Sacked Maori TV head pleads poverty

By JOHN ARMSTRONG and LOUISA CLEAVE

Sacked Maori Television Service head John Davy has been writing begging letters to Government ministers asking for his debts to be wiped.

Government sources said the letters had been passed to Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Development, which is seeking to recover a $20,000 salary advance to the former chief executive.

Mr Davy was sacked two weeks ago for lying about his background and education qualifications, including holding an MBA from the Ashland School of Business at Denver State University. His CV also said he was a certified financial management accountant.

It is understood Mr Davy says in his letters that he and his family came to New Zealand with no assets beyond personal belongings. His wife was from the poorest part of the Philippines. He had no income from other sources. He could not settle the salary advance.

Mr Davy last night denied reports he was seeking a "huge payout" from the Government to settle his debts.

"I've got enough hanging over my head now. I don't want a Government debt," he told Television New Zealand .

Police are investigating the $20,000 advance Mr Davy was given on his $140,000-a-year salary.

A spokeswoman for Te Puni Kokiri last week said the ministry was still pursuing the money.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said last night she understood the ministry was trying to recover the debt. The Government would not be giving Mr Davy any payments to settle his debts.

The Government was under no obligation to help him.

"It is not our problem," she said. "We want back the money he owes the New Zealand Government."

The Maori broadcasting funding agency, Te Mangai Paho, yesterday confirmed it had suspended funding new programmes until the Maori Television Service can start commissioning for its channel.

But delays in setting up the channel have left independent producers waiting to see whether their proposals will be accepted for funding.

Trevor Moeke, chief executive of Te Mangai Paho, said no allocations had been made for new programmes since last year.

Existing series screening on mainstream networks had continued to be supported.

Ideas were submitted to the agency in January, when it was thought the Maori Television channel would be ready to start commissioning programmes before going to air next month.

The service is not expected to begin until later in the year and staff appointments, including an acquisitions manager, were put on hold after the sacking of John Davy.

Mr Moeke said the agency was working with the organisation representing Maori producers, Nga Aho Whakaari, and hoped to hold a funding round soon.

"We had anticipated being into a process by now and getting some funding out this financial year to the independent sector, but there has been a delay," he said.

"Te Mangai Paho can proceed and we're just waiting on some clarification of the process from the channel."

Te Mangai Paho had between $8 million and $9 million to disburse before the end of June, he said.

The agency will receive about $27 million to finance programmes in the next financial year.

The Government also has granted an extra $275,000 for administration.

Nga Aho Whakaari chairman Tainui Stephens said production companies were suffering from the delays, and some might be forced to close.

He had asked Helen Clark, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia to allow Te Mangai Paho to continue buying television programmes.

"The Government is now facing the very real possibility that it will have the new channel up and running but there will be few programmes available because the Maori production companies are no longer in existence," he said.

Full coverage: Maori TV