New Zealand on Screen

    New Building New Direction for New Zealand's indigenous television channel.

Māori Television the indigenous television service in New Zealand opened new premises in South Auckland this week. 

The channel founded after years of protest, agitation, and court hearings is nearly 14 years old.  Despite criticism, funding issues and a regular target of politicians it has survived and thrived.

Māori Television was based in central Auckland but outgrew the facilities.  The premises in South Auckland bring it closer to strong Māori and Pacific populations with marae and many total immersion pre-schools and schools in the district.   The availability of free parking was a bonus for the staff.

The opening of the new facilities brought together the two key stakeholders, the Crown and Te Mātāwai the newly established organisation tasked with the revitalisation of te reo Māori on behalf of iwi and Māori.

The building was dedicated with a mix of prayers and rituals in Māori, English and ancient Buddhist tradition. 

And that reflects much of the approach of the channel.  Funding restraints and a low level of paid advertising has seen the channel try for more innovative programming and to take risks.

The Māori language and culture are the key drivers but it can also be a disincentive to viewers.   Some see the channel as only in the Māori language or only for Māori. Māori Television regularly feature international documentaries which would normally never be seen on the New Zealand small screen and include programmes aimed at Pacific viewers as well as other ethnic minorities.   Māori production houses are continually aiming to produce new and fresh approaches to programmes within tight budgets.

That television audiences everywhere are declining at a rapid rate is only adding to the struggle to attract viewers particularly the young.

For as one speaker said "the language will live on through you (the channel)."  But like youth in other cultures and demographics Māori young people are on their devices.  They have the whole world of online content to chose from.  The trick is to get them to chose the Māori channel.

How to promote your language and culture in this emerging, ever changing and volatile environment is one of the great challenges indigenous broadcasters throughout the world face.

Māori Television will now be broadcast in HD and the new premises provide the space and flexibility to encompass new platforms and technologies.