Worries at cuts to Pacific TV content

Transcript

Pacific broadcasters are concerned over Television New Zealand's latest decision to outsource their Maori and Pacific Islands production to private companies.

The announcement came last week and follows years of cutbacks.

Indira Moala reports.

Both the Pacific Freedom Forum and the Pacific Islands Media Association are warning that TVNZ's latest decision could be catastrophic. With New Zealand home to the world's biggest Polynesian city, much of the Pacific content produced by TVNZ has been a popular source for people around the world. Programmes such as Fresh and Tagata Pasifika are broadcast around the Pacific and accessed online by the Pacific audience worldwide. PIMA's Chair, Sandra Kailahi says it is unclear what the decision actually means for the Pacific community and for New Zealand.

SANDRA KAILAHI: TVNZ has said that they will keep the programmes but what does that look like? Who owns the brand of Tagata Pasifika? What will that look like? Will it have to change? There's just so many questions and no answers and that's the frustrating thing - that they made the announcement on Thursday and they've had no word since then, and it's just diabolical.

Marion Muliaumaseali'i follows New Zealand Pacific media content when she is abroad. She is concerned about the impact of the change.

MARION MULIAUMASEALI'I: We're already a minority, we're not being presented in the media enough. And with looking at outsourcing to private companies - who are these people? and how well do they represent our stories? And is it still a western telescope? or lens? or is it our true, you know grassroots - how do we know that we're going to be represented well and what's the criteria for them to outsource to these companies?

But TVNZ presenter Marama T-Pole, believes the decision could be a good opportunity. Ms T-Pole is one of the presenters on the TVNZ current affairs show, Tagata Pasifika, which is now in its 27th year. She says staff were surprised by the announcement and concerned with what it could mean long-term, but she believes it could bring fresh ideas.

MARAMA T-POLE: I think absolutely it's an opportunity for Tagata Pasifika and Pacific broadcasting. I think it opens up fresh ideas, perhaps even more Pacific people to come in to broadcasting and I think change is always good. And especially for us being such a small industry. I think it's great to have this happen, despite it being a surprise. I think this will also be good news for Tagata Pasifika and for the Pacific community.

The Chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum, Titi Gabi, says the region is concerned that public broadcasters in Australia and New Zealand have both announced cuts to Pacific content this year.

TITI GABI: The general feeling is very similar towards what the ABC experienced in that these two countries teach us to promote and protect media freedom, independence of media, independent journalism. And it's just worrying that the two countries closest to us, that we lean towards - are telling us to do one thing and in practise, doing the complete opposite.

Sandra Kailahi says people are still waiting to hear the details of the decision, and the lack of information is adding to the speculation and uncertainty.