November 27, 2014
Pressure seen in TVNZ outsourcing
A former Television New Zealand producer says independent producers have been pressuring the broadcaster for years to grab a share of its Maori programmes.
Derek Kotuku Wooster, who was part of the team that launched Marae 22 years ago, says he’s disappointed TVNZ is outsourcing its Maori and Pacific programmes.
Rather than Marae being outsourced, he would like to see the format retired gracefully and a new programme created.
He says there is an air of inevitability about the changes.
"For the whole time that I was working in the Maori Programmes Department of TVNZ, the independent sector were courting Television New Zealand all the time for the funds and for the time slots that we had. So I am not surprised that Television New Zealand have eventually kowtowed to the pressures of their independent sector " Mr Wooster says.
He says the building where Maori programmes were made was sold to Sky City, so it seems convenient for TVNZ to find an excuse to outsource.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DEREK KOTUKU WOOSTER CLICK ON THE LINK
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