August 23, 2020
When is a Political debate NOT a political debate?
Martyn 'Bomber' Bradbury: With the Election pushed out to October 17th, TVNZ has a chance to reflect upon its decision to ban the Māori Party from the minor leader debates between ACT, Green and NZ First.
TVNZ's criteria has been 1 MP or 3% in the polls but seeing as Māori only make up 16.5% and the Māori Party acts as a political voice for Māori and gain most of their support in Māori electorates, the 3% threshold TVNZ are using is actively biased against Māori.
This matters because TVNZ is still a public broadcaster and as such has a responsibility and obligation that far exceeds private media corporations.
When poverty, inequality, housing, homelessness, domestic abuse, crime and the current covid virus all impact Māori more negatively then Pakeha, the Public Broadcaster's decision to exclude the Māori Party from the election debate to discuss what happens next feels like an insult to an injury.
Martyn Bradbury
Editor – TheDailyBlog.nz
Radio Waatea and it's board would like to advise that the opinions posted are those of Martyn 'Bomber Bradbury' and not the views of Radio Waatea, it's Management or it's Board.
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