SIC – OUT OF TIME
PUBLIC INTEREST JOURNALISM – TMP CO-FUND
NZ Media Fund
RECOMMENDATION
That the Staff Investment Committee (SIC) approves funding of up to:
•
$999,416 to Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Incorporated (trading as Tainui Live) for AUKAHA Te Tai Pūkōrero
subject to confirmation of TMP’s approval of the application and its contribution of a further $243,432,
•
$981,819 to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (trading as Tahu FM) for Tahu News subject to confirmation of TMP’s
approval of the application and its contribution of $219,581,
and approves revised funding previously approved in the 12 June 2023 SIC meeting of up to:
•
$341,128 to Te Reo Irirangi o Tūranganui-a-Kiwa for Kapu Tairāwhiti   subject to confirmation of TMP’s
approval of the application and its contribution of $79,722,
• $677,637 to Te Reo Irirangi  o Taranaki Charitable Trust for Te  Reo  o  Te  Uru  Regional  News  subject to
confirmation of TMP’s approval of the application and its contribution of $158,363
  BACKGROUND
1. This  proposal  supports  the  continuation  of  a  pilot  Iwi  Radio  Regional  News  initiative  established  under  Te
Māngai Pāho (TMP) in 2020. The initiative was created in response to the COVID-19 lockdown and the need for
Māori communities to have trusted sources of Māori news with Māori perspectives.
2. For 30 years, iwi radio has provided trusted connection for Māori communities, but the provision of news
services has largely remained stagnant. The Regional News Hub initiative marked a significant surge forward but
there was ongoing concern from Māori media stakeholders that this progress would be undermined if funding
was not continued.
3. The mana motuhake, or autonomy, of individual iwi radio stations is vital to the iwi and hapū they serve and is
integral to the Regional News Hub initiative which ensures while the participants work in collaboration and in
hubs, no one group controls the others.
4. The Government provided additional funding to al ow TMP to develop a six-month Regional News Hub pilot
scheme with four hubs which started in April 2021 and was then extended until June 2022. However, with no
indication TMP would be able to continue funding the scheme,
under the Official Information Act
7. At  the  same  time  (May  2022)  the  Minister  of  Māori  Development  signalled  TMP  would  receive  additional
support to continue and expand the Regional News Initiative.  It is understood that $10m is to be provided
Released
across two years 2023-24/2024-2025.
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9. TMP suggested a co-fund arrangement would be the best way to fund such a large-scale operation, given
TMP’s existing contracts and involvement with the successful pilot. On 9 June, staff recommended to SIC that
the PIJF set aside $3m to co-fund Māori Regional News Hubs with funding to be administered by TMP.
11. In the meantime, TMP has continued to keep the News Hubs afloat by extending their contracts, the most
current of which will end on 31 June 2023.
12. While the TMP funding will run over two years (2023/2024–2024/2025), the PIJF has finished and needs to
complete its allocation before July 2023. For this reason, TMP suggested that the PIJF co-funding be used in
2023 to fund existing hubs in phase one and a second RFP encouraging an expansion of new hubs be fully funded
by TMP. The breakdown of this allocation is as follows:
• FY23-24: $3m via PIJF ( from FY22-23 allocation) and $3.5m via TMP ($6.5m total funding)
• FY24-25: $6.5m via TMP
13. The co-fund RFP for Māori Regional News opened on 7 April 2023. By the deadline of Friday 19 May 2023 four
applications had been received totalling $3,701,098.
Hub
Iwi station
Region
Budget
Aukaha
Tainui Live
Waikato
$1,242,848
Moana Communications  Tauranga
Te Arawa FM
Bay of Plenty
Tūwharetoa FM
Central Nth Is
Tahu News
Tahu Fm
Te Waipounamu (South Is)
$1,201,400
Already approved by SIC
Te Reo o te Uru
Te Korimako o Taranaki
Taranaki
$    836,000
Awa Fm
Whanganui
Kia ora FM
Manawatū
Ruapehu
Rātana
Kapu Tairāwhiti
Tūranga FM
Te Tairāwhiti
$   420,850
Radio Ngāti Porou
Radio Ngāti Kahungunu
$3,701,098
under the Official Information Act
14. Funding was approved for Te Reo o te Uru and Kapu Tairāwhiti at the SIC meeting on 12 June 2023, and the
funding paper can be found here.  The applications Aukaha and Tahu News are presented in this paper.
15. On 21 June 2023, Blake Ihimaera, Head of Content for TMP, met with staff and reported that the TMP Board
has approved all four applications. Further discussion by staff established a calculation by which the TMP and
PIJF shares of funding could be split to meet the goals of the co-fund and the funding timelines of both
agencies. This reduced the two applications awaiting NZ On Air approval to under $1m and into the jurisdiction
of the SIC.
16. In terms of the current RFP (FY23-24), the PIJF’s contribution of $3m provides 81.05% of the total funding
Released
requested  with  TMP  providing  $18.95%.  Applying those percentages provides the fol owing funding
breakdown.
Applicant
Budget request
NZ On Air share of funding
TMP share of funding
Aukaha
$1,242,848
$999,416
$243,432
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Tahu News
$1,201,400
$981,819
$219,581
Te Reo o te Uru
$836,000
$677,637
$158,363
Kapu Tairāwhiti
$420,850
$341,128
$79,722
TOTAL
$3,701,098
$3,000,000
$701,098

     GENERAL ASSESSMENT & STAFF OPINION

AUKAHA Te Tai Pūkōrero                       Tainui Live                                                    Requested  $1,242,848
Key personnel
Title
Relevant Past Work
Executive Producer
Extensive experience with TVNZ, Whakaata
under the Official Information Act
Māori
Producer
30 years Māori broadcasting and
communications
Producer
Whakaata Māori
Synopsis
19.  AUKAHA Te Tai Pūkōrero(AUKAHA) seeks funding for a third year of the successful Māori Regional News Hub
collaboration of iwi radio stations Tainui Live, Te Arawa FM and Moana Communications which also provides
content to Tūwharetoa FM, Whakaata Māori, Te Karere (TVNZ) and other iwi radio stations.
Released
General Assessment
20. This is a large scale news and current affairs project across 50 weeks producing significant content outputs
including:
•  6 special programmes of 30-45’
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•  326 regional digital / video reports. 3 x 2-5’ stories each week
•  2473 te reo language radio reports/stories across six  daily te reo Māori programmes
•  450 articles provided via a new website.

21. The goal of AUKAHA is to deliver relatable and impactful content from communities across the collective
regions which  spread  from Waikato  through to  the  Central  North  Island  and across  the  Bay of Plenty to
Tauranga.
22. Each day unique news in the Māori language and the distinct dialect of each tribe will be shared across the
country via radio,  social media,  iwi radio stations, Te  Whare Kōrero  app  and in collaboration with other
platforms such TVNZ and Whakaata Māori.
23. The proposal suggests current audience figures across Facebook - 17.4k followers, Instagram - 2.93k fol owers
and

24. The budget summary is as follows:
Description
Budget
Wages and salaries
$815,000
Operations
$216,500
Production costs
$107,000
Producer/other contribution
($104,348)
25.

Staff Opinion
26. This is a strong multi-media application that meets the goals of the PIJF to tautoko Māori and iwi journalism.
27. The success of the pilot scheme can be seen not only in the leap in coverage and content but in TMP’s
ongoing desire to fund the project and additional Ministerial support.
28. This proposal has the support of the office of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VI  with a support
letter stating  “Aukaha in a very short period of time has become a corner stone for the stories of the people
in our rohe and ensures that our varied kaupapa are hold (sic) in a relavant and appropriate manner…. This is
a news service that we highly value and believe is critical for the future of Maaori Media in our rohe”.
29. The proposal also included letters of support from Te Arawa FM and Moana Radio.
30. The proposal, submitted primarily in te reo Māori, spoke passionately about the need to develop skil s and
under the Official Information Act
provide opportunity for rangatahi, further building capacity in the Māori Media workforce.
31.

However staff experience has
shown a level of flexibility is sought within Māori media to accommodate a range of skill levels, availability
and contracts covering varied hours to enable recruitment in a very tight market.
32. As with the Tahu News application below, there is some confusion as to why iwi contribution mentioned in
the budget summary of $104,348 is not included in the detailed budget provided. TMP is also aware of this
Released
issue and has assured staff the budgets provided are acceptable.
33. Despite some lack of clarity around the detail of the budget, staff believes the scale of the project, its
demonstrated success through the TMP pilot phase and its ability to deliver to PIJF goals for Māori
journalism creation make it worthy of support and funding is recommended up to $999,416 subject to
confirmation of TMP’s approval of the application and its contribution of a further $243,432.
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Tahu News
  Tahu News
Requested   $1,201,400
Key personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work

Executive Producer
Whakaata Māori

Production Producer
TVNZ

Pou Tiaki Reo/ Te Reo Adivsory
TVNZ, Whakaata Māori, RNZ
Synopsis
34. Tahu News is seeking to continue its news service that provides multimedia news coverage focused on Te
Waipounamu (South Island) broadcast in Te Reo Māori across online and social media platforms.
General Assessment
35. Tahu  News  is the only iwi radio station in Te Waipounamu and the budget covers reporters in
Ōtautahi/Kaikoura (Christchurch/Kaikoura) Ōtepoti/Waihōpai (Dunedin/Invercargill) with contributors in Te
Tauihu (top of the South Island) and Te Tai Poutini (West Coast)
36. It seeks to fill a gap the applicant sees in the current media landscape by serving not only Ngāi Tahu
audiences but the people of Te Waipounamu.  Tahu News, based at the long-serving iwi radio station Tahu
FM, evolved out of the need to inform the country of issues within the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā relating to COVID-
19. The service was supported mainly through Tahu FM and its staff. What began initial y as a 3 day a week
provision of news straight to Ngāi Tahu online channels and platforms, turned in to a daily news service that
garnered a stable fol owing, and achieved a 65% rate of te reo Māori usage.
37.
the advent of the TMP-funded Māori
Regional News Hub initiative saw Tahu News reformat in May 2021 as a weeknight news service which wil ,
by the end of its current contract, have broadcast more than 500 stories.
38. Tahu News wil  continue to work together and leverage the col ective strengths of the other news regional
hubs.
39. Content outcomes are wide ranging and include:
• 3 x 5’ video stories posted online and in social media each weeknight at 7pm
• Te Pae, a panel discussion show hosted by Ngā Tahu rangatahi that the applicant aims to turn into a
half hour weekly bi-lingual current affairs programme
• UIA, a specific section for te hunga rangatahi o Te Waipounamu in which a rangatahi reporter seeks
out the views and concerns of rangatahi
• Livestream broadcasts of special events.
under the Official Information Act
Released
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41. Covering Te Waipounamu is a significant challenge in terms of distances and isolated communities, but Tahu
News says it covers stories in most of the 18 papatipu rūnanga of Ngāi Tahu.  This demonstrates a
commitment to reach local voices, sometimes in hard-to-reach areas, to talk about the issues that matter to
them.
42. Tahu News has a strong focus on training and development of rangatahi and that is evidenced in the
internship programme and on the job training throughout production roles.
43. The rangatahi focus fits the Ngā Tahu audience demograph with 32% of the population under 15 years of
age with 49% under 25.
44. The proposal includes a thorough te reo Māori plan and the TMP projected te reo Māori target audience is
‘Receptive’ (30 – 70%).
Description
Budget
Wages and salaries
$933,400
Operations
$188,000
Production costs
$380,000
Producer/other contribution
$0
45.
Staff Opinion
46. This is a strong multi-media application that meets the goals of the PIJF to tautoko Māori and iwi journalism.
As the only iwi news provider in Te Waipounamu, Tahu News fills a very big need and staff believes it is vital
in supporting Māori communities across the takīwa (region).
47. Staff believes Tahu News’s focus on social media and rangatahi supports the Ngāi Tahu demograph and places
it wel  in terms of continued audience growth.
48.
49.
  Staff
queried this, as the budget embedded in the proposal document does include a TRoNT contribution, and was
under the Official Information Act
told by Executive Producer
that the contribution is to be confirmed depending on the TMP
funding amount. Staff discussed the issue with TMP and has been assured that the agency is confident the
budget provided is acceptable.
50. Staff noted that
listed as executive producer on this application is also listed on the Aukaha
proposal  as a producer.  Staff  discussed  this  with  TMP  who  had  noted  the  duplication  and  established  a
condition that this should be resolved before contracting. Staff is confident TMP’s administration of this fund
will ensure this issue is managed.
•
Staff believes Tahu News fulfils a vital need to support Te Waipounamu audiences and its focus on rangatahi
and training will help support the Māori media sector going forward. Funding of up to $981,819  is
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recommended subject to confirmation of TMP’s approval of the application and its contribution of
$219,581.
Kapu Tairāwhiti
Te Reo Irirangi o Tūranganui-a-Kiwa
  $420,850
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Key personnel
Title
Relevant Past Work
Executive Producer
TVNZ, Whakaata Māori
Production Producer
TVNZ, Whakaata Māori
Synopsis
51. ‘Kapu Tairāwhiti’ is the third season of Tūranga FM’s popular bilingual parakuihi (breakfast) online show. 60 x
9’ airing from November 2023 to May 2024.
Staff Opinion
52. This application was assessed and approved by the SIC at its 12 June 2023 meeting and the funding paper can
be found here. However a revised method of calculating the relative contribution of TMP and the PIJF has seen
the approved amount reduce. Staff recommends that the 12 June approval of funding up to $420,850 be revised
to  $341,128  to  Te  Reo  Irirangi  o  Tūranganui-a-Kiwa  for  Kapu  Tairāwhiti  subject to confirmation of TMP’s
approval of the application and its contribution of $79,722.
Te Reo o Te Uru Regional News
Te Reo Iririangi o Taranaki Charitable Trust
$836,000
Key personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work

Executive Producer / Station Manager
10 years with Te Korimako

Production Producer
Te Korimako

Whanganui reporter / Programme director
25 years TVNZ/RNZ/Iwi Radio

Te Reo Maori Consultant
Iwi radio / Te Wānanga o Raukawa
Synopsis
53. Te Reo o Te Uru proposes the continuation of an Iwi Radio Regional News Service which covers the rohe of Te
Kāhui Maunga including Taranaki, Whanganui, Ruapehu, Rātana and Rangitāne/Manawatū.
Staff Opinion
• This application was assessed and approved by the SIC at its 12 June 2023 meeting and the funding paper can
be found here. However a revised method of calculating the relative contribution of TMP and the PIJF has
seen the approved amount reduce. Staff recommends that the 12 June approval of funding up $836,000 be
revised to up to $677,637 to Te Reo Irirangi o Taranaki Charitable Trust for Te Reo o Te Uru Regional News be
revised to subject to confirmation of TMP’s approval of the application and its contribution of $158,363.
under the Official Information Act
Released
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Document Outline