Maori broadcasters miss out

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From the New Zealand Herald, 22.01.05

  Maori broadcasters miss out

22.01.05
By JON STOKES

A No-English-language policy at this year's Maori Media Awards means many
Maori broadcasters will be excluded.  Mangere-based Radio Waatea will
boycott the March awards following a decision by the event organisers, Te
Whakaruruhau o Nga Reo Irirangi Maori, that non-Maori-speaking programmes
cannot enter. The ban affects a number of the urban radio station's
programmes and announcers, including Julian Wilcox, Syd Jackson and
Titewhai Harawira, because their programmes are in English or a bi-lingual
mix. Also excluded are leading national mainstream Maori journalists
including Gideon Porter and Jodi Ihaka of TVOne and Mike McRoberts of TV3.

Te Whakaruruhau o Nga Reo Irirangi Maori chairman Hone Harawira said the
awards were designed to promote the Maori language. "It's not about
elitism, it's about promoting the Maori language. "We are not anti the
English language." But Radio Waatea general manager Willie Jackson said
the awards should be about promoting Maori excellence in broadcasting -
"not about te reo fundamentalists pushing an elitist agenda".

"Maori media is not just about te reo, it is about putting a Maori
perspective - and sometimes that is in English - and they [the award
organisers] don't want that acknowledged. "Whakaruruhau are saying that
the only broadcasting that counts are the ones using the Maori language.
That is discriminatory. "Ironically it's people like Hone's mother - who
makes a major contribution to Maori broadcasting - who are cut out by this
decision," Mr Jackson said.

The awards are in their second year. The presentation ceremony will be
held in Rotorua on March 19.


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