Job cuts at Whakaata Māori w/ The University of Auckland’s Gavin Ellis: 30 September, 2024

Last week job cuts were confirmed at Whakaata Māori as part of ongoing  budget cuts to the organisation. 

The national indigenous broadcaster is set to lose $10.3 million provided in the previous government’s budget. 

The cuts have resulted in the probable axing of the broadcaster's TV bulletin, with a plan to move to online content by March of next year. 

In parliament Former Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson pleaded with the government to invest in Whakaata Māori, calling the move yet another attack on Te Reo. 

The cuts come off the back of a tumultuous time for Aotearoa’s media space, following the closure of Newshub and major cuts at TVNZ. 

Producer Evie spoke to the University of Auckland’s Gavin Ellis about the cuts at Whakaata Māori, the effect they’ll have on te ao Māori media, public access to news and the direction our media sector is moving in.