Funding for the long-standing Mori news bulletin Te Karere has been slashed, while current affairs programme The Hui has had their funding cut completely. The announcement comes from Mori media
Funding for the long-standing Māori news bulletin Te Karere has been slashed, while current affairs programme The Hui has had their funding cut completely.
The announcement comes from Māori media funder Te Māngai Pāho, and will see Te Karere’s funding fall from $2.7 million to just $1 million over the 2025/26 funding around.
The Hui has received no funding allocation.
A total of $11 million has been allocated for the next funding year, with much of it going to regional news services.
The regional services are contracted to produce weekly news stories, articles, audio for radio, and news live events.
Whakaata Māori has received $1.5 million to establish a National News Hub, to manage news content and access for other platforms and publishers.
Te Māngai Pāho kaihautū Larry Parr said the move will encourage collaboration and highlight regional journalism.
“We are committed to working alongside all providers to ensure a smooth transition to this new media landscape. While there are still challenges facing the sector, we believe we are better positioned to deliver news and current affairs which prioritises a Māori worldview and quality journalism,” he said.
All funding decisions are subject to final negotiations between Te Māngai Pāho and applicants.
A full list of the funding decision are listed below:
National Hub
Te Iho – He Pātaka Kōrero, Māori Television Service for the establishment of the National News Hub, up to $1,500,000.
3 x Supplementary Roles for ManiaTai Limited, up to $494,620.
Regional News
All Regional News providers will produce on a weekly basis; news stories, articles, audio for radio, and news live events, as negotiated in their funding contracts.
Pūkāea, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Mānuka Tūtahi for Tumeke FM and the National News Hub, up to $1,000,000.
Aukaha – Te Tai Pūkōrero, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Incorporated for Tainui Live and the National News Hub, up to $1,000,000.
Taioro, Te Reo Irirangi o Tūranganui-a-Kiwa for Tūranga FM, Taioro Te Pātaka Oro website and the National News Hub, up to $850,000.
Te Kūkupa, Te Reo Irirangi o Te Hiku o Te Ika Incorporated for Te Hiku Media and the National News Hub, up to $850,000.
Te Reo o te Uru, Te Reo Irirangi o Taranaki Charitable Trust for Te Korimako o Taranaki and the National News Hub, up to $600,000.
Tahu News, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for Tahu FM and the National News Hub, up to $600,000.
Current Affairs
Marae 2026, 35 x 29′, Pango Productions Limited for TVNZ, 80 percent te reo Māori, up to $1,500,000.
Te Ao with Moana, 30 x 26′, Black Pearl Limited for Whakaata Māori, 30 percent te reo Māori, up to $672,500.
Ruku, 10 x 45′, Te Noni Limited for Iwi Radio, Whakaata Māori and Pasifika TV, 100 percent te reo Māori, up to $600,000.
Mata Series 4, 4 x 30′ longform digital videos projects, 20 x 26′ long form interviews’ 24 x radio episodes, Aotearoa Media Collective for RNZ, 30 percent te reo Māori, up to $469,335.
