June 7, 2019
PRIME MINISTER TO MOANA MANIAPOTO:
I WANT TO SPEND LESS TIME ON THE SPORT OF POLITICS
AND MORE TIME ON HOUSING AND JOBS
Moana Maniapoto has put the hard questions to Prime Minister in an interview that tackled services and support for
Māori, the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori and Jacinda Adern’s own Reo journey.
When questioned about her least favourite part of politics, Adern candidly responded she could do without “the sport of
it”, explaining she wished she didn’t have to spend so much time playing the game and would rather spend it tackling
jobs, housing and clean water initiatives.
The pair sat down ahead of the premiere of brand new current affairs show Te Ao With Moana on Tuesday June 11, which is hosted and co-produced by acclaimed musician Moana Maniapoto.
Adern and Maniapoto also discussed much of the recent Wellbeing Budget 2019 announcement where the government recently
committed $593million over the next four years to support Māori and Pasifika aspirations, including healthcare,
workforce and language sectors.
Keen to find out who would accept responsibility for revitalising Te Reo, Maniapoto pressed Adern on how the goal of one
million Kiwis being able to hold a conversation in Te Reo by 2040 will be achieved with the ongoing lack of funding for
Māori broadcasters.
Adern said there were multiple strategies including a strong push encouraging reo speakers to join the education sector.
Adern said she is also learning Te Reo although gave herself a mixed report on her current language skills. In the past
Adern has discussed her desire for daughter Neve Te Aroha to grow up speaking Te Reo too.
Watch the full interview exclusively on Te Ao With Moana, Tuesday, June 11, 8pm on Māori Television and on demand at Māoritelevision.com.
For more information and images please contact;
Kasia Jillings
021 027 58238