Pacific representation 'misses out' at indigenous TV conference
Title -- 5393 NZ: Pacific representation 'misses out' at indigenous TV conference
Date -- 26 March 2008
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Avaiki Nius 26/03/08
Copyright - AN
Status -- Unabridged
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PACIFIC REPRESENTATION MISSES OUT AT INDIGENOUS MEDIA CONFERENCE
http://avaiki.blogspot.com/
By Jason Brown
AUCKLAND (Avaiki Nius/Pacific Media Watch):Just two Pacific Islands will be represented at the opening today of the world's first indigenous television network conference.
Fiji and Hawaii are the only delegates from 22 Pacific Island states and territories at WIBTC 08, the World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Low attendance from the Pacific Islands contrasts with a wide range of global delegates, including from Taiwan, credited by DNA scientists as the birthplace of Polynesians like those hosting the conference from Maori Television.
Conference communications director Vanessa Horan defends the lack of Pacific Islands representation.
"Obviously funding is an issue," says Horan.
Registration costs at the conference are around US$1500, raising barriers to Pacific Islanders already facing high airfares from remote communities.
Horan points to their hiring long time Pacific reporter Iulia Leilua as evidence of their commitment to the region.
“Leilua has been working on WITBC with us for the past few months and she has specifically targeted Pacific Island indigenous broadcasters as well as cultural and language experts,” Horan says.
"Iulia has always tried to investigate options for sponsorship and support. Representatives from Fiji and Hawaii are attending and while the Cook Island TV station reps can't make it, their reporter is supposed to be attending as their representative."
Auckland-based Pacific affairs magazine Spasifik and Pacific Island national radio network Niu FM are also attending as accredited media, says Horan.
She did not comment on email questions about the complete absence of the words "Pacific Island" from the conference website.
Low attendance by Pacific Islanders also contrasts with strong aid support from New Zealand for media attendance at economic events like the Forum Economic Ministers meetings.
* WIBTC 08 conference:
http://witbc.org/
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