Peters Jim: Maori Television Service Bill — In Committee 
Peters Jim: Maori Television Service Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:607;Page:5021] 
JIM PETERS (NZ First) 
: 
 The Minister has probably not been in the situation of a small boy in the playground who is confronted by a big guy who says: “I can beat you with my hands tied behind my back.” As I look at the clauses in Part 1 that is the situation I see. I sympathise with the Minister because that is the situation that this television service is in before it has even begun. It illustrates all the worst features of paternalism and all the worst features of years and years of a partial pass-over but not real authority. Why is that? The Minister in the chair the Hon Parekura Horomia is not remotely responsible for this service. Part 1 makes it very clear that that responsibility is shared with the Minister of Finance. So I am in great sympathy with the Minister of Maori Affairs before he even starts because his hands are well tied right up behind his back. 
The funding for this service is not sufficient. I could go through some of these clauses concerned with administration—which as we all know are not sufficient—but the most frustrating part relates to the doubtful passing to the Minister of any proper responsibility. [ 
Interruption 
] There may be laughter; time will tell. Despite what has been said by the previous member the pitiful amount of money that has been put into the service is already on record. Those members over there may comment but they should be ashamed of themselves because with all the expectations that were there in 2000 and with all the intentions behind the submissions that were made to the select committee just over a year ago they have allowed this bill to come to the Committee in an emasculated reduced form where the Minister in the chair really has no responsibility. Unlike my colleague Rodney Hide who last week found out that the Minister is responsible I say that in terms of Part 1 it is very clear that the Minister is not responsible. 
That is a way out and the Minister of Finance will not bear the public burden for the fact that the Minister of Maori Affairs will not get this service going at all. Anyone who has been working in the television industry and those who have come to the Committee with an understanding of the efforts of the previous Maori television service will realise that exactly what I am saying will prove to be correct. That may be the reason the Minister’s amendment to clause 3 states that there could be a flick-off before the service has even started and before we will retrospectively correct the malpractices of the past in regard to Mr Davy and others. 
Clause 3 allows for the rights or the spectrum licence of the safely guarded and much cared for UHF spectrum to be transferred to a third party other than this service. Why is that? Is there an expectation that somewhere down the line or in the very near future this will not work and that the very carefully selected frequency will not be able to be used in the long term? I would like the Minister to pick that matter up if and when he chooses to rise. I would like to know why clause 3(ca) is there. Clause 5 very carefully sets out the intent for that frequency to be for the sole use of this television service. 
Parts of the expected protections in regard to the appointment of directors will be difficult to achieve in the Maori world. No one working in Maori television will not have a conflict of interest. Nobody at present on the board does not have a conflict of interest apart from the newly appointed chairman. From our side of the Chamber I have to say that the new chairman does bring some semblance of conformity experience and expectation to the service although this party does not support the furtherance of this bill. 
Why? Again I say that Part 1 gives no confidence in regard to who will have responsibility. Over the years to come it will be a big drawback for the Minister to have his hands tied behind his back. It is the Minister of Finance who holds the portfolio not the Minister of Maori Affairs.