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Protect Māori broadcasting

Māori broadcasters play a vital role in ensuring Māori stories are told by Māori, for Māori, and for all communities.

Christopher Luxon’s Government has cut funding for the National Māori Radio news service. These cuts threaten the survival of iwi radio stations and breach the Crown's Treaty obligations to actively protect te reo Māori – and there are more cuts to come.

The Green Party is urging Minister Tama Potaka to ensure his Government protects Māori broadcasting, by ensuring sustainable funding.

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Urge the Minister to protect Māori broadcasting 

Open Letter to Minister Potaka 
To: Hon Tama Potaka, Minister for Māori Development 

Tēnā koe e te Minita

Funding Māori broadcasting upholds the Crown's responsibilities to te Tiriti Waitangi. 

On 1 April 2026, the National Māori Radio news service – which provides hourly Māori news bulletins across Aotearoa – lost its funding after your Government did nothing to protect it. 

As always, Māori have persevered to find a solution. Three urban Māori organisations have banded together to fund thecontinuation of the service. 

Our position is clear: Māori shouldn’t have to fund crucial public services which the Crown has an obligation to uphold. 

These cuts threaten the survival of iwi Māori radio stations and breach the Crown's Tiriti obligations to actively protect te reo Māori. 

The Māori broadcasting sector has faced harsh cuts throughout your Government's term with more to come We're asking you to stand up for te Tiriti o Waitangi in your role as Minister for Māori Development.

We urge you to commit additional funding for Māori broadcasting in Budget 2026. Increased, sustainable funding is necessary to ensure Māori broadcasting can thrive for generations to come. 

Kua tītaha te rā, kua tū-a-tō, kei whiti atu te rā ki tua o Tāwauwau. The sun is on its descent, it is about to go down, Be careful, lest the sun set beyond the cliffs of Tāwauwau. This whakataukī from WAI 26/150 on claims concerning radio frequencies serves as a reminder for us to preserve what is good for our people, lest we find out too late what we have lost. 

Join our call for Minister Potaka to stand up for te Tiriti o Waitangi. Sign our letter.