World Cup sketch basically racist, says Maori TV

Julian Wilcox was ridiculed during the late-night parody. Photo / Richard Robinson

Maori TV has accused its rival TV3 of racism after it broadcast an item lampooning what its coverage of the Rugby World Cup would look like.

The TV3 Nightline parody showed an All Black diving for the winning try in the final, with the broadcast interrupted by a public service announcement, saying: "Pakeha. It's time to talk. There's a few things we need to sort out and you won't get to see the rest of the game until we have."

The reporter for Tuesday night's item was Ali Ikram, who is well-known for his satirical streak.

But Maori TV spokeswoman Sonya Haggie said it was "basically racist" and it would be laying a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority. The item also showed a match referee calling on the video referee, which turned out to be the Waitangi Tribunal, with Ikram warning "this could take a while". There was also a "compulsory haka" for which the French did the can-can.

Ikram ridiculed Maori TV presenter Julian Wilcox, saying he presented virtually every show on the channel.

"It is not acceptable. It is not news and hardly entertainment," said Ms Haggie.

TV3 received a number of complaints, including from its own staff, including Campbell Live reporter Mihingarangi Forbes who told the Herald it was disappointing and embarrassing.

"Given that it was supposed to be satire I didn't find anything funny about it at all," she said. "I think Ali [Ikram] would have hoped it was funny and clever but unfortunately for him and everyone else it was not."

Ms Forbes said the jibes against Wilcox were hurtful.

"We have the utmost respect for Julian and it was unfair to pick him out like that."

Maori TV has become the frontrunner for the free-to-air rights since using a multimillion-dollar boost in taxpayer funding from the Ministry of Maori Development to outbid TV3, angering its owner Mediaworks' chief executive Brent Impey.

TV3 stood by the item last night. It issued a statement saying it initially took the item off the website following "robust criticism" but after reviewing it it decided to put it back up so its viewers could decide its merits.

"The story was intended as humorous satire and was not intended to cause offence.

"It was clearly set up as humour and not to be taken seriously."

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: James Ihaka