Horomia Parekura: Maori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Maori) Bill — Third Reading 
Horomia Parekura: Maori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Maori) Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:608;Page:5279] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
: 
 I move  
That the Maori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Maori) Bill be now read a third time 
. E te rangatira whakahaere korero tena koe. E aku hoa mema o te Kawanatanga me nga mema o Tera Taha tena tatou katoa. I a koutou Winitana e mihi ake ano i a koutou. He kaupapa whakahirahira rawa atu tenei mo nga iwi Maori katoa o Aotearoa mo te reo Maori mo nga tikanga. Na reira he mea nui tonu tenei ki te whakatakoto i Te Pire Aratuku Whakaata Irirangi Maori ki tenei Whare mo te panuitanga tuatoru. Tena tatou katoa. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Greetings to you Mr Speaker. To my fellow members of the Government to the members on that side of the House greetings to us all. To you too Winston and the others greetings as well to you. This policy is one of vast importance for all of the Maori people of New Zealand for Maori language and for Maori customs. So indeed it is a privilege to present the Maori Television Service Bill for its third reading. Greetings to us all 
.] 
The Maori Television Service Bill was introduced on 20 November 2001. The first reading took place on 5 December 2001. The bill was then referred to the Maori Affairs Committee for consideration. After careful consideration the Maori Affairs Committee reported the bill back to the House on 7 May 2002 with a number of amendments. The select committee’s amendments were adopted in full during the Committee stage as were a number of further minor amendments put forward. Amendments adopted at the Committee stage include: a new translation of the preamble of the Maori title for the bill; requiring the service to foster where appropriate its broadcasting capacities for appropriate training and education; aligning the provisions relating to the independence of the service with a similar provision in the recently passed Television New Zealand Act; removal of the Kaitiaki Trust; the inclusion of a clause protecting the name Maori Television Service; a tightened and clearer disputes resolution process; and a review of the bill 5 years after enactment. 
The amendments I have listed have been the source of significant debate and to a large extent speak for themselves. The amendments provide greater clarity in some areas and will assist those parties that have to work with the Act. The review of the bill in 5 years’ time is a particularly important addition. It recognises that the bill brings forward a new model of cooperation between the Crown and Maori. It also recognises the creation of a new entity in a fast-changing broadcasting environment. It is appropriate therefore that in 5 years time we take stock of our achievements and address any fine-tuning that may be required. 
Since the commitments made in the early 1990s a dedicated Maori television channel has been a long time coming. In the sense of finalising a Maori need for its usage within this nation the journey has taken nearly 43 years. I am proud to be part of a Government that has remained focused on its commitment to promoting and protecting the Maori language and culture and providing an outlet for showcasing Maori achievement—whether cultural social or commercial. Within Maoridom there are many expectant viewers awaiting the Maori television channel. I envisage that all New Zealanders will come to understand embrace and value the contribution of the Maori Television Service to our identity. We have just witnessed a great finalisation of the settlement with the Ngati Ruanui people. It is important and it would be great if the whole nation were given the opportunity to understand the detail behind the settlement the issues that are relevant to the situation that Ngati Ruanui found itself in throughout our history and its needs today. 
I agree also with Darren Hughes who noted in the House during the second reading of this bill that many Pakeha would be eagerly awaiting the Maori channel. I know that none of those people will be disappointed. The service will provide programming that will entertain promote education and development inspire people in communities and challenge people about who they are and their place in this world. It is well known that nonsensical prejudices prevail at times both in this House and in other areas of the country. It is important that the Maori Television Service is recognised as a platform for better informing this nation’s people and as an asset for all New Zealanders in the future. It is about Maori needs; it is about expressing showing and informing other people better. 
The service will place a particular emphasis on targeting our young people. In terms of Maori demographics 40 percent of our people are in the 14 to 16-year-old group and 65 percent are 25 years and younger. The media they follow and the interconnectivity they have with things like television are well known. I remind the House that over 50 percent of Maori are in those age groups. The service will provide an unparalleled opportunity for Maori to tell their stories and for all New Zealanders to gain a better understanding rather than being fed the nonsense they are at times fed by ill-informed and ill-prepared people who want to continue with scurrilous and scandalous upheavals and scratch the prejudices of people who do not care about the first people of this nation the tangata whenua. 
I thank the people who have played a key role in supporting the establishment of the service. For their support and vision I thank my Cabinet colleagues the Maori Affairs Committee the Maori caucus and the Maori members of other parties who have come up quietly—even though their parties might not have agreed—and said they supported the bill. I feel privileged to have worked with them. I also thank my colleagues in the Green Party for their continuing support in standing against all other prejudices to support this bill. I also thank United Future for the odd times it voted for this bill—contrary to what was said in the newspaper the other day. I know that those members have a vision for seeing a new Maori channel available in every kohanga reo and kura in the country and available also in people’s sitting rooms. That is what it is about. 
More broadly I remind the House that the establishment of the Maori Television Service Bill is the consequence of significant consultation negotiation and agreement between the Government and a number of Maori stakeholder organisations. They include the original claimants in the broadcasting asset case—the New Zealand Maori Council Nga Kaiwhakapumau i te Reo the Te Reo Maori Television Trust Te Putahi Paoho and its representative bodies including the National Maori Congress and the Maori Women’s Welfare League—and especially the hapu iwi and whanau around this country. I acknowledge those organisations and the many individuals who have worked long and hard for this day. 
Of the people associated with those organisations and with the promotion and protection of te reo Maori generally I especially want to recognise Dr Huirangi Waikerepu and Sir Graham Latimer who took the case initially and have campaigned for it over the years. I also acknowledge the board and wish the chair Wayne Walden and the new provisional chief executive well in the sense of their persistence and professionalism. Like the rest of New Zealand I look forward to seeing the results of the hard work and commitment of the service when the channel goes to air. Finally I wish to thank the officials for their work especially those from Te Puni Kokiri. 
I commend the Maori Television Service Bill to this House.