MPs from across the House of Representatives demonstrated their support for Māori Television by passing the Māori Television Service Amendment Act 2013 in November last year.

This was a crucial step in ensuring Māori Television is properly positioned for digital broadcasting following the nationwide digital switch-over on 1 December 2013. The Act transfers spectrum management rights from the Crown to Te Pūtahi Paoho, the Māori Television Service Electoral College, which will issue a national set of digital spectrum licenses to Māori Television covering a twenty year period.

“The enactment of this legislation ensures Māori Television’s current and future broadcasting needs will be met, and that it can continue in its important role of sharing Aotearoa stories, with a broad audience.”

This approach enables Māori to uphold the role of kaitiaki within the Māori Television Service and provides certainty of tenure for Māori Television regarding access to the necessary spectrum licences for all its broadcasting needs now and into the future. The Act also strengthens the legislative focus on protecting and promoting te reo Māori across Māori Television’s mahi.

“Communications is crucial to nation building and this is precisely what Māori Television is doing by telling our stories and supporting te reo me ōna tikanga. The channel has carved out a unique niche in our national media,” says Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples.