Maori TV station to go on air despite funding cut

A Northland Maori television station will go on air despite a government decision to cut its funding, the man behind it said today.

Hone Harawira is the chief executive of the Te Hiku o Te Iku station, which was given nearly $100,000 by the now defunct Community Employment Group (CEG).

It is so far behind schedule that the agreement has been cancelled and the final $15,000 grant will not be paid.

Mr Harawira said he never asked for the money, none of it had been misspent, and the station would go on air regardless.

"I'm disappointed that funding has been cut, but we will succeed," he said on National Radio.

"We've got a TV station to put on air -- it's a good idea."

- NZPA