October 23, 2014
Politics alleged behind TVNZ shift
Labour’s broadcasting spokesperson Kris Faafoi says Television New Zealand’s decision to outsource Maori and Pacific programming is a blow to public broadcasting.
TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick says the state broadcaster is looking for independent production houses to pick up responsibility for programmes like Marae, Waka Huia, Fresh and Tagata Pasifika . . . and their staff.
Only Te Karere news will stay in-house.
Mr Faafoi, a former broadcaster, says the move shows the National Government has given TVNZ a clear direction to make money and forget about serving New Zealand audiences programmes that reflect their own cultures.
He says it’s clear TVNZ waited until after the election to bring the hammer down.
The move comes on top of the shake-up at Maori Television that has led to the departure of senior executives Carol Hirshfeld, Julian Wilcox and Alan Withrington.
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