Maori Television
March 28th, 2004 at 12:41 pm by David FarrarBeen watching the new Maori Television channel on Sky 33 most of the day. Congratulations are due to those who have worked so hard to make it a reality. It was quite moving to see the passion of many of the staff, and the importance this can have to a lot of people.
So far it looks to be pretty well done. I am glad that it make use of English sub-titles and have some programmes in English, as it used to annoy me a lot that I could not understand Te Karere despite wanting to view it.
MTV has had a nightmare establishment phase with two years of delays, fraud, sexual harrassment, cost over-runs etc. Whether or not they survive will depend I suspect on whether they continue to produce a quality product, and avoid the extravagence of Aotearoa TV.
On a related note I am surprised that a TV channel whose purpose is promoting local culture would use maoritelevision.com as its domain name instead of say television.maori.nz or tv.maori.nz. Incidentially the website isn’t responding at the moment, but that may be a problem at my end.
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March 28th, 2004 at 2:07 pm
Hi David
Vote:I think I can answer your query about the name of the website. In Australia, and possably NZ as well Domain names are far more expensive than they are in the US. My own website is Australian based content wise, but hosted in the US. We pay $200 Aussie for 2 years of webspace and the domain name. Compared to local web hosters thats bargin basement prices. The only catch is, you can’t choose your countries web ID. Like .au or in your case .nz
Its only a guess on my part, but I think you may find though the site content may be NZ and its even created in NZ, it may well be hosted in the US for cost reasons.
March 28th, 2004 at 2:51 pm
I have to agree with David’s analysis of the channel. I’ve just finished watching an interesting documentary on Dame Whina Cooper. Although not produced for Maori Television, there was a brief but very interesting discussion at the conclusion of the documentary about Maori women leaders.
I never saw Aotearoa TV, but I presume the “extravagances” David referred to revolved around financial corruption. I honestly believe that with time, and patience, Maori Television will become precisely the forum Maori need to express themselves, and retain their culture.
Vote:March 28th, 2004 at 3:08 pm
Patrick – I doubt the cost of $200 or so was a factor when they have turnover of over $15 million a year. I suspect they, like most people, just think a dot com is the best domain to register in. Would be nice if they got a maori.nz one as well even, so both would work.
Rob – I can’t recall any actual corruption at ATV but when details come out that the staff were working massive hours for almost no pay yet the Directors have expense accounts that could almost rival Ross Armstrong, then it undermines the case for funding.
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 11:17 am
Well, despite my very big problems with state-owned and funded media I do wish everyone concerned with MTS all the best, and the ability to quickly wean themselves off the public tit.
It still doesn’t address the problem that ‘mainstream’ broadcasters have pretty much given up on quality news, current affairs and documentary production — and what little there is requires either adroit VCR programming or chronic insomnia. I don’t have a quick or easy answer how to fix that — or even whether it’s desirable or even possible.
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 1:45 pm
Sorry about that cheif. Not being from NZ myself I was just guessing the whole operation was operating on a shoe string. Not so.
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 9:39 pm
New television stations don’t happen every day
A new television station doesn’t begin broadcasting every day, and nor do shows about New Zealand’s best ever (deceased, alas) comedian start screening.
…
Vote:March 29th, 2004 at 11:34 pm
I wish I was there to see it, and I hope it’s as good as it can be. The only thing I find hard to take is that it has taken this long to get a Maori language service up and running. Other bilingual countries seem to regard it as natural. It always seems to provoke some discussion and debate at first, but ends up being ok.
Jordan
Vote:April 21st, 2004 at 12:33 pm
Some of programs eg Kapa Haka,with obese Maori on is not good pr,they look like a freak show and are wasting tax dollars, we can do classier shows than this. Do some of our people speak such terrible english as interviewers? We have some very well educated Maori and would like to see more of them on Maori TV.The sports commentators also act like idiots!!!
Vote:The rest seem ok but I use remote control often.
April 22nd, 2004 at 1:47 pm
It’s the best channel in NZ – really informative, about real NZers and not full of violence and sex.
Vote:The success stories and initaiative being made by Maori are awesome. Love the chance as a Pakeha to increase my Maori while being relaxedly entertained.
May 2nd, 2004 at 5:45 pm
I’m doing a debate related to Maori television, it would be extremly helpful if some could enlighten me on the postive aspects of Maori television.
I think it’s great that New Zealand has dedicateed an entire channel to it’s native language.
Vote:Hoping it will bring awareness of New Zealand culture to the rest of New Zealand.
May 5th, 2004 at 8:11 pm
LOL, im here for the same reason as you Simon. I’m doing the same debate, but my team will be negating….So i’m looking for the negative aspects of indigenous television….- This is quite hard because I think it’s great that Maori (and all indigenous people) have such an effective way of protecting and promoting their culture!!
Anyone got any pointers?
@Simon, I think a good way to go, is to check out the government’s obligations regarding the protection of Maori culture (treaty of waitangi?) and figure out how they are fulfilling that by supporting and funding Maori Television. – Hope that helps!
Vote:May 5th, 2004 at 10:20 pm
I don’t think many would argue against fostering Maori language, as it is unique to NZ. But there are huge question marks over whether a dedicated TV station is the best way to do it.
If only 45,000 people watch Maori TV then the cost is a huge $1,000 per viewer. And viewer numbers are rumoured to be way less than 45,000.
It might be better to give all that money to NZ on Air to fund Maori language programmes on the four or five main free to air channels. $45 million would buy an incredible amount of programming.
One could look at spending it on training more Maori language teachers of which there are a great shortage also.
Vote:May 7th, 2004 at 4:23 pm
Thanks David. These points have definately helped. You’re right though, not many people would be against it. That’s the thing with debating….you end up arguing for the side of the coin u don’t believe in. But that’s the good thing….it forces you to look at both sides….not always a bad thing.
Vote:May 8th, 2004 at 10:54 pm
Well debate on tuesday.
I’ve realised that although it may seem a small number that can watch it, it’s basically targeted at younger viewers. So it’s not about how many can speak it this generation, but how many can speak it in the one after this one or after the next one it’s about preserving the language for future generations.
Vote:thats why the proraming is mainly targeted for children, i tihnk thats a great way to help children learn throught TV where it helps their pronociation and show the children Maori is not a second rate language, but the native language of New Zealand.
May 8th, 2004 at 10:55 pm
Good luck with your Debate Sunshine
Vote:May 9th, 2004 at 6:38 pm
LOL, my debate is on Tuesday too!! (at EGGS). I’m hoping i’m not debating against you!! ‘Coz you’ve got some really good points there….
Good luck to you too….
Vote:May 16th, 2004 at 12:17 am
Wohooo we won ^^
How’d you do sunshine?
Oh yeah since this is still about that maori tv channel i got another point to make, It’s only costing tax payers around $2 a month
Vote:May 19th, 2004 at 10:15 pm
Yaaaay Congradulations!! We won too!! But I think it’s ‘coz the other team didn’t seem very prepared.
$2 dollars a month aint bad at all. Definately a bargain for keeping New Zealand’s cultural diversity alive!!
Vote:June 9th, 2004 at 7:07 pm
Hey David!
Vote:Im doing a Visual Communication Studies paper @ Massey Design School in Wellington. We are to do a 2000 word essay on “Cultural Formations Today”. Previously we did a project on Postmodernism, now we are researching concepts and ideas about what “period” we are in now. We have to look @ an anything with a visual representation that we think is emergent or “the new thing” post-postmodernism or 1995, our tutor said to look at things that happened after 1995, it can be anything, they have used things like MP3 players, ipods, reality tv, anything that we didnt have before. It also has to be relative and effect New Zealanders!
I thought of “Maori Television”! Oviously we have had nothing like this before! We have had Te Karere and MAi time, but it’s the first time we have had a tv programme genre/ethnicity on relatively mainstream TV. Do you have any info or point of views on this idea of it being an emergent thing? And I was wondering if you had anymore info about Aotearoa TV? Iv never heard of it before? or any links/books/articles you think i should cheak out!
Cheers!
June 9th, 2004 at 8:39 pm
Aotearoa TV was going in 1995 but was hardly known (or watched) until Tuku Morgan became an MP, and Labour exposed his extragent spending habits as a Director of ATV.
Reality TV is not a bad example as it has gone from almost nothing to dominating TV screens. The Internet itself, espeically email and the web, is pronbably the thing which has most influenced culture. It has given voice to groups which struggled to be heard, and empowered individuals in a way never seen before.
Vote:June 9th, 2004 at 8:56 pm
Thanks David! thats a big help!
Vote:September 1st, 2004 at 6:40 pm
hey im doing a speech on maori television at school and i was wondering if you could tell me something so yeah um why is it that maori television is only on sky channel 33 and why do we have to pay for the channel when it should be free for all pakeha and maori people
Vote:December 23rd, 2004 at 3:30 pm
I also watch and like the Maori TV channel but jeez where is the traditional Maori sports content? Are we so bloody socialised into European sports everywhere? surely the reporters/producers could comeup with some of our own sports& games being played rather than tutch, petonk and the like!
Vote: