FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Maori Television Electoral College Ready for Change
He honore nui tenei kia kawe i tenei kaupapa whakahirahira ara kia whakaruruhau te orangatonutanga o to tatou reo
rangatira me ona ahuatanga katoa ki runga i a whaakaata Māori. No reira nga mihi kia koe Tu mo to mahi ataahua i nga tau
kua hipa atu nei.
Te Pūtahi Paoho – the Māori Television Electoral College has had a change in leadership in preparation for a
reinvigorated role in Māori broadcasting and new responsibilities of spectrum management.
The Chairman of the twenty-one Station Iwi Radio Network Te Whakaruruhau o Nga Reo Irirangi Māori Willie Jackson has
been elected as the new Chairperson of Te Putahi Paoho. Mr Jackson was appointed by leaders and representatives from the
newly revamped body.
Mr Jackson says it’s an honour to take over the position from former Chair Tuwhakairiora Williams. He says Tu has been
an excellent Chair for us and worked well with Māori Television and Government. His considerable knowledge and
experience will continue to benefit Te Putahi Paoho as we will be engaging him for consultancy work over the next twelve
months.
Te Pūtahi Paoho was established under the Māori Television Service Act 2003. It holds the rare position of being a body
that is legislated as a Treaty partner with the Crown. It represents Māori stakeholder interests in the Māori Television
Service while the Crown is represented by the Ministers of Māori Affairs and Finance.
Mr Jackson said Te Putahi Paoho is looking forward to the announcement of the new Māori TV CEO. He says however there is
some disappointment that our boards view on the CEO appointment has not been asked for given how contentious the issue
has become. Mr Jackson says also there is huge expertise available on the Electoral College so he is surprised that
their view hasn’t been sought. However despite that disappointment Te Putaho Paoho is still looking forward to working
with Maori Television once the CEO is appointed.
The composition of Te Pūtahi Paoho represents the organisations that spearheaded the legal actions that established the
Māori Television Service Act, along with stakeholders in the education, language revitalization and broadcasting
sectors. Trevor Moeke of Te Tau Ihu o Nga Wananga and Kim Muriwai of Nga Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen Production were
appointed Co-Deputy Chairs.
The composition of Te Putahi Paoho is made up of the following people and organisations.
Huirangi Waikerepuru – Nga Kaiwhakapumau i te Reo Māori Iritana Tawhiwhirangi - Te Kohanga Reo National Trust Titewhai
Harawira - New Zealand Māori Council Katariana O’Brien - Māori Women’s Welfare League Rahera Shortland - Te Runanga o
Ataarangi Anahera Bowen - Te Runanganui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa Kim Muriwai - Nga Aho Whakaari Māori in
Screen Production Trevor Moeke - Te Tau Ihu o Nga Wananga Willie Jackson - Te Whakaruruhau o Nga Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
ends