Maori radio goes global (fwd)

[Phil CashCash]

Maori radio goes global
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0311/S00230.htm

Listeners of Maori Radio will welcome the ability to tune into their
local iwi station on the internet according to Maori Affairs Minister
Parekura Horomia.

Irirangi.net is being launched in Wellington this afternoon.

This new vehicle opens up a wide range of possibilities for the many
dedicated listeners of Maori Radio as well as potential new audiences,"
said Parekura Horomia.

"This technology will allow whanau hapu and Iwi living outside of their
tribal areas to listen to news and events at home.

"It will also open up Maori Radio to the global market via the internet.
Maori living abroad will now be able to find their own iwi stations on
the net while others living abroad will have access to indigenous
Aotearoa programming."

Earlier this year Te Mangai Paho commissioned a survey of almost 28
thousand Maori which found that half of those living in areas covered
by Maori radio were tuning in on a regular basis.

Maori Radio has led the broadcasting industry. In the past New Zealand
artists struggled to get airplay on mainstream radio while Maori
stations instituted self imposed quotas to ensure local artists were
given higher airplay priority.

"13 years on we now see acts like Moana Maniapoto making a huge impact
on the international scene. Hopefully Irirangi net will provide
opportunities so that other Maori artists can launch long and
successful careers," said Parekura Horomia.

*******

Maori Language Radio


WAI 11 Te Reo Maori Claim

In 1986, the Waitangi Tribunal responded to a claim lodged by Huirangi
Waikerepuru and Nga Kaiwhakapumau i te Reo (Inc) asking that the Maori
language receive official recognition.

In reference to Article II of the treaty, the tribunal established that
the Maori language is a taongait is plain that the language is an
essential part of culture and must be regarded as a valued possessio.
This means that the Crown has an obligation to guarantee exclusive and
undisturbed possession of this taongaThe word guarantee imposes an
obligation to take active steps within the power of the guarantor, if
it appears that the Maori people do not have or are losing, the full
exclusive and undisturbed possession of the taonga (1986 Report of the
Waitangi Tribunal into the WAI 11Te Reo Maor Claim)

The Crown and Maori accept that the language is now in aperilous stat.
In regard to broadcasting, the tribunal stated:

If we were to conclude that the Maori language has been harmed by the
predominance of English on radio and television, and if we were to
conclude further that Article II of the Treaty promises that the Maori
language was not only to be guaranteed but to be protected by the Crown
by virtue of the provisions of the Treaty, then we could well conclude
that the Minister has "omitted to do" an act within the meaning of
section 6 of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, viz. that he has omitted
to exercise his power to give a direction under Sec 20 by which that
harm could be alleviated. This we say would give us the statutory right
to intervene in this matter. But before we exercise our authority we
must consider the concurrent jurisdiction of the Broadcasting Tribunal
and the Royal Commission In its widest sense the Treaty promotes a
partnership in the development of the country and a sharing of all
resources. It is consistent with the principles of the Treaty that the
language and matters of Maori interest should have a secure place in
broadcasting. If there is any impediment in the statute that governs
the Broadcasting Corporation, then it is the statute itself that must
be called into questio.

The tribunal went on to recommend to the Minister of Broadcasting thatin
the formulation of broadcasting policy, regard be had [to the Crows
obligation] to recognise and protect the Maori language, and that the
Broadcasting Act 1975 (section 20) enables this to be done so far as
broadcasting is concerned



Broadcasting Assets Case

Further imperative for the Crown to be proactive came in 1989 when the
Government proposed to transfer the assets of the Broadcasting
Corporation (BCNZ) to the newly formed state owned enterprises,
Television New Zealand and Radio New Zealand. On the basis of the
Tribunas findings in WAI 11, the Maori Council and Nga Kaiwhakapumau
challenged this transfer in the High Court and the Court (Justice
McGechan) subsequentlyordered the Crown to submit a scheme of
protective reservations as to transmission and production facilitie.


Maori Radio

Maori radio has a vital role to play in the regeneration of the Maori
language. Because it is portable and easy to access, radio makes the
language widely accessible to learners, fluent and non-speakers of te
reo.

Iwi Maori radio stations were established in the period 1989-94 through
New Zealand on Air, which included an initial capital grant to each
station of $100,000 and from then on, an annual sum of $200,000 (+GST)
. Te Mangai Paho assumed responsibility for funding all stations in
1994. The average level of funding budgeted for Maori radio services
until the end of 2002 is $9.2 million per year. This includes
operational funding for 21 stations as well as a range of other
services such as distribution, coverage extension, audience surveys and
incentive funding. This compares with the average funding for Radio New
Zealand of around $21 million per year.

The figure of $200,000 was determined by NZ On Air in 1990. In 1994, TMP
sought two separate views from industry on what would be reasonable
costs to operate a Maori radio station effectively. Both sources
provided estimates and explanations totalling $400,000 $450,000.

Despite progressive increases in the quantity and quality of te reo
radio programmes, the level of funding for the operational costs of
Maori radio stations has not substantially increased since the stations
were established more than 10 years ago. Taking into account the shared
services and other industry costs, the stations currently receive an
average of around $320,000 per year to meet their operational
requirements.

ENDS