Review of the Maori Television Service Act 2003: A ... - Te Puni Kokiri

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The panel understands that a multi-platform environment will provide viewers with moreviewing options. They will be able to watch whatever television they want to whenever theywish to. The notion of prime-time will eventually diminish in importance. 17It is the view of the panel that the concept of prime-time will become irrelevant and that itdoes not require definition or prescription in the legislation.Recommendation 4We recommend that all references to prime-time in the Act are removed (s6, 8 2(a), & s29 (1)(g) refers).A Question of QuantumThe Act specifies that a “substantial proportion” 18 of programming for the Service be in te reoMäori, and that in the prime-time hours the broadcasts be “mainly” in te reo. The Act doesnot define “substantial” and “mainly”. The Panel was advised that for monitoring purposes,substantial means a minimum of 25% and mainly means a minimum of 50% of te reo. 19The panel agrees with many review participants that a reasonable quantum of Mäorilanguage to be broadcast should be clearly defined. We also wish to ensure that MTS hasflexibility to make strategic programming decisions that may or may not always includelanguage imperatives. We consider this flexibility is worthwhile to enable them to fortifytheir ultimate commitment to te reo. We believe that no less than 50% of the total materialbroadcast across MTS’s platforms should be in te reo. Further, that this quantum shouldincrease over time.Recommendation 5We recommend that an amendment is made to the Act that requires MTS to broadcast anaggregated minimum of 50% of te reo Mäori across all their platforms and channels.Who is The Audience?To broadcast a minority language to a general viewing audience makes for contrastingimperatives. The wider general audience does not speak Mäori. For strategic reasons MTS hashad to appeal to mainstream audiences. Two thirds of the regular audience are in factPäkehä. 20The principal function of MTS as expressed by Section 8 is to deliver Mäori languageoutcomes through the “provision of a high quality, cost-effective Mäori television service, inboth Mäori and English, that informs, educates, and entertains a broad viewing audience, and,in doing so, enriches New Zealand’s society, culture, and heritage”.The needs of a broad viewing audience are different from those of a niche Mäori speakingaudience and can be in conflict. To reconcile the varying expectations of respective andpotential audiences is a typical challenge faced by all television broadcasters. But Mäori17 It was noted in stakeholder discussions with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage that prime-time will still be relevant for thenext 5 years.18 The panel were advised by Te Puni Kökiri that substantial means a minimum of 25% te reo Mäori content.19 The Panel were advised by Te Puni Kökiri regarding the minimum language quanta requirement.20 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/Mäori-television/news/article.cfm?o_id=369&objectid=104618671515
television’s situation is unique. It cannot be encouraged to dilute its Mäoriness by deferringto the Päkehä mainstream.The MTS can best serve all New Zealanders by first serving the Mäori audience: those whospeak Mäori and those who speak English. This will still enable MTS to adhere to itssuccessful philosophy of inclusion. 21Recommendation 6We recommend that the words ‘a broad viewing audience’ are removed from Section 8(1) ofthe Act.The Fluent AudienceA great deal of Mäori language television is produced for those who are learning andacquiring the language. Necessarily so. There is less television however that features thelanguage of the fully fluent. 22To specify the needs of the native speakers of te reo is important. They provide a vitallinguistic barometer that assists the preservation and protection of the unique character ofthe language.Beginning and intermediate learners of the language must be catered for – as must thosewith a higher calibre of language aspiration and proficiency. This includes growing numbersof immersion education graduates.Recommendation 7We recommend that words ‘native speakers and speakers with a high level of proficiency in tereo Mäori’ are included in Section 8(2)(c)(iii) of the Act and that the words ‘young people’ areincluded in Section 8(2)(c)(i) of the Act.Moving OnSection 8(3) of the Act refers to “fostering development of the broadcasting capacity of theService through appropriate training and education”.It is the view of the panel that this clause was suitable for the start-up phase of MTS but thatit is now redundant. The MTS is well established and has been functioning for five years.Training and education is part of MTS ‘business as usual’ and does not require this legalmandate.Recommendation 8We recommend that Section 8(3) is removed.Indices of Success – Focus• By exposure to high quality broadcast content the usage of correct and appropriateMäori language grows amongst viewers.21 Mä tätou – for everyone.22 A key stakeholder submitted that ‘native speakers’ should be included as one of the target audiences referred to in Section 8 (2).1616
Page 3: HEI TÏMATANGAHe puehu rä ko ahauN
Page 7 and 8: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYPurposeTe Kähui o
Page 9 and 10: To provide more certainty for the f
Page 11 and 12: e. the termination of Te Reo Mäori
Page 13 and 14: THE BIG PICTUREAlthough the preserv
Page 15 and 16: The Government supports MTS with di
Page 17 and 18: This is an oversight that should be
Page 19: This single phrase points to one of
Page 23 and 24: ACCESSTerms of Reference:The review
Page 25 and 26: Despite the fact of the Treaty sett
Page 27 and 28: QUALITYTerms of Reference:The revie
Page 29 and 30: Recommendation 17We recommend that
Page 31 and 32: Neither the Mäori language plan, n
Page 33 and 34: • The presence of te reo televisi
Page 35 and 36: Recommendation 20We recommend that
Page 37 and 38: Economic ImpactAn economic impact s
Page 39 and 40: The panel notes that the Mäori Bro
Page 41 and 42: Historical FoundationThe panel is a
Page 43 and 44: Appendix 1: Specific AmendmentsQual
Page 45 and 46: Sch 2,24Immunity of directorsand em
Page 47 and 48: When. The terms of reference identi
Page 49 and 50: General IssuesThe review will consi
Page 51 and 52: Appendix 4: Panel OperationsThe Cha
Page 53 and 54: Appendix 6: References1. Briefing t
Page 55 and 56: AcronymsASO - analogue switch offDS
Page 57 and 58: TE KÄHUI O MÄHUTONGA RESPONSE TO
Page 59 and 60: Perhaps one way of measuring qualit
Page 61 and 62: The panel agrees that there is an i
Page 63: talented amateurs and aspire to a n

Review of the Maori Television Service Act 2003: A ... - Te Puni Kokiri

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