Iwi stations silence Labour ad

A stoush has erupted between the Labour Party and some of the country's iwi radio stations over their refusal to run a paid party advertisement.

The Herald understands a number of iwi broadcasters had refused to run a Labour ad that claims a vote for the Maori Party was a vote for National.

It is understood Pumanawa FM in Rotorua, Wanganui's Awa FM and Kaitaia's Te Hiku o Te Ika are among the stations that baulked at running the ad.

The stations are undeerstood to have raised concerns at a statement in the ad that the Maori Party had voted with National 227 times.

A Labour Party spokesman said yesterday the party had been made aware of refusals by some stations and of an email campaign to stop all iwi radio stations from running the advertisement.

But the spokesman said most of the stations were now running the ad, having been made aware broadcasting laws required balanced political coverage.

He said there was no problem with the accuracy of the statement.

Kaitaia-based Te Hiku O Te Ika, whose chief executive is Maori Party Te Tai Tokerau candidate Hone Harawira, has pulled all political broadcasts to avoid any breach of political broadcast rules.

Mr Harawira said the decision was made by the station manager.

Mr Harawira is also chairman of Te Whakaruruhau, the national federation of Maori radio stations.

He said the Maori Party was taking legal advice over the Labour advertisements, and he was concerned iwi radio stations could be caught up if legal action was taken by his party.

The banned ad

Voice 1: Gonna vote Labour this year cuz?

Voice 2: Well I'm thinking I'll have to.

1: Eh?

2: Yeah, see I was gonna vote for the Maori Party but then I read in Parliament the Maori Party voted with National 227 times.

1: True?

2: Yep, I figure a vote for the Maori Party is just a vote for the National Party.

1: Ah, that would be the same National Party that wants to get rid of the Maori seats.

2 Ae (yes).

Voice 3: A strong voice for Maori at the decision-making table can only come from giving both your votes to Labour. Me haere whakamua tahi tatua (Let's move forward together).