MĀORI TELEVISION BROADCASTS ALL-DAY ANZAC SPECIAL

17 March 2006

Māori Television will devote its entire broadcast schedule on Tuesday April 25 to New Zealand’s national day of commemoration, ANZAC Day.

All New Zealanders will be encouraged to tune in to the free-to-air channel for live coverage of key ANZAC ceremonies, at home and overseas, as well as veteran interviews, studio debates and documentaries.

The unprecedented ANZAC Day broadcast – beginning at dawn and ending late that night – will be presented by senior Māori Television journalist Wena Harawira and co-hosted by former ONE News presenter Judy Bailey. Joint executive producers are Tainui Stephens and Ross Jennings.

In the lead-up to ANZAC Day, researchers and producers will be travelling the country talking to veterans and crafting unique stories about their known and little-known events and stories. People can e-mail their story ideas to anzacday@maoritelevision.com.

Māori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the station is the leading broadcaster of local programming content and is well positioned to deliver a level of ANZAC coverage never seen before in New Zealand.

“With each ANZAC Day, more and more people of all ages attend the various remembrance services to recognise the sacrifices made by the men and women who served this country,” Mr Mather says.

“Māori Television is New Zealand’s channel so we are particularly proud to be taking a leading role in celebrating, honouring, thanking and remembering their countless contributions. Their service is our heritage.”

As well as being the Year of the Veteran, 2006 is also the 90th anniversary of the organisation founded by those who did return from Gallipoli – the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association.

The national president of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association, John Campbell, says this initiative by Māori Television helps provide the context for New Zealanders to remember the annual anniversary.

“The telling of New Zealand’s war stories on television and film has played an immense part in the resurgence of ANZAC Day,” says Mr Campbell. “We congratulate Māori Television and all involved in bringing about this groundbreaking ANZAC Day broadcast but most of all, for helping all New Zealanders to remember on this, our special day.”

Viewers can call the helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 628 2868) for advice on how to tune in to Māori Television. For more information, go to www.maoritelevision.com.

Vanessa Bidois
Publicist (Internal)
Māori Television
DDI: 09 539 7159
MOB: 021 928 007
EML: