Aotearoa Broadcasting Systems ploughs on

Tu Tangata, Issue 31, 1 August 1986, Page 9

Aotearoa Broadcasting Systems ploughs on

DESPITE BCNZ pulling the financial rug/rom under their feet only a week before the third television channel warrant hearing, Aotearoa Broadcasting Systems fronted up with their supporters to the Broadcasting Tribunal. From Toa Bangatira marae, Porirua, the Tribunal went to Waiwhetu in Lower Hutt. It was here that the tangata whenua told the Tribunal exactly what they thought of the current television programming.

Chairperson for Nga Kaiwhakapumau i te Reo, Huirangi Waikerepuru told the Tribunal that they support ABS’s application because it enables the maori language to reach every home in New Zealand i r., , , . . I he loss of the language will bedetri- , , . r, mental to the race relations in New Zealand ” he said. “The Tribunal must be supportive in keeping the maori language alive.” Chief Executive for ABS, Derek Fox said their case was a simple one. He said that the Maori people have been cheated of their rightful place on the air waves since television came to New Zealand.

Chairman of Nga Kaiwhakapumau, Huirangi Waikerepuru says the Minister and the government seem to be.saying that the select committee is the only appropriate body to consider the jurisdiction of the Treaty of Waitangi, when in fact, for Maori people, the only body that has the mana and mandate to do this is the Waitangi Tribunal, as set up by a Labour government.

By the time this issue of TU TANGATA is out, the Language Bill select committee may be hearing submissions such as will be made by Nga Kaiwhakapumau. Any inclusions and strengthening of the Bill will then be scrutinised by the Members of Parliament in its second reading.

By then it is hoped that our parliamentarians will have the courage to do what previous administrations have consistently failed to do for over one hundred and forty years, that is acknowledge our nationhood was founded on two cultures agreeing to be equal partners.

This acknowledgement needs to be in legislation and enforceable for as the Waitangi Tribunal stated, “rights that cannot be enforced are illusory.”

As the Waitangi Tribunal said, popular recognition will depend on “successful establishment of a supervisory body to foster the language and overcome difficulties that are bound to arise ... plus “an appeal to the strong New Zealand sense of fair play.”

“The legitimate claims of the Maori people have to be met before the licence is given to a private competitor, “We are offering a bi-lingual and bicultural programme.” He said that the other contenders were ~,, . „ providing another pakeha service . At a later cross examination, Fox had to curb his tongue against some of the leading questions the competitors lawyers threw at him. UTC counsel, John Mcßae wasn’t sure whether ABS was applying for a news programme warrant or the third channel one. Fox adamantly replied that ABS

was going for the third channel one. “None of the other contenders are filling the requirements of the Broadcasting Act 1976, the Waitangi Tribunal or the Treaty of Waitangi. If ABS doesn’t get it, no one should.” Questions were raised about the staffing requirements ABS has to fill, market research, production expertise, where ABS’ audience was going to come from and funding.

At this time, ABS had no comment to make about its financial situation. But for most of his time on the stand, Fox had to explain to the competitor’s counsels and the Tribunal ABS’s programming proposals. Fox maintained that there is potential for maori programming to a New Zealand audience. He said the audience will grow because of the nationwide growth of Kohanga Reo and the awareness of Maori throughout the country as a whole.

Ex-ombudsman, Sir Guy Powles also supported the ABS claim.

He said that there needed to be a clear maori presence in maori broadcasting both in people and presentation.

“I view the presence of a future channel with more of what we have now -with considerable dismay.”

Sir Graham Latimer said that when the New Zealand Maori Council applied for the warrant, he knew they would be taken for a joke.

“The existence of ABS will bring more social harmony to the country rather than what the two channels are doing now,” he said.

He pointed out to the Broadcasting Tribunal that the application was not one of emotional dreams, but of the determination and pride for the maori people.

lan Cross, ex-chairperson for the Broadcasting Corporation, supported that.

“Maori aspirations cannot be fulfilled by being the passengers in the canoe,” he said, “but when they are the helmsman according to their own cul-

ture.” “If we are to produce a Maori New Zealand, this is the only way to get it. There is no other way.” He said that administrators from his era must confess to failure in some areas, because of what has happened. When asked why Cross didn’t do anything about maori television while he was chairperson on the Broadcasting Board, he said that the Corporation would have run into debt.

Ripeka Evans opened her address to the Tribunal by telling them the story about the mako and the kahawai, where integration was achieved by the mako swallowing the kahawai. “You cannot have an indigenous identity without a New Zealand identity, and you cannot have a New Zealand identity without having a Maori identity.” Throughout her address she impressed on the Tribunal that ABS was not asking to take over the Broadcasting Corporation, but just asking for the third channel warrant. “ABS or any maori initiative would be

committing suicide if there was no pakeha participation,” she said. Actor, Wi Kuki Kaa held nothing back when he told the Tribunal that the Broadcasting Corporation was racist. He said that when he was brought back from Australia to act on the tv series, The Governor, all the crew were pakeha. He said that since then, he’s noticed there are two Samoans on the crew and one Maori floor manager with TVNZ.

“I regard these numbers as an indictment to the Maori. This glaring weakness - racism is inexcusable.” Professor Hirini Mead expressed his concern about the overwhelming english content on television.

“No culture can afford to allow another culture a total right of control of the media to filter and virtually censor all communications by enforcing the use of the language of the other culture,” he said. “ABS provides a rare opportunity to redress this sort of injustice.” “Ideally, the third channel should use

one main language, as does TVI and TV2. That language should be maori, which by the end of the year will be our official language.

“Our hopes for the future of our language and of our culture ride with this application.”

Principal of Parumoana Community College, Porirua, Turoa Royal told the Tribunal that the Broadcasting Corporation’s television service does not reflect, maintain or develop a New Zealand identity.

He feels that ABS will redress the poor attitudes that Maori youth have towards the pakeha and towards harmony.

“New Zealand has nothing to lose and everything to gain in granting the third channel to ABS to service the Maori needs.”

Dr Richard Benton, NZ Council for Educational Research acting director, said the survival of the maori language affects all New Zealanders who should be concerned about their identity. He told the Tribunal that television in particular has been a major deterrent.

“ABS seeks to redress this in a small but significant way, by putting it under Maori control,” he said.

Wellington District Maori Council chairperson, Bill Cooper, told the Tribunal about the lack of media coverage

of Te Maori of which he is Chief Executive.

“The sad thing about this exhibition was that the amount of visual media was dismal.

“To date, TVNZ has not made a commitment to send a crew to film Te Maori.”

He felt that it was quite significant since media all over the world took more notice of Te Maori than New Zealand.

Producer for the Continuing Education Unit in Radio New Zealand, Piripi Walker related to the Tribunal all the trials and tribulations he’s come up against within the Corporation in his attempts to start up maori radio stations.

“ABS is creating a maori television channel with maori as its senior language. This, with the official recognition of the language, will allow its wider use and consequent nurturing of the language,” he told the Tribunal.

Director of National Archives, Ray Grover, said that the establishment of ABS would expose the majority of people to the Maori experience.

“This experience is now denied to the majority people barely crossed the threshold of a Maori home.

“The ABS programmes will provide continuity of maori speaking through-

out the day. Thus the language will become part of the natural learning experience.”

He also said that the establishment of ABS would be international, as well as national recognition that the Maori people have respect and status in their own country and that their culture belongs to all New Zealanders and is vital to the nation.

Morris Takarangi spoke for the Aotea District Maori Council and told the Tribunal that the terms and conditions of the Treaty of Waitangi must be taken into account when considering applications for the third TV channels.

“The ABS application offers to the nation for the first time, broadcasting to reflect and develop wider participation by the tangata whenua of Aotearoa in the mainstream development of the nation as a whole.”

“In order for the nation’s interests to be met, the interests of the tangata whenua must be met.”

Takitimu District Maori Council chairperson, fohn Tangiora supported Morris’ evidence:

“Kua kore te reo, kua kore te iwi, kua kore te iwi Maori.”

Ko tana tumanako, kia whakaaria mai i roto i te pouaka whakaata te taha wairua o te iwi Maori.

“Me whakawatea he wahi hei tuku atu ki tena hahi, ki tena hahi, kia karakiatia te iwi i te ata o ia Ratapu, ahakoa etahi o o tatou hahi kei te karakia kei te Rahoroi.”

Te Maharanui Jacob, chairperson for Raukawa District Maori Council told the Tribunal that if the warrant was put in the wrong hands, it could mean the death of Maori culture.

Donna Awatere said that the main message coming through television screens is the fact that we don’t exist.

“If maoridom was important, they would be able to see their image daily on TV. The BCNZ is contributing to the low self esteem of this country.”

“Because TV and maori are so oral, we are perfectly suited as an adjunct to our culture.

“While we are a minority, we still have something to offer the majority.

She said that if the Tribunal doesn’t give ABS the warrant, they are supporting the people to push Maori further down and out.

Throughout her delivery, she reiterated that it was not enough being Maori, it should go beyond that and take it in tribal dimensions.

Hugo Manson television broadcaster, told the Tribunal that a non-Maori controlled TV system is essentially antiMaori.

“You don’t need a PhD to know that if you deprive someone of something, they will fight back. I know I would in that position,” he said.

“There is spoken and unspoken prejudice in New Zealand against Maori people and programming has hindered the progress of maori related television.”

The Auckland sitting of the Tribunal was at Te Poho o Tipene St Stephens College.

Bishop Whakahuihui Vercoe explained the mauri of the Maori to the Tribunal in his commanding yet subtle tone. While he held the spell bound Tribunal with his perception of the importance of te reo, art, whanaungatanga, turangawaewae and karakia, he managed to impress on them the preservation of our priceless heritage.

“These are the poutokomanawa of the house of maoritanga and not one of these pillars can be removed without destroying the whole structure of Maoridom.”

He told the Tribunal that the Maori are a race of human resource in our society that have been neglected for too long. “Give me the chance to share it with you - my own being and spirituality.” He also called for the other contenders to change horses and support ABS.

Komiti Whakatinana member of ABS, Professor Whatarangi Winiata explained the conception of ABS to the Tribunal. “The New Zealand Maori Council believes that the apparent unwillingness of the broadcasting authorities to respond to Maori requests is, in fact,

indicative of an inability of the monocultural pakeha managers to comprehend and to embody in their activities tikanga maori.”

In his evidence, he told the Tribunal that the NZMC took this application because of the accumulation of disappointing experiences of the Maori Council in its dealing with the Broadcasting authorities in New Zealand, the rising expectations of the Maori people for a better deal and the growing evidence and realisation that no other culture can proper administer the affairs of another culture.

“Failing to meet their statutory and treaty obligations has meant that broadcasting has denied accessibility to Maori culture to all New Zealanders by way of the very powerful technology which they control.”

While Professor Winiata was on the stand for cross examination, ITV’s counsel, Ted Thomas presented the bomb to the Tribunal. The four sheets of paper he tabled was a proposal for ABS to join forces with ITV. The implications this paper presented, in such a short span of time, limited other contenders to cross examine Professor Winiata.

The paper discussed options for ABS to join ITV as 20% shareholders of their company. Other options included maori controlled programmes of maori content.

But Professor Winiata told the Tribunal then, that one of the aims of ABS was autonomy and that Maori people should be in control of any proposed maori programming.

At the time of going to press, ABS had decided to take up the ITV (Impact Television) offer to join forces. ABS have asked the Broadcasting Tribunal to be considered for a programme warrant rather than a channel warrant. The hearings are proceeding.

“You need to look at the motivations behind ABS’s application.

“We do not see that wealth in a tangible sense, but in a cultural sense. But there is a need for resources. These will come from advertising revenue.”

The Broadcasting Corp’s Counsel told the Tribunal that the “BCNZ has not posed the aspirations that ABS presents.”

Ironically, this came the day after the chairperson of the Broadcasting Corporation made a public statement dissociating himself from discussions with ABS. He said that Corporation executives would deal with ABS on “any further issues.”

Wiremu Ohia, chairperson for the Tauranga-Moana District Maori Council, told the Tribunal in maori about te reo rangatira.

He told them about the days when punishment was severe for speaking maori in class.

And he told them of the demise of the maori language since then.

“To proclaim to New Zealand, let

alone to the world, that Aotearoa has a language and a culture to be proud of requires resources greater than that of the Maori people.

“Television is the most powerful media available today.

“A Maori controlled station will help add substance to the oftquoted statement that New Zealand society abides comfortably together, but needs to expose its maori face, its taha maori, to New Zealand and the world, permanently.”

Ex-race relations conciliator, Hiwi Tauroa, didn’t even try to hide his disgust about having to justify ABS’s application.

“I’ve heard people justifying themselves for what they do or their existence.

“We exist, and we are Maori.”

He told the Tribunal that the Declaration of human rights says that everyone has the same rights.

“The present image of the Maori, as projected by television, is that they do not exist in the everyday activities of New Zealand society.

“They do not visit banks, buy cars or go skiing.

“They are not members of professional vocations.

“The Maori only appears on Te Karere, Koha, and occasionally on the news, usually when a controversial situation provides an opportunity to stereotype ‘Maoris causing trouble again’.”

He went on to say that when Maori celebrities were eliminated from television advertisements, all that’s left are a bulldozer driver, a truck driver, a family in a state house or break dancers.

ESTV (Energy Source Television) counsel, David Baragwanath, suggested that an increase of appointments on the Broadcasting Corporation Board might be effective.

Hiwi told him that the reality of it was that three people on a Board of nine didn’t mean a thing.

“It’s really no different for the four Maori members of Parliament against 90 others,” he said.

“But it’s not the three in the nine that are important.

“It’s the other six - they have to understand the depth of the situation.

“Why have three if the other six don’t understand.”

And to round off his korero, Kamate! Kamate! resounded within Te Poho o Tipene.

Auckland Girls’ Grammar principal, Charmaine Poutney, gave a strong presentation of her views on racism.

“I’m ashamed of my people and that the Maori people have had to ask for what is theirs.

“I’ve seen first hand, the effects of the education on Maori women and Maori men.

“New Zealand can’t afford another channel looking like the other two.

She told the Tribunal that she sup-

ports ABS because they are the only group offering an alternative to the present maori programming situation.

“Their main concern is for the people,” she said.

“The ecological, literary, aural and craft skills of the Maori should be seen.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish. We must be committed to providing that vision.”

Elizabeth Murchie maori health researcher and Maori Womens Welfare League member, said that present television programming is sending negative messages aimed straight at the young Maori audience.

“Television is saying that the Maori have no standards,” she said.

Cultural co-ordinator at Waikeria Youth Institution and chairperson for the Waikato-Maniapoto District Maori Council, Tom Winitana, delivered his supportive evidence in his own captive way.

“The inmates at Waikeria are desperately in need of reinforcement for their maori identity,” he said.

“A television channel using the maori language and presenting maori and other content in a maori context, would be a source of intellectual and emotional support which our schools and other systems have not provided

“I feel sorry for the other applicants because they are reflections of the society we live in.”

He told the Tribunal that it was hard to believe that 80% of Waikeria’s inmate’s tupuna navigated the mighty Pacific Ocean with no ‘civilised’ means.

“Before the year 2 000 the pakeha people can stand and bow because they have created a people, the Maori people, as criminals.”

Of ABS’s content, he said that their proposal to limit the foreign content of their programming to one third was very welcome.

“The very large proportion of overseas content in the present programming of TVNZ has been, and will continue, to be a major impediment to the introduction of more Maori content.”

On behalf of the Waikato-Maniapoto Maori Council he said that they are confident that programme research will reveal limitless opportunity for positive programming.

Secretary for the Waiwharariki Maori Women’s Welfare League branch, Peggy Aston, told the Tribunal that presenting programming has hastened the decline of maori language and culture.

“ABS promote and reverse the decline of the maori language and culture,” she said.

She attributed the minimal involvement of Maori youth in maori activities to the absence of maori programming on public broadcasting.

Harry Lambert spoke of the Maori Battalion and his belief in the maori being in control of their own destiny.

“They (the Maori Battalion) really

believed things would be better because so many of us had made the sacrifice.” He reminded the Tribunal that of the 3000 men who went overseas, 618 didn’t come back.

“I am in favour, wherever possible, that Maori have charge over their own destiny.”

Of the ABS komiti whakatinana, he said that they have the wit, the will and the imagination to get it off the ground.

“It’s pathetic, if not criminal, to see our people not being catered for.”

Seventh former at Auckland Girls’ Grammar, Elizabeth Te Amo told the Tribunal that most of the broadcasting today is more harmful than beneficial. She gave them a run down of hui that have been run, but never covered by the media.

“These are the things we need, but never see,” she said.

“It’s important to have a lot of marae input, that’s the way the maori live.” Graham Smith, lecturer at Auckland Secondary Teacher’s College based his evidence on the education system.

He said that the present television services did not cater adequately to the needs of Maori school age pupils because of the lack of maori language, maori content, maori personnel, overt bi-cultural and multi-cultural content and maori success models.

“The over representation of Maori pupils in the crisis statistics of education have been attributed to break down of cultural identity, lack of self-esteem, lack of cultural reinforcement, poor school attendance, etc, etc,” he said.

He added that the present television commitment may be undermining what the Department of Education policy is trying to achieve via taha maori, bi-ling-ual schools, maori studies syllabus for primary schools, compulsory maori studies for all teacher trainees and so on.

Professional story-teller, Wairangi Jones took his six foot six tall body full of talent to the stand and told the Tribunal the story about te Kauri mete Tohora. After his performance, he told them that before television, radio or the pakeha arrived, Maori used the gift of te reo.

“Through this verbal passage, genealogies, myths, history was passed on.”

He told them that his story telling and countless other untold stories could be helped by the television media.

Reverend Peter Davis told the Tribunal that the New Zealand Churches realise that whatever happens here in New Zealand affects other indigenous peoples in the South pacific.

He also said that the action that ABS was taking was a challenge to preserve the culture of New Zealand.

“Keeping the art, language and community alive is playing a creative role in the Pacific,” he said.

He told the Tribunal that by giving ABS the third television channel warrant, they would be giving access to the

tangata whenua to do things their way. “Power sharing, not money, is the issue of this debate.”

Auckland University lecturer in Law, David Williams, told the Tribunal that the Maori, as the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, were not a mere minority to be lumped in with other ethnic minorities in New Zealand.

“The Maori people are a racial group entitled to special and concrete measures to ensure the adequate development and protection of their social and cultural rights.

“The granting of an application by a Maori based organisation for a television warrant would be the taking of a step necessary for the conservation, the development and the diffusion of the maori culture.”

He also said that a State that has the resources to operate three television channels has ample available resources to maximise the economic, social and cultural rights of people and communities.”

Producer for Te Reo O Aotearoa, Haare Williams, asked the Tribunal what price New Zealanders had to pay for the presence of maori programming in their homes.

“Some commentators have asked what will be the price for the push within maoridom for broadcasting equity, the injustices put before the Waitangi Tribunal and so on.

‘Will it be easy?’ they ask. Compared with what? Compared with social injustice, compared with racial hatred, compared with riots, compared with hopelessness, compared to the alternatives, it will be dead easy and dead cheap.”

Chairperson of the Maori Economic Development Committee on Broadcasting, Tamihana (Toby) Curtis, said that the committee concluded that it is not possible for non-Maori structures to provide a maori broadcasting service to the Maori and non-Maori.

“The report concluded that there are three distinct audiences for which services in the maori language should be provided from television.

“Persons fluent in maori; Maori persons not fluent users of the maori language, but endorse its usage as part of a self-actualisation; and non-Maori who are appreciative of Maori history, culture and language as an integral part of this country’s history, culture and language.”

He said that ABS’s application went further than that.

“It provides and will cater for both the Maori and non-Maori public interest in both the Maori language and other languages.

“In my view, ABS is the only applicant that will seriously discharge that statutory responsibility from the outset.”

He told the Tribunal that approximately 25 percent of live births are Maori.

“This is sure to rise in another ten years which will lessen the minority.

“But more importantly, the numbers of Pakeha people are declining.

“We have to look at sharing the resources of the country.”

In his evidence to the Tribunal, Whairiri Ngata, journalist and broadcaster, said that Broadcasting authorities in New Zealand should be required to reflect community and maori interests as outlined by statute.

“The Broadcasting act is both implicit and explicit in its outline of a broadcaster’s responsibility.

“I have always been aware of the dual and triple responsibilities which a Maori and bilingual Maori broad caster has, to the public at large.

“In respect of programmes for Maori and about Maori, the statutory authorities have been gravely remiss, and pre-

sent broadcasting or telecasts do not give a true picture or reflection of the ethnic make-up of this country and the contribution made by Maori people to a fuller and richer cultural existence.

“I support the ABS application because it would utilise an already existing informal communication system among Maori people.

“This could be utilised for commentary on current issues.”

Cletus Maanu Paul from Mana Maori Media, went right out of his way to discomfort the Tribunal with his evidence.

His introductory waiata was appropriately, “Move over, move over, and make room for me.”

He explained the mauri of the Maori to the Tribunal.

He explained the iwi, hapu and whanau, and told the Tribunal that their lack of understanding anything Maori

was a difficulty facing them with their decision.

And in language they could understand, he said that the “monocultural nature of television is repugnant to the Maori.

“Mauri is essential for maori television.”

And he said that the present maori programming is alien to the mauri of the Maori.

“Pakehas have no history of mauri, the closest they can get to it is soul.

“Only the Maori can do it,” he said referring to programming maori content.

He said that mauri is not a transferable entity.

“It’s not for me as a Maori to teach you. You can’t change it so it fits your way of thinking.

“It can’t be packaged and cartoned designed to belong to the hi-tech world.”