Gross misreporting by Campbell Live, again

Gross misreporting by Campbell Live, again

Tonight’s Campbell Live item alleging Destiny Church was making a treaty claim was grossly inaccurate and misleading.

Campbell Live reported that Destiny International Trust (DIT) was advancing a treaty claim and itemized details of the DIT trustees.

Church spokesman Richard Lewis says the claim in question is not being advanced by DIT or Destiny Church but was lodged by the Te Runanga A Iwi O Te Oranga Ake Urban Maori Authority, which is an entirely separate entity and set of trustees

“We provided Campbell Live with the correct information pertaining to Te Oranga Ake prior to their programme going to air yet they blatantly ignored it. Alternately, they presented mistruths about Destiny Church, in keeping with their history of biased reporting on us,” says Mr Lewis.

Te Oranga Ake CEO, George Ngatai, says TOA submitted its claim in 2008 on behalf of its members, which number 6000 Maori in urban areas. The basis of the claim was no different to that of other Urban Maori Authorities.

“Like other Urban Maori Authorities, Te Runanga A Iwi O Te Oranga Ake (TOA) represents Maori who live outside of their rohe and therefore rely on our support. Our aim is to empower whanau, hapu and Iwi in every way possible,” says Mr Ngatai.

“Our claim has been duly considered based on legal advice and consistent with similar claims of this nature. Our members who are Maori are as entitled to the rights afforded under Article 3 of the Treaty of Waitangi as any other Maori, and should not be the subject of the kind of prejudice we are experiencing through inaccurate Campbell Live reporting” he added.

Mr Ngatai says TOA’s claim should in no way affect the endeavours of other Iwi around the country. He was however now working to correct the misleading perceptions with Iwi leaders created by the Campbell Live report.

Mr Lewis added that Destiny Church would now be seeking legal advice based on Campbell Live’s continual misreporting and underhand approach towards the church.

ENDS

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