Media Release: 5 July 2024

Media Release

For Immediate Release

‍

"Calls for Minister to back up commitment to te reo in media with urgent funding injection to Whakaata Māori"

‍

5 July 2024

‍

Māori Media representative organisations Ngā Aho Whakaari and Kawea Te Rongo today call on the Minister for Māori Development, the Honourable Tama Potaka, to urgently increase resourcing for Whakaata Māori, to prove his commitment to te reo Maori, indigenous content and Māori media.

Ngā Aho Whakaaro Chair, Piripi Curtis, believes an immediate funding injection is required to ensure Whakaata Māori continues to deliver high-quality Māori content.

"The announcement from Whakaata Māori of a $9.5 million decrease in budget over the next two years shows a lack of investment in te reo and content that caters to Māori and Aotearoa as a whole by amplifying our reo rangatira, it also shows this government's lack of commitment to the kaupapa - despite saying it is a priority for them", said Mr Curtis.

"Whakaata Māori has suffered a lack of equitable investment and support since its inception in 2004. It is almost inconceivable that Whakaata Māori is "looking down the barrel of a massive cut in funding in the coming years" when we have just celebrated its twentieth anniversary".

Kawea Te Rongo, the Māori Journalists' Association, has also called on the Minister to "show some leadership" in the Government's commitment to supporting te reo Māori content and distribution through Whakaata Māori.

Co-chairs Ripeka Timutimu and Mani Dunlop have called on Minister Potaka to show more active support than what has been indicated in this year's budget.

"To retain the same level of funding for te reo Māori as the previous government is the bare minimum required for our whānau, and our tamariki who look to Whakaata Māori for access to quality te reo Māori content", said Ms Timutimu.

Ms Dunlop added "In the current media landscape, Whakaata Maori does not need an argument between current and former Ministers about who's to blame for the unenviable situation the whānau of Whakaata Māori face right now. Whakaata Maori, in its twentieth anniversary year, has been integral in growing our Māori journalists and diversifying our media landscape, which is currently, as a whole in absolute turmoil. Now is the time to invest in an industry that needs to survive to protect the fourth estate and ensure the narratives of our people are told by us and for us".

Ngā Aho Whakaari represents over 800 Māori who work in film, television, radio, and online media. Kawea Te Rongo represents all Māori journalists. Both organisations have existed since the 1990s.

‍

ENDS

‍

For media enquiries, please contact:

Piripi Curtis - Ngā Aho Whakaari. 021 745 426

Mani Dunlop - Kawea Te Rongo. 022 051 7807