Would you be happy to hear a word in Maori?

Some people perhaps thought I was being a bit harsh with my treatment of the Herald's article on Maori TV's Rugby World Cup broadcasting bid. Fortunately, the Herald made that judgement a little bit easier today with today's contributions to the 'debate'. Firstly, another article - this time relegated to A3 by the exclusive story "Yesterday was quite cold".

Maori TV's Rugby World Cup commentary would mainly be in English but 5 to 10 per cent will be peppered with Maori phrases.

Good gracious.

It's an interesting story, in a sense. You might think that a reasonable person would consider this a non-story; after all, it's a rugby game, not a Shakespeare production. I don't really watch rugby, but what subtleties are being passed on, what nuggets of wisdom entrusted to the viewer by the commentators? I imagine that 50% of the commentary could be in Aramaic and it wouldn't affect the intelligibility of the game for anyone. But what makes the story interesting is how the rest of it is quite reasonable and mild:

The Maori component would be made up of definitions for commonly used terms, such as drop goal or scrum flashing up on screen and by the commentator making certain calls in Te Reo then repeating it in English.

The amount of Maori spoken would be so small that the majority of its presenters would not have to speak the language, and the Herald understands the station is expected to head-hunt the likes of Keith Quinn for commentary roles.

The rest of the story is just rehashed from yesterday's piece. So why, I wonder, would the Herald publish a prominent piece about how a few Maori words and phrases will be used in rugby commentary?

Oh, maybe this is why: "Would you be happy to watch Rugby World Cup games on Maori TV?":

leonard (Wanganui): Is the mony well spent? Dr Sharples seems to think so. Don't people know that it's rude to speak another language? Answer to that most of the immigrants do that every day.

English please.

Tinnyliz (Wellington City): As long as the commentary is 100% English I don't care which channel it's on. I can't stand watching anything in a foreign language.

But the whole thing is premised on not being 100% English, because... oh look, never mind.

GT (East Tamaki): No, I do not want to have to listen to Maori in the middle of the games. I don't mind if you want to spread Maori culture, but not like this. This would be akin to force feeding.

Don't people know that it's rude to speak another language in front of people who don't understand it? What's the difference between that and forcing everyone to watch Maori TV where they wouldn't understand 10% of the commentary?

The sheer nerve! These Maoris come to our country and dare to speak their language in front of us. Lucky for them we are far more tolerant, and haven't forced them to listen to us speaking English.

(PS. I have bad news for you: 'Tamaki' is Maori! Sorry!)

Altvox (auckland): As A Taxpayer I dont mind funding TVNZ that is the state broadcaster.I object to funding Maori TVs bid for World Cup rights using taxpayer money.

Would have no issues if they used some of the billions of treaty money for this but that seems tied up in new cars and houses for Maori leaders and none for those who need it.

And by "some of the billions of treaty money for this but that seems tied up in new cars and houses for Maori leaders and none for those who need it", I mean "thing I totally made up".

Daytripper (Hamilton): Yes I have issues with taxpayer money being used to fund a bid to have the broadcasting rights to the New Zealand public, not an issue with whichever channel it is on as most people do.

Taxpayer dollars should not be used for this and before anyone moans TVNZ and TV3 were not given taxpayer dollars to put in a bid for this. Like most of New Zealand I am sick to death of Maori being forced down our throats all the time, being blamed for all the ills in maoridom but Maori organisations are very happy to put the hand out for pakeha money.

This is why race-based politics will not work, as the Maori Party is only interested in anything to do with Maori, not all of New Zealand, imagine if the Greens only applied themselves for people who believed in their policies only, if National only promoted things pertinent to their party faithful there would be an outcry, but because it is Maori we are all supposed to accept it and if you make any comments you are classed as a red neck and racists.

No to taxpayer funding for TV channels full stop, Maori have had enough money off taxpayers to be capable of funding their own TV station from now on.

In sum then, definitely no issues about whichever channel it is on.

Tommy (Tauranga): No. Like everything else Maori their TV channel is taxpayer funded, so it shouldn't be there. I wouldn't watch it on principal.

Don't worry, I'm sure there'll be something else on another channel you can watch. Maybe someone less racist can text you score updates.


And so on. It's almost like living in upside-down land, where cats chase dogs, rain goes up, and newspapers publish stories so that crazy people have something to complain about online.

------------------------------

While I'm talking about YV I may as well mention this blog, run by a media studies masters student. It's completely dedicated to the academic study of Your Views, a worthy topic by any measure. How he keeps a straight face while he writes it I don't know - but as it's apparently part of coursework he's not allowed to poke fun at the denizens of the sordid little world. Sucka.