Budget 2007 delivers significant new investment into Mâori broadcasting as part of the government's on-going drive to build and share knowledge about our people, language and lives, Mâori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said today.

The government recognises the need to sustain our unique Mâori culture and values as part of its goal to retain and enrich our national identity. Mâori broadcasting plays a vital role in this process, Mr Horomia said.

As vehicles for transmitting our ideas, initiatives and success stories the government believes Mâori Television and iwi radio will also play an active role in building a sustainable economy and strengthening our whânau.

"I'm pleased to announce that Budget 2007 includes $27.1 million in new operating and capital funding for Vote Mâori Affairs over the next four years to specifically strengthen the government's commitment to Mâori broadcasting.

"Included in this total is an additional $20.1 million in operating funding for Mâori Television and $3 million in capital funding. The extra funding recognises the increasing success of Mâori Television and provides a platform to support its plan to move to digital television. It will also be used to add new programming content and to establish infrastructure for expanded broadcasts," he said.

An additional $4 million over the next four years will be invested in the iwi radio network to enable it to continue to provide a high quality service.

"The Mâori broadcasting funding completes a four year programme of strengthening the industry and positions it well for the digital era," Mr Horomia said.

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Whakahaumi atu ki a tātou pakiwaitara me a tātou tāngata.

E kawea ana e Tahua Pūtea 2007 tētahi whakahaumitanga tāpua hou, atu ki ngā pāpāho Māori hei wāhanga o ngā mahinga a te kāwanatanga ki te hanga atu, me te tohatoha i ngā mātauranga mō a tātou tāngata, reo me ngā oranga noho, i kī te Minita Take Māori, a Parekura Horomia, i te rangi nei.

Kei te mōhio tonu te kāwanatanga mō te hiahia ki te ukauka i a tātou tikanga ahurei me ngā uara, hei wāhanga tonu mō tāna whāinga ki te pupuri me te whakarangatira i tā tātou tuakiri ā-motu. He tūranga taketake tā te pāpāho Māori ki roto i ēnei whakaritenga, i kī ai a Horomia.

E pono ana te kāwanatanga ko te Pouaka Māori, me ngā reo Irirangi Māori, koia nei ngā waka hei pānui i a tātou whakaaro, ngā kōkiri, me ngā pakiwaitara angitu, ka hanga i tētahi ōhanga ukauka, ka whakapakari i a tātou whānau.

“E harikoa ana ahau ki te whakamōhio kei roto o Tahua Pūtea 2007 e tāpiri ana, e $27.1 miriona, he moni hou mō ngā whakahaere me ngā haupū rawa o Kaupapa Take Māori mō ngā tau e whā kei mua, hei whakapakari motuhake i te piriponotanga a te kāwanatanga ki te pāpāho Māori.

Kei roto i tēnei tōpūtanga, ko te $20.1 miriona āpiti atu, hei utu whakahaere mō te Pouaka Māori, me te $3 miriona mō te utu haupū rawa. E mōhio tautoko ana e tēnei pūtea nui ake, i te angitu e piki ake ana o te Pouaka Māori, ā, ka whakawhiwhia tētahi papanga hei tautoko i āna mahere ki te whakawhiti atu ki te pouaka ororua. Ka whakamahia anō tenei ki te hanga kaupapa hou, me te whakatū kaupapa kei raro mō ngā pāpāho whānui ake,” i kī ia.

E $4 miriona i runga ake, mō te whā tau kei mua, ka whakahaumitia ki te kupenga reo irirangi Māori, kia haere tonu ai āna mahi whakawhiwhii ratonga kounga kairangi.

“Ka oti i tēnei pūtea pāpāho Māori, tētahi kaupapa mō te whā tau, ki te whakapakari i tēnei ahumahi, me te whakatū tōtika i a ia mō ngā wā ororua,” e kī ana a Horomia.