4 October 2016

Industry Veteran to Lead TMP

Ground-breaking industry executive and film and television producer, Larry Parr, has been appointed head of Te Māngai Pāho.

Board Chair Dr Piri Sciascia says Larry has dedicated a lifetime to working in the industry. "Combined with a passion for te reo Māori and his significant experience in fund management, Larry is well suited to leading Te Māngai Pāho.

"The Board is delighted to have Larry to lead the organisation into the new environment established by the Māori Language Act 2016.

“As a result of the Act, we need to identify new opportunities for the promotion of Māori language and culture through Te Mātāwai, a sector governance structure that seeks greater collaboration between Crown agencies and more iwi and community engagement to align and co-ordinate Māori language revitalisation effort. This is important if we are to support more Māori language speakers”, Mr Sciascia said.

Mr Parr (Ngāti Hikitanga, Ngāti Raukawa me Muaūpoko) is the current television and new media funding manager at Te Māngai Pāho and was previously head of programming at Māori Television. During his tenure at Māori Television, Mr Parr led the station’s first all-day ANZAC Day coverage in 2006. The success of this concept and coverage is widely considered a critical milestone in establishing Māori Television's identity and mana.

After completing his law degree, Mr Parr spent 25 years in independent film and television production, having been involved in some of New Zealand’s iconic films such as Sleeping Dogs, Came a Hot Friday and Smash Palace. More recently, in addition to his core responsibilities at Te Māngai Pāho, Mr Parr has been overseeing the development of the organisation’s on-line grant management system.

Mr Parr is also the current Tumuaki of Te Rūnanga o Raukawa and Chair of Ngāti Hikitanga.

Mr Parr will take up the CEO role on 10 October 2016, replacing former CEO John Bishara who finished at the end of August after 13 years at Te Māngai Pāho.

ENDS

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