11 December 2001
Media release – Māori Affairs Committee
2000/01 Financial Review of Te Mangai Paho (the Māori Broadcasting Funding Authority)
Parliament’s Māori Affairs Committee yesterday tabled its report on the 2000/01 financial review of Te Mangai Paho in
the House of Representatives.
Main areas examined by the committee were:
Audit Office rating
summary of funding levels
focus on promoting both language and culture
move towards mixed language programming
audience research and development of the Strategic Research Framework
audience targeted by programming
information previously requested for inclusion in Annual Report
hours of Māori language programming purchased
Māori Television Service
The committee commends Te Mangai Paho for the excellent rating it received from the audit office for its financial and
service performance management. Te Mangai Paho received an ‘excellent’ rating in all five categories.
The committee reiterates concerns expressed during last years financial review, that Te Mangai Paho’s programming
excludes a large number of Māori that do not speak fluent Māori language. However, it commends the steps that Te Mangai
Paho is taking to increase the accessibility of the programming it funds by forming alliances with other organisations.
It hopes that the new Māori Television Service will also make programming more accessible to a wider audience.
The committee is pleased that Te Mangai Paho is attempting to improve the robustness of audience surveys but has
concerns about the methodology utilised in audience surveys. It requests that Te Mangai Paho ensure its surveys reflect
the views of all Māori communities. Without greater clarity about the methodology of surveys, the committee finds it
difficult to determine if survey results show evidence of effectiveness in achieving statutory obligations and
penetration of Māori broadcasting.
The committee looks forward to examining arrangements surrounding the establishment of the Māori Television Service
during its consideration of the Māori Television Service Bill 2001.
Copies of the report are available at: http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/publications
ENDS