Sharples Pita: Māori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Māori) Amendment Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSharples Pita: Māori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Māori) Amendment Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 19 November 2013. Volume:695;Page:14948. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr PITA SHARPLES (Minister of Māori Affairs): Kia ora. The mediator idea is not really necessary because Te Pūtahi Pāoho does not have anything to do with the actual management of the Whakaata Māori spectrum. That is totally Whakaata Māori’s province. Te Pūtahi Pāoho is a group that represents Te Ao Māori who are kaitiaki of that taonga. They are there because they represent groups who are fighting for the survival of tō tātau Reo.If we go back to 1960 the reo was in a very poor state and it began with Ngā Tamatoa and Kaiwhakapūmau i Te Reo and we grew. In 1980 you would have been hard put to find any MPs in this House who could name more than four tribes because the Government did not trade with Māori at all. So we have come a long way and there will be mistakes made along the way. Just to answer your question a mediator for Te Pūtahi Pāoho would be unnecessary really because that does not involve its role.As for the future use of the spectrum I think one of the most important things there is Whakapiki i Te Reo so that we can make sure there is growth in Aotearoa and so that we can provide programmes on Māori Television that complement the work done outside by Panekiretanga kura kaupapa wānanga and those others right down to kōhanga. If you go into Māori homes that are involved in one of these Te Reo Māori programmes you will find all the family and the little children are watching Māori programmes in the main until the teenager wants to switch to TV2. So that is the most important thing.The second thing is the quality of Te Reo Māori to actually provide programmes that lift the bar in terms of Te Reo Māori and expose different tribal authorities or experts in Te Reo Māori speaking and debating on the marae but also discussing topics like Halley’s Comet and how often it comes combustion engines or whatever is topical. That requires a degree of excellence in Te Reo Māori to be able to carry that.The other thing is to have relevant programmes for Māori to grow as a people in this country but also to embrace New Zealand as a single culture. It is a fact that they did remove from the first draft the idea that it is there for all parts of—I have forgotten the actual wording. But they have taken away the clause to cover the needs of all New Zealanders because it has a particular function. You cannot do everything so it is focusing on Te Reo Māori and through that out to the rest of New Zealand.So more Reo content more quality Reo content are our desires for that. Also there is the international involvement. Whakaata Māori has led the world of indigenous people to create a network of indigenous television and it is really exciting that we are able to share programmes of other indigenous peoples’ journeys and note the parallels and so on. So that is some of the stuff that I can give off the cuff about the plans for Whakaata Māori.There is no change in the spectrum use of Whakaata Māori allocation. So it is in fact still the same allocation to pursue those goals. It is not going to change halfway through as some thought might happen. That is not going to happen because of if you like the direction that they have written down to take.I think it is important to note the support that Whakaata Māori provides to other Māori initiatives that consummate if you like the fact that there is a Māori culture in this country—like during the Rugby World Cup. Māori Television was getting some of the games to broadcast but even more important it was showcasing Māori rugby in the waka Māori down at the waterfront and there are other activities that it does in the public arena like as you have mentioned Anzac Day tangihanga of leaders and things like that. People get an insight into that. The reaction is very very positive and it should be because it is real and it is New Zealand. It is for all New Zealand. So that is all I have to say at this stage.Parts 1 and 2 and clause 1 agreed to.The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 391 in the name of the Hon Dr Pita Sharples to clause 2 be agreed to.Amendment agreed to.Clause 2 as amended agreed to.Clause 3 agreed to.Bill reported with amendment.Report adopted.