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

ACCESSTerms of Reference:The review will consider the nature of MTS’s broadcasting platform, including, inter alia: theUHF Right (s21-24 refers); the convergence of broadcasting technology and other electronicmedia; the advent of digital television, including the establishment of the Freeview Group;and the establishment of MTS as a multi-channel broadcaster (s9 refers; cf BroadcastingAmendment Bill 2007).Panel CommentThe TKOM panel believes in equality of opportunity, and that Mäori have an inalienable rightto a fully functioning presence in any New Zealand broadcasting technology or system.This Act established the Mäori Television Service. Subsequently, MTS became an associate ofthe Freeview Group of broadcasters for free to air digital television. Now, MTS has twochannels including the Te Reo channel on the digital Sky platform. And with the recentlaunch of their new website MTS offers viewers access to programmes over the internet.The MTS has kept abreast of the changing face of the multi-media landscape but the Actdoes not fully cover MTS in this regard. The panel makes recommendations that reflect theserecent changes, and which will also futureproof MTS’s place in a converged world ofbroadcasting and electronic media.Underpinning these recent changes are the UHF management rights due for renewal in 2013.The panel makes recommendations to bring the terms of this lease in alignment with those ofTelevision New Zealand. Furthermore the panel makes recommendations to secure theownership of the UHF rights.Stakeholder Feedback“The Act should enable MTS to engage in other services, as the Board sees fit, to ensure theeconomic and business sustainability of the organisation. An overly constrictive legislativeregime is not in the nature of best interests of a true Treaty partnership. The notion that MTS is‘owned’ by the Crown is problematic for Mäori, as MTS is an outcome of a Treaty grievance. TheCrown would not think of meddling in tribal settlements, to the extent that it does in genericsettlements. Thus, the funding of MTS should not be seen by the Crown and its agencies as‘government funding’, but as a Treaty grievance recompense, with the Crown’s investment inthat recompense being protected by the Crown appointments on the MTS Board". (publicsubmission)Act Name ChangeIn light of the fundamental changes that are affecting New Zealand’s broadcasting industry,as well as the inevitable convergence of all types of media, it is timely to alter the title of theAct. The work of MTS will continue to have a primary transmission on television, but therewill be a time when all their programmes will be available on other screens: from thecomputer to the mobile phone.It is important that the Act title reflects the multi-platform broadcasting opportunities forMäori Television to carry out its primary functions.1818