Media statement

For immediate release

Monday, 14 April 2003

Maori TV should have the same future as the Moa

"The latest audit on accounting practices of Aroha Films Ltd is just another nail in the coffin of Maori TV," says United Future broadcasting spokesman Marc Alexander.

"We've had stupidity superseded by idiocy in this reflated soufflé of broadcasting madness with the politically drivelled madness called Maori television. You simply cannot expect people to make competent business decisions for an enterprise that relies on ideologically driven agendas rather than on market needs.

"If there really is a legitimate requirement for Maori TV, then it should be funded by Maori accountable to Maori shareholders with the same economic rules of the game as every other player.

"Where else in the business community would you have two production companies allocated as much as $700,000 collapse leaving bad debts; signatures obtained in advance of cheque payments; original invoices made out to outside parties; photocopy, printing and stationery costs nearly three times that budgeted; and $270 spent on speeding fines disguised as `equipment rental`? Only when those paying the bill are the deep-pocketed taxpayers who have no recourse!

"It's time to put this PC lunacy in la-la land where it belongs. Those twits who still believe in Maori TV should put their broadcasting resumes to the public and be held liable for every wasted cent. It's time these geniuses (sic) realised that all this wasted money was earned by hard-working Kiwis who would much rather have it in their pockets.

"The real kicker though, is that Aroha Films Ltd has paid out $152,000 in consultancy fees; has been billed for home renovations; has $24,000 of payments to employees in dispute; and has paid out a whopping $94,835 in petty cash in the five months between April and August!

"Can anyone truly have a vestige of faith left in Maori TV? Surely it's time to let a bad idea go. At the very least, let's listen to who the money really belongs to...... the taxpayer," concluded Mr Alexander

ends

© Scoop Media