Whakaata Māori is a television broadcaster established in 2003 by a law requiring the station to promote Maori culture in New Zealand. The broadcaster started operating as Whakaata Māori in June 2022. Before, it was known as Māori Television.
Media assets
Television: Māori Television
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent State-Funded (ISF)
Ownership and governance
Māori Television was established by the Māori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakāta Irirangi Māori) Act 2003. Although the Crown does not own it, the broadcaster is accountable in the same manner as Crown entities. The broadcaster is a partnership between the Crown and Maori, the Maori interests being represented by Te Mātāwai, an independent group defined by law that consists of representatives of Māori organizations. Four of the seven members of the station’s Board, the highest governing structure at Māori Television, are appointed by Te Mātāwai. In June 2022, the company began to operate as Whakaata Māori.
Source of funding and budget
Whakaata Māori receives most of its funding from the government via Vote Maori Affairs. It gets some NZ$ 35m a year from the government, according to annual reports filed by the broadcaster. In 2021, the broadcaster had a total budget of NZ$ 38.4m (US$ 25.9m). In the following fiscal year, ending June 2022, Whakaata Māori had a budget of NZ$ 40.5m (US$ 25.3m), more than NZ$39m coming from the Crown and Te Māngai Pāho, a state fund for the support of the Māori culture, according to data from a company annual report.
In the 2023 financial year, Whakaata Māori was awarded a Crown and Te Māngai Pāho appropriation of NZ$ 46.1m (US$ 28.6m), according to a company annual report. But although its budget increased in 2023, Whakaata Māori expects financial cuts in the coming years. In the two financial years before 2027, the outlet is expected to see its budget allocation cut by NZ$ 9.5m. According to company representatives, if inflation were included in calculating its state allocation, the broadcaster’s budget would have reached NZ$ 55m in 2025.
Editorial independence
No government rules are imposed on Māori Television, and there is no evidence that the broadcaster is editorially controlled by the government.
The editorial independence of Māori Television is protected by the Māori Television Service (Te Aratuku Whakāta Irirangi Māori) Act 2003, which forbids government officials to interfere in any way with the programs at Māori Television.
Māori Television has a system of public complaints in place that is open to any viewer who wants to complain about the station’s programs. The broadcaster pledges to respond within 20 days.
July 2024