TV fails Maoris, tribunal told

Press, 31 May 1986, Page 6

TV fails Maoris, tribunal told

PA Wellington A former Ombudsman and Race Relations Conciliator, Sir Guy Powles, said the Broadcasting Corporation was “an utterly ghastly failure” in its function of promoting Maori language and culture.

He was speaking as a witness before the Broadcasting Tribunal’s hearing into Aotearoa Broadcasting System’s warrant application for the third television channel.

Sir Guy raid he was appearing as a witness "with considerable ; sadness” that New Zealand let this situation develop.

It was clear there needed to be a Maori presence in broadcasting to make a proper contribution to the culture of New Zealand, "and it is a terrible thing that this is

not happening.” It was in the national interest that the ABS television channel should “come to pass.” “I view the presence of a further channel showing more of what we have now with considerable dismay,” he said. “We do not want another channel of rubbish.” New Zealanders overseas liked to. be thought of as coming from a country with good race relations. It remained to be seen whether that was true.

He said pakeha New Zealanders no longer had a mother country and were finding themselves on a journey towards independent existence. A portion of Maori culture existed in pakehas, whether or not they realised it.