More FM slammed for sharing doctored kapa haka images

First place winners of Te Matatini 2015 - Te Kapa Haka o Te Whanau a Apanui. Photo / Te Mataini Society Inc

Radio station More FM has been lambasted for sharing doctored images of this year's Te Matatini winners, Te Whanau a Apanui from Opotiki.

The images of the national kapa haka competition's winners were originally posted on entertainment and social news website Reddit.

The post titled "The Internet Goes Crazy Over Kapa Haka Performer" displayed more than 40 manipulations of an image of Te Whanau a Apanui performers.

More FM shared the post on the website and social media platforms on Tuesday, sparking outrage from Aotearoa Kapa Haka Ltd, which manages copyright issues over images taken of performances at Te Matatini.

"More FM never asked for permission to use our images. Then they have a cheek to steal them then chop a few heads off, skewer and bend them.

"I'm disgusted with how More FM denigrated kapa haka and the mana of performers from Te Whanau a Apanui.

"Our copyright rules are very clear and we'll be taking the station to task over this.

"There are four ways we can pursue this. We can make a complaint through the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

"We can look into defamation, our solicitors are looking into that. It is also a breach of copyright as certain photographers were only able to take photos at certain times in the festival. The final issues is that the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People is very clear about the misappropriating of art and cultural art," said Aotearoa Kapa Haka Ltd managing director Wille Te Aho.

More FM issued an apology statement yesterday, and the images were removed from its site.

"We unreservedly apologise for reposting these images, and the offence caused.

"The images have been removed, and we have made changes to improve our processes for selecting international web content."