Switch on to Maori TV - if you can find it

Green MP Metiria Turei today described the Government's restriction of the Maori Television Service to UHF transmission as "ghettoisation of the bandwidth".

"While it is good to see that the funding is finally being provided to the Maori television station, it is typical that Maori again receive second-rate treatment by being denied the opportunity to easily and readily access the television service through the TV4 transmission platform."

"While most of the media and political focus has been on the inadequate funding of the service, the reality is that national access to the channel will be the most significant indicator of its overall success," said Metiria, the Green Party's Maori Affairs Spokesperson.

"Even the Government calculates that viewers will have to pay at least $200 for a special aerial and tuning to receive Maori TV on UHF. If they had gone with the TV4 option, then 75 per cent of the country could be watching Maori TV as soon as it goes to air.

"Relegating the service to the UHF band again demonstrates this Government's very superficial acknowledgement of its Treaty obligations."

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