Maori journalism progress hindered by skills shortage

To mark Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week), business editor Julie Taylor reports on the state of Maori journalism - an industry where te reo Maori is one of two vital skills in short supply.
While Maori journalism pioneers applaud the progress made in Maori media, they are also critical of current standards as TVNZ and Maori Television struggle to find Maori-speakers with journalism skills.
The future of Maori journalism was debated at a reunion for the Waiariki Institute of Technology diploma in bicultural journalism on Saturday, July 2, attended by current students, past graduates and key figures in the Maori media.
Former Te Karere presenter Waihoroi Shortland said it was difficult to find people with te reo when the diploma course launch in 1985.
"They were scarce as hens' teeth."
Shortland said many te reo speakers entered the field and then learnt the journalism.
"A lot of people questioned our credentials, but I am now one of the harshest critcs of today's practitioners. We should not be hiring people simply because they are pretty. This is not a glamour job."
Gary Wilson ran the Journalism Training Board in 1985 and was a key figure in creating the diploma course.
In 1985, only 1.7 per cent of New Zealand journalists were Maori. By the 2006 census, non-Pakeha journalists made up 17 per cent of the workforce. While he recognised the progress made, Wilson said the game was still only at half time and there was still a lot to play for.
Maori Council deputy chairman Maanu Paul said te reo, married with journalism skills should be creating "a force to be reckoned with", but the communication potential of te reo Maori was still under explored.
"Maori television, radio and print reporting is often just a translation of Pakeha news and it saddens me."
TVNZ head of Maori programming Paora Maxwell said recruitment was a big issue.
"I want to know where all the bright, young, talented Maori journalists are."
He said the successful creation of outlets such as Maori Television and iwi radio was something young people today took for granted.
"In my day journalists seemed to be hungrier, looking for hard stories. I don't think we are doing soft stories, but we could do a better job of giving the skills required to Maori-speaking and English-speaking journalists to fill the important jobs in New Zealand media."
Both Maxwell and Maori Television news and current affairs general manager Te Anga Nathan said it was very difficult to fill positions requiring both te reo Maori and journalism skills and many roles were left empty or taken up by people with te reo only.
"We want to employ people fluent in te reo, with basic craft skills and confidence. But we are getting applications from young Maori who do not have the whole kete and we have to build from what we have," Nathan said.
But he also pointed to the progress made in Maori media, using the Te Tai Tokerau by-election coverage as an example. Defeated candidates conceded the election in te reo on Maori Television and it was also the first media winner Hone Harawira spoke to after his victory.
"We have to celebrate the small victories as it's a marathon we are running."