Harawira Hone: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Harawira Hone: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:644;Page:13504] 
5.  
HONE HARAWIRA (Maori Party—Te Tai Tokerau) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: He aha nga nekehanga whakamua kua oti i te whakatunga o te Mangai Whakatakoto Hotaka Maori na Te Reo Tataki o Aotearoa i panui i nga marama e toru ki muri hei wahanga o ta ratau kapa arahitanga whanui ake a i runga pea i te whakaaro ka mana ta ratau kawenata kia tino whai reo a ngai Maori i roto i nga mahi whakatakoto hotaka whakatakoto mahere hoki? 
[ 
What progress has been made in appointing the Maori programming commissioner which Television New Zealand announced three months ago as part of its broader leadership team and which presumably was intended to fulfil its charter obligations to ensure Maori participation in programmes and planning? 
] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Broadcasting) 
: 
 Ka nui te mahi. However employment matters are an operational issue for the chief executive. 
Hone Harawira 
: Is the Minister aware that Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has put its Maori programming commissioner position on hold as a consequence of Te Mangai Paho’s decision to delay any further funding rounds until June 2008 and can he explain to the House why this unprecedented delay in television funding has occurred? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I understand that the positions have been delayed while decisions are made by Television New Zealand as to the future of the Maori programming which does go to funding issues. 
Pita Paraone 
: Does an increase in the use of the Maori language outside Maori-specific shows such as  
Te Karere 
 and  
Marae 
 form part of TVNZ’s charter obligations and would the Minister agree that the shift of  
Te Karere 
 and  
Marae 
 to less popular timeslots shows TVNZ is paying only lip-service to its commitment under the charter to promote the Maori language? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: In response to the last part of the member’s question I am advised by TVNZ that the screenings have increased from two to three times a day and in fact that there has been a 75 percent increase in programme reach as a result of that. 
Hone Harawira 
: If there is no new funding how will Maori Television be able to create and produce the new Maori language channel which is due to be launched in March of 2008? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Clearly these funding issues are things that are being worked through at the moment. Priorities have to be set and there is a big debate about how much of the content should be on TVNZ and get a very broad spread how much should be on the first Maori channel and how much should be on the Maori language channel. That is something that gets worked through. 
Hone Harawira 
: Is the Minister aware that in August 2007 Maori Television recorded its highest ratings ever with a monthly cumulative audience of 767000 viewers and how does he suppose that Maori Television can satisfy its ever-increasing demand for programmes given that independent production companies will not be able to access any funding for new productions for at least another 6 months? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I do not accept that the assertion in the last part of the member’s question is necessarily correct but the member is right that the cumulative numbers are going very well. I am sure many members of this House are responsible for three or four of those viewings during that month.