Judy's back on the box for Maori TV

Judy Bailey (left) and Wena Harawira join forces. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Judy Bailey has landed her first on-camera job since being dumped by Television New Zealand - she will help present Maori Television's unprecedented all-day coverage of Anzac Day.

The two-year-old channel announced yesterday that it planned 6am-to-midnight coverage of Anzac Day events on April 25. It hoped to include live coverage from Gallipoli commemorations.

Bailey, 53, would share studio and in-field duties with Wena Harawira, 41.

Bailey, who spent 18 years hosting One News, said she was honoured to be approached. She said her appearance on Maori Television was a "one-off, wonderful opportunity".

Her Maori language was "not terribly flash" but that was not the point. "Wena's there and she's thoroughly capable - I'm here as a support person. I'm second string to Wena."

There were two inevitable questions from journalists at the press conference. One was what Bailey was earning - a national outcry greeted revelations that she got $800,000 from TVNZ for her last year of work.

Bailey, who is being paid about $8000 for her four weeks with MTV, said "money has not ever entered into this. I am doing it because I believe in the project. It's a wonderful idea".

The other query was whether Maori Television's decision to take ownership of the country's Anzac Day coverage was a move into TVNZ's territory as state broadcaster. Chief executive Jim Mather said the station, which sees itself as the "second public broadcaster", was "doing what we think is the best way forward".

Maori Television said it had been attracting an average of least 400,000 viewers a month. Wena Harawira, host of weekly bilingual current affairs show Te Heteri [The Sentinel], hoped the Anzac Day special would encourage new viewers.

She said that she and Bailey had been colleagues at TVNZ many years ago when she was working for Maori news programme Te Karere. The Maori TV channel will have live coverage of Anzac Day events, including the dawn service at Auckland War Memorial Museum, and is hoping its live Gallipoli coverage will include the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair. Also on the programme are documentaries, interviews with veterans and studio debates.

Researchers are still seeking Anzac stories. Ideas can be emailed to the link below. 

The national president of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association, John Campbell, said the MTV's plans were "extremely exciting".

"Every RSA around the country will be tuned in all day." 


Anzac Day

* Television New Zealand (TVONE, TV2)
Publicist Melanya Burrows said that alongside TVOne's usual public holiday programming would be several special Anzac features, including coverage of the wreath-laying ceremony at the Wellington Cenotaph and a documentary about New Zealanders' experience of war.

* TV3
Spokesman Roger Beaumont said there would be TV3's "regular entertainment programming" on April 25, with "substantial Anzac Day coverage on 3 News and Campbell Live".

* Maori Television
Starting at 6am with live coverage of the dawn service at Auckland War Memorial Museum, the broadcaster will screen 18 hours of Anzac ceremonies at home and abroad, interviews with veterans, studio debates and documentaries.