Maori broadcasting outlined

Press, 18 December 1989, Page 7

Maori broadcasting outlined

PA Wellington The Government says it will provide access to radio and UHF television frequencies for Maori broadcasters. The Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Hunt, said yesterday that AM and FM radio frequencies would be available to radio services directly sponsored by iwi authorities whose main objective was the promotion of Maori language and culture. The Government would also ensure that UHF frequencies

would be available to broadcasters promoting Maori language and culture. “These decisions follow an earlier decision by the Government to make provision in the Radiocommunications Bill for existing Maori broadcasters holding their own frequencies,” Mr Hunt said in a joint statement with the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere. Maori broadcasters specifically covered by the bill are Radio Ngati Poru, Aotearoa Maori

Radio, Te Upoko o Te Ika, Te Arawa Maori Trust and Te Whare Awhina o Te Iwi Trust.

On funding for Maori broadcasting, the Ministers said the Broadcasting Commission, set up on July 1, had wide powers to provide money to Maori broadcasters. The commission would allocate $9.6 million to Maori broadcasting in the year ending June 30, 1990 — $4.6 million for Maori radio and $5 million for Maori television programmes.