedom to report on the failures of elders in Māoridom. Native Affairs and other current affairs programming was later cut back or cancelled altogether, a decision criticised by Green MP Marama Davidson.[13]

In 2019, the channel offered candidates for the Auckland mayoralty the opportunity to pay $500 to be interviewed and to have that interview broadcast on its TV and digital platforms, an offer one candidate described as close to "extortion".[14]

References
  1. Impact of Mäori Television on the Mäori Language (PDF) (Report). Te Puni Kōkiri. July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2017. The Impact Survey results show a consistent relationship between greater viewing of Mäori Television and increasing language usage, greater language learning, and proficiency increases and maintenance. Collectively these outcomes point towards Māori Television having a marked positive contributing impact on Mäori language revitalisation.
  2. "Non-Maori fans of Maori TV". New Zealand Herald. 24 June 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  3. "Maori Television Marks Fifth On-Air Anniversary". Throng. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  4. Māori Television (9 March 2008). "Māori Television launches second channel". Māori Television. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008.
  5. "The Dawn Of A New Era. Māori Television Unveil New Name – Whakaata Māori". Scoop.co.nz. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  6. "Vote Māori Development" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 2021. p. 25. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  7. "Maori Television could move offices". 3 News. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
  8. "Board & Executive". Māori Television. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. "Five prominent Maori leaders share lifetime award for commitment to te reo and tikanga". Māori Television. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  10. Louisa Cleave (29 May 2002). "John Davy sent to prison for eight months". The New Zealand Herald.
  11. Beston, Anne (31 August 2005). "Māori TV presenter wins $16,000, right to protest". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  12. Fisher, David. "Why Maori TV broadcaster Mihingarangi Forbes quit". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  13. Davidson, Marama (7 May 2016). "I'm a huge fan of Māori TV. Which is why I'm hugely worried about what's going on there". The Spinoff. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  14. Braae, Alex (23 September 2019). "Pay-for-play accusation as Māori TV offers mayoral candidates $500 interview". The Spinoff. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
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