Turei Metiria: Maori Television Service Bill — Second Reading 
Turei Metiria: Maori Television Service Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:607;Page:4918] 
METIRIA TUREI (Green) 
: 
 The Greens are pleased to say that we support the second reading of this bill but we have some concerns that we hope will be dealt with in the Committee stage. We are very happy that the bill has finally come before the House; after spending some 12 months on the Order Paper it is a long time coming. As has been mentioned previously the whole issue concerning te reo as a taonga was first acknowledged by the Waitangi Tribunal in 1986. In 1993 the Privy Council made its decision which was one of very few it did make in support of Maori issues. In that decision the Privy Council again supported the funding of a special television service for the protection of that taonga. In 1996 we had the establishment of Aotearoa Television as a pilot which then ended somewhat messily in 1997. Since that time it has taken 6 years to finally develop legislation and a process for the establishment of a Maori television service that enables the Government to meet its treaty obligations. It is very overdue and we are pleased to see it finally before the House. 
The provision of a high-quality service focused on te reo and tikanga will make a huge contribution to both Maori and non-Maori communities. I am appalled to hear concerns that such a service will be divisive given that those kinds of accusations are certainly not levelled at Television New Zealand which concerns only one language in this country and which is broadcast primarily in that one language. Its commitment to te reo and to tikanga has come about only in recent times but of course that is not considered divisive. Yet when Maori are able to be reflected in one of the most important media opportunities that we currently have that is considered divisive by some people. 
They are wrong. This is not divisive. This is a way to enable all New Zealanders to have their views concerns and issues reflected in a television service that is primarily concerned with New Zealand concerns and views. It will be the only television service we have in this country that is primarily concerned with this country and its people and that is where its real strength lies. It is a clear indication of how in meeting treaty obligations and recognising the importance of te tiriti the Government and others can provide a contribution through that treaty obligation to all people in this country and help and establish community awareness and recognition of different values—values that are reflected in Maori and non-Maori communities. So we are very pleased to see this initiative coming to effect at some stage. 
However we do have some issues with the bill that I need to outline this afternoon. For us—and Sue Kedgley mentioned this in her first reading speech very well—the issue of the independence of the service from political interference is a serious concern. Although the Maori Affairs Committee did make some minor changes to the wording of the bill none the less there are still provisions in the bill that will undermine the political independence of the service; issues such as the level of financial accountability that the service will have to Ministers and to the Government if every time it wants to buy a stapler it has to get permission to do so. We believe that that kind of level of accountability could undermine by political interference. We believe that financial independence is crucial for a member of the fourth estate. 
So we will be putting forward an amendment during the Committee stage that will address that issue and ensure that in no circumstances are Ministers or any individuals whether or not with the permission of the board able to influence the programming the content or the management of the service in that respect. Maori services whether this service or some such body as the Waitangi Tribunal need to be accorded the same respect—the same standing—as any other similar body in our constitution. The protection of the fourth estate its independence in what it reports and the content of its reporting is very important to us so we will be putting forward an amendment during the Committee stage. 
We are also concerned about the Supplementary Order Paper that the Government has put forward particularly in relation to clause 28C in terms of the leasing of the UHF right to third parties to ensure that any third party that may use that spectrum does so completely committed to the purpose of the service. We will be putting forward an amendment that makes some minor changes in wording but none the less is a significant step in ensuring that any third party that takes on the spectrum will not only be committed to providing and promoting te reo and tikanga through the television service but that it is also committed to ensuring that it will broadcast primarily in te reo at prime time ensuring that at other times a substantial proportion of its programmes are in te reo ensuring that in the presentation of the service the needs of children and adults who are learning te reo are recognised as far as possible and technically available and also ensuring that practical access to the service will be maintained. 
For us it is not just about the content of the service but also about the delivery of the service that is essential. We look forward to putting forward our amendments at a later stage. 
Finally late last year we raised the concern about the spectrum and the choice of the Government to go with UHF instead of with the TV4 option. That is a very serious concern for us because the success of the service relies very much on its ability to access communities and for communities to see themselves reflected in that service. We are deeply concerned about that. Although it is very difficult for changes to be made to the bill at this late stage we would like to see some kind of commitment from the Government to ensure that at least for example marae are able to access the service and that there is funding provided for them to purchase aerials if they need to in order to ensure a high-quality level of service. 
If we start providing a Maori-focused television service that suffers from really bad reception or interference from other television receptions it will be considered to be bad quality. It will be undermined as being not as good as other television and will not get the support from the communities that it is supposed to support. It will not get the kind of recognition and standing from other non-Maori communities on which it can have a great impact in encouraging the relationships ethnic understanding and relationship development between all peoples in this country. 
So something like funding for marae would be extremely useful as some indication from the Government that it is committed to ensuring that all people get access to the television service. We look forward to discussion during the Committee stage and we are pleased to support the bill at its second reading. Again we would like to reiterate that we consider that the service is essential to this country it will be an excellent way to recognise te reo as being the only official language in this country and not at all divisive but as a way of bringing together communities—an essential issue in the 21st century.