Maori TV’s bid for the 2011 Rugby World Cup free-to-air broadcast rights shows pluck. Apparently it’s based on a strategy to move beyond a Maori language institution towards a more commercial, mainstream role in the entertainment world.
Whilst this change may be within their statutory capacity it is obviously not in their financial capacity. Maori TV is funded by the Government via TPK, by about $16 million a year. TPK also provides other funding to back legitimate Maori development projects. The Maori TV bid includes a reported $3 million endorsement from TPK. Evidently this outstrips competing TV3 and TVNZ bids. The politics around this are juicy.
If RWC free-to-air broadcasting is important to the Government, why are they leaving it to the Maori Affairs Minister to sponsor a bid? If this expenditure does not advance the prospects of Maori jobseekers, families seeking homes or youth looking for training, why should we further subsidise international rugby? If Maori TV cannot be accessed by all viewers, why should taxpayers pay for the bid? If TV3 or TVNZ were able to make a bid without taxpayer support surely it would have been better for the Crown balance sheet not to have given any taxpayer money? John Key needs to explain why the Government would not assist TVNZ with a bid but is allowing Pita Sharples to spend his departmental budget.
The Maori TV bid is premised on the notion that it will give greater exposure to te reo Maori, Maori enterprise and culture during the RWC. It is obvious that the Maori personality has been overlooked in the arrangements for the tournament. Ngati Whatua have already complained that the Auckland viaduct RWC plans have overlooked Maori and Pasifika input. It is not credible for NZ to showcase its personality without significant Maori input.
Pita Sharples apparently failed to consult his Cabinet colleagues. Perhaps this is payback for the gross loss of face that the Maori Party suffered over the super city Maori seats fiasco. Or perhaps Sharples is angry that Key, the Tourism Minister has no actual strategy to promote Maori during the tournament.
But Key knows he cannot alienate the Maori Party, which he needs to pass the ETS legislation. He handed ACT a win over the Super City. Now he may have to hand a victory to the Maori Party and the TV station that shares a common name.
Lets spend some of the ‘party central’ money on giving the Maori dimension to Nzers and overseas visitors. And leave the TPK money for the purposes it was designed for
Don’t know why it has to be free-to-air at all Shane? Oh that’s right….desperate bid to win votes last election.
Anyway Maori will be over-represented already at the RWC but where it counts and where they are best – on the field.
Let us not allow publicly funded troughers of any persuasion dominate what is important…..Ngati-Pakeha’s Richie McCaw lifting the trophy.
Kate think the free to air decision was RWC Ltd (IRB sub) nothing to do with last election.
Fancy that , politicians wanting to win votes at an election…. thats about as likely as the Cayman Islands introducing taxes…… oh wait.
“If this expenditure does not advance the prospects of Maori jobseekers, families seeking homes or youth looking for training, why should we further subsidise international rugby?”
I take it then you are against all – not just those that benefit Maori – govt subsidies of the RWC.
I take you were very vocal in your opposition to Labour’s plans to spend $700 million on a stadium.
“If Maori TV cannot be accessed by all viewers, why should taxpayers pay for the bid?”
so TPK allocation of money should be decided by tax payers in general. Interesting. Sounds so much like ACT.
“John Key needs to explain why the Government would not assist TVNZ with a bid but is allowing Pita Sharples to spend his departmental budget.”
Labour still labour under the delusion that money allocated to Maroi should not really be controlled by Maori. Key appears to think otherwise.
Great post Shane. This feels a lot like the flag debate to me – the government distracting us with baubles while continuing to fail Maori on day to day issues.
Kate – “Anyway Maori will be over-represented already at the RWC but where it counts and where they are best – on the field.” Did you intend this to come out as condescending as it sounds? So it’ll all be okay so long as Maori shut up and play ball?
maybe the RWC is a mere bauble, so it’s interesting to see that Labour was quite perpared to spend $700 million on such a bauble.
in comparison, $3 million on a bauble that does some good and promotes Maori culture and business intiatives looks quite a bargin.
RWC – is a big deal and should be free to air for all NZ!
“RWC – is a big deal and should be free to air for all NZ!”
perhaps rugby fans might want to consider the rest of the country before wanting to spend everyone elses money on their hobby.
some tax payers are quite OK with some of our money going to promote indigenous culture. It might even have something to do with consideration of the Treaty.
if you find youself in a region that does not have freeview then there’s always the option of sports bars.
I have nothing against the promotion of indigenous culture, I just think the matches should be free to air in everyone’s private homes!
“I have nothing against the promotion of indigenous culture, I just think the matches should be free to air in everyone’s private homes!”
I think that does summarise Labour’s priorities.
Key is being politically naive. His own base vote is totally sewn up and centre-left types like me largely support the MTV bid, as, naturally, do Maori.
So wouldn’t it have been much smarter, especially as regards the Maori vote, to enthusiastically support the bid?
A default win for Labour there, I think.
Go Pita! A breath of fresh air!
@Neil – I’m not a member of the Labour party, so that isn’t a quote from Labour.
@Luc – I fine for those who can receive the coverage, not for those who don’t. I’m also a centre left person, but I agree with Trevor.
Bill English, Roger Douglas and Chris Carter all help themselves to taxpayer’s money when they feel like it, so why shouldn’t Maori TV dip into the cookie jar to fund their own vanity project?
I’m not in the least resentful when it comes to being a New Zealand taxpayer as I know the government will always spend my money honestly and wisely. (Yeah right)