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World Cup bid a 'platform for promoting the Maori language' - Sharples

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Fri, 09 Oct 2009 9:44a.m.

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples

Finance Minister Bill English raised concerns about taxpayer funds for Maori development being used for a Maori Television bid to screen Rugby World Cup games, it was reported today.

Maori Television (MTS) put in a $3 million taxpayer-funded bid - greater than bids by Television New Zealand and TV3 - for the 2011 World Cup's free-to-air broadcast rights.

The bid, supported by Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples, was paid out of Te Puni Kokiri (Ministry for Maori Development) money set aside to foster Maori development and not the $16.5 million given to the channel to fund its operation.

Dr Sharples argued it was a good use of money as the games could be used as a platform for promoting the Maori language.

The New Zealand Herald reported that Finance Minister Bill English had raised concerns about TPK funding which he only learnt about after the bid went in.

It was only after the National Government became aware of the extra taxpayer funding being used that MTS changed its bid to allow sub-licensing rights for either TVNZ or TV3.

Mr English was told about the TPK funding in a letter from Associate Maori Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu.

He received the letter on September 7 but the bid had gone in on September 4.

A spokesman for Mr English said he was overseas when Mrs te Heuheu's letter arrived.

"On receiving the letter, the Finance Minister and his office raised concerns about the process and the proposed TPK funding with both TPK and Minister Sharples."

MTS spokeswoman Sonya Haggie confirmed the station originally sought exclusive rights but last week told the International Rugby Board it was open to changing its bid to allow it to sub-license the rights to TVNZ or TV3.

Prime Minister John Key on Monday said he expected whoever won the bid to be able to broadcast to the whole country - MTS reaches about 90 percent.

Broadcasting sources said it would not be possible to sub-license only to cover MTS blackspots and that TVNZ and TV3 would want their own commentary on matches.

NZPA
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Comments

14 Oct 2009 04:58p.m.

mills wrote:

Well done M.T.V. Just for the misinformed. Maori language is recognised as a national language alongside the english language in this country. Maori have every right to develop themselves as much as the next. As it stands the PM seems to think so to regarding the broadcasting bid. Unfortunately his ministers jumped on the idea far too late and are licking their wounds trying to scramble to get a look in.
The government has in the past supported TVNZ bids on sport such as the Yatching world cup fiasco in Auckland via duct, and spent millions and millions of TAX PAYERS money on this. TVNZ has bid for such events as the Olympics, winter olympics and commonwealth games with no gain at all. Unfortunately the very MAORI that are suppose to be in the 'spoils of misfortune' within this country are clever, strategic, bold, honest and wise enough to pip tvnz and tv3 at the post. its a case of 'tough' and get use to it folks, Maori entities and individuals have birth right to express in any forum as much as tauiwi. CONGRATS MAORI TV...watch their space because theyre not stupid either, it will be televised in both languages, unlike TVNZ and TV3. Now thats an inclusive approach and more of it is needed and needs to be taught to those who are so afraid of relinquishing the power and be overtaken?. Change is inevitable and now there are people who can make a difference for the better. For all you who disregard MTV, try watching for a week. YOu will be amazed at the National and international approach MTV has on events that are in our faces in one way of another. Its not all about Americanised and or english sitcoms and talk shows etc...WELL DONE DR SHARPLES

13 Oct 2009 10:43a.m.

Trevor wrote:

Yay Maori TV have it and i will watch it. I love the Maori TV even though i don't know how to speak the language. I find it funny NZ europeans are so ungrateful. I cannot forgive my fellow Maori ancestors for allowing europeans to settle here, pretty sad the way things turned out. If you europeans do not like the fact Maori are still here then maybe you would like to go back to war. Maybe NZ should become like Israel and Palastein, why do you think they are fighting? Is that how you want NZ to be like?

13 Oct 2009 08:11a.m.

Jim wrote:

stuart - Although I agree that the haka is world known, the difference is we will be pushing our language and some political agendas which the Europeans to don't know or nor should they be caught up in our local politics.
Having said that, I can't wait for the haka resound around the world and strike fear into our opponents!!!

13 Oct 2009 06:25a.m.

stuart wrote:

I am a maori and proud. I live in france. When European people think of New zealand they think of the haka,maori culture not parkeha culture. IF it wasnt for the haka most people wouldnt know who the all blacks are or the all blacks wouldn´t have that mystic ,aura that it has. You go to france,italy,Usa,wales and you say ur from nz 9 times out of 10 they will ask for you to do the haka. I think maori culture has a great marketing here in europe and the world. And maori tv will show case that. So to all the doubters pull ur head out the sand and start thinking like a new zealander and move with the times because the world dosent evolve around you!!

12 Oct 2009 03:27p.m.

Dan wrote:

With idiots like Ty around who needs common sense. Its not beneficial to anyone that it will be broadcast on Maori TV. I offer Kudos to EtanJt who being a Maori has spoken out about the absurdity of this whole scenario. How ridiculous is it to try and force a language down everyone's throats which they do not want to learn?? I think frankly the Maori politicians have pushed it way too far this time. Its time Kiwi's woke up and put a stop to this charade of wanting this, demanding that on the basis of religion or race. We all are humans and should aim for a common society where everyone is equal.

12 Oct 2009 08:02a.m.

Ty Williams wrote:

Ha haa.... Suck it up folks. Go Maori TV.... LOL...

11 Oct 2009 03:58a.m.

EtanJt wrote:

I am maori and proud of it. However, rugby is not a maori sport, and there is danger of doing more damage to our culture if the rights of the world cup are given to a channel that plans on forcing viewers to listen to any of it in maori. However, if it is free to air on TV, then I urge viewers to do what my dad use to do in the early mornings when the allblacks were on tour overseas. Turn the TV sounds down and listen to the radio. So. radio DJs, time to sort your act out aye. In those days the late Winston Macarthy was an awesomr commentator. My dad didnt like Kieth Quinn.

09 Oct 2009 11:19p.m.

Age wrote:

Back in 99, a big fuss was made about the singing of our national anthem in Maori. Ten years on not only is it accepted, its embedded in our national pysche...like the haka - and guess where that came from?

09 Oct 2009 02:40p.m.

Rob wrote:

I can't even access Maori Channel on my TV! And many other people I know!

09 Oct 2009 02:24p.m.

Jim wrote:

We will be having tourists from all over the world here and they won't be attending all the games so will watch quite a few on the TV. I definitely oppose the game to be given to the Maori Channel.
My first reason is, as I understand it, 25% of the broadcast will be spoken in Maori. How are the tourists (not to mention most NZer’s) going to feel about watching a large portion of the match that they can’t understand. It appears to me that some Maori are hell bent on spreading their political agenda onto anybody who will (well in this case wont) listen plus turning the World Cup into a laughable fiasco.
My second reason is the money that is to be ear-marked for this event is, supposedly, for the purpose of educating, job creation, giving our people a sense of worth, value and teaching work ethics to those who don’t already have them. It should also be used to change attitudes into our way of thinking to“earn things” instead of “sitting back and demanding” which some of us do all the time.
Unfortunately, just like the big treaty claims the money will be used (misused) by show-boaters to benefit the few and greedy and disappear in a puff of smoke so that these people can then demand more!!!