McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8036] 
8.  
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (NZ National—East Coast Bays) 
 to the  
Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Is it correct that the Maori Television Service was due to commence broadcasting in June 2002 and when is the channel now expected to commence broadcasting following the resignation of its chief executive Derek Fox last week? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Maori Affairs 
: Yes. The to-air date is still dependent upon a number of operational activities as identified in the Maori Television Service’s 2003-04 statement of intent. Good progress has been made on a number of those issues. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Given that the Maori Television Service under the supervision of the Minister of Maori Affairs has now lost two chief executives in addition to both the chairman and the chief executive of Te Mangai Paho is now running over 18 months late in meeting its target on-air date and has UHF frequencies that will cause interference to several hundred thousand New Zealand television viewers can the Minister assure the House that the Minister of Maori Affairs has everything under control? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I hesitate a little to bring this up but it is my understanding that the member who is asking the questions has extensive radio interests. If he gives me an assurance that that is no longer the case then I will accept it but he certainly did have them recently. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. The member asked a legitimate question; he deserves a legitimate answer. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The Maori Television Service legislation has now been passed and the board is in control of the operation and development of the Maori Television Service. Certainly it has been taking longer to achieve conclusion than would have been hoped but a number of factors have contributed to that. 
Mahara Okeroa 
: Could the Minister explain the progress that the Maori Television Service has made to date? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Suitable studio and accommodation premises have been found and staff recruited while 1100 hours of programming have been completed operational funding issues have been resolved and transmission issues are hopefully close to being resolved. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Does the Minister think it is acceptable that the Maori Television Service board drop its investigation into the complaint that Derek Fox sexually harassed a female staff member just because Derek Fox has resigned; if so are there two standards in this country: one for the Maori Television Service and one for every other employer who has to abide by the health and safety in employment regulations? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: That is a board matter. Of course if further complaints are to be made then that could well be a police matter. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Is the Minister able to confirm reports that the Government is now considering a proposal to use different UHF frequencies for the Maori Television Service because the allocated frequencies at 35 to 38 on the band would have the effect of causing interference to some hundreds of thousands of New Zealand television viewers; if so can the Minister advise when the Government will decide that matter? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The member’s friends in Sky have certainly been involved in discussions with the Maori Television Service on this matter. The issue he refers to is one of Sky—and indeed of a number of other users—illegally camping on broadcasting frequencies reserved for Maori broadcasting. 
Deborah Coddington 
: In the light of his answer to my previous supplementary question why will the Minister not direct the board of the Maori Television Service to allow Derek Fox to clear his good name through a board inquiry? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: It was Mr Fox’s conclusion that it was better to resign at that point.