A Right to Media? Lorie M. Graham - Columbia Law School

2010] A RIGHT TO MEDIA? 495
as Maori Television (Maori TV). 266 Maori TV was the result of a hard
fought battle on the part of Maori to preserve their language and
culture under the Treaty of Waitangi. 267 New Zealand now has an
entirely Maori language television channel, “Te Reo” (The Language),
which broadcasts “in 100% Maori language during prime time.” 268
Maori media producers have banded together to promote networking
and collaboration among broadcasters. In March of 2008, in
conjunction with the debut of “Te Reo,” a World Television
Broadcasting Conference (WITBC) was held in New Zealand. 269 The
conference brought together indigenous broadcasters and other
media personnel from around the globe with the goal of fostering the
creation of an international network of indigenous broadcasters. The
theme of WITBC was “reclaiming our future,” which related to the
need for indigenous broadcasters to “safeguard and develop their
unique indigenous languages and cultures.” 270
Important New Zealand governmental initiatives include the
1999 Maori Language Strategy, which acknowledged governmental
obligations under The Treaty of Waitangi to promote Maori
language. 271 The government highlighted the following aspects of
radio and television as important elements of its strategy. 272
266. See generally Te Puni Kōkiri [Ministry of Maori Development], The
Health of the Māori Language in the Broadcasting Sector 2006 iii (2008) (noting
that Maori Television Service has significantly expanded the visibility of Maori
language since its launch).
267. See Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, 1975 S.N.Z. No. 114. See also
Harawira, supra note 259 (noting the importance of Maori media development for
the survival of the Maori language).
268. See Māori Television, About Māori Television,
http://www.maoritelevision.com/Default.aspx?tabid=227 (last visited Feb. 5,
2010).
269. For more on this conference, see Maori Television, Reclaiming the
Future: World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference 2008 (2008).
270. Id. at 3.
271. See David, supra note 212, at 31.
272. The New Zealnd government has stated six specific reasons that it
links Maori language retention with the promotion of Maori mediat stations:
showing Maori as a living language, making it accessible to Maori language
learners, promoting development in Maori language, connecting the language to
popular leisure activities broadcast on radio and television, stimulating further
use of the Maori language, and supporting Maori educational programs. See id.
See also Te Puni Kōkiri [Ministry of Maori Development], The Maori Language
Strategy 31 (2003) (outlining a vision for ways in which the Maori and the
government can work together to support the Maori language); Te Puni Kōkiri,
Maori Language Broadcasting Developments (2004) (listing key events in Maori
broadcasting from 1960 until 2004).