On Thursday I wrote a post about a comment made on Maori Television on Wednesday night. I was very glad to get the following e-mail yesterday and asked permission to reproduce it here;
Tena Koe Lindsay,
I write to apologise for the error in the subtitling of the Te Tepu programme that you viewed this week which discussed education issues.
The translation that you have raised on your blog should have read - “One of the main problems is that teachers do not relate to Maori children.” – Instead of teachers don’t like Maori children.
Not only was the translation incorrect, the context of what was said was not translated as the two women were talking about the mainstream education system that Maori children experienced historically and there are many examples of how Maori were strapped and disciplined in other ways for speaking Maori.
However as the Executive Producer of this programme I do convey my apologies for any offence this subtitling error caused.
Kind regards,
Te Anga Nathan
Kaiwhakahaere Matua - Kawepurongo
General Manager News and Current Affairs
Māori Television
In addition to the blog post I was on the NewstalkZB Face Off panel on Friday morning. At the close of the discussion each panellist has an opportunity to offer a bouquet and brickbat. I gave a bouquet to Maori TV for the high quality of their programming but a brickbat for the comment. I will also make sure the explanation reaches that audience next week.
I need to act on my irregular resolutions to learn to speak te reo.
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7 comments:
Great excuse, just like the translation of the Treaty was all fucked up. They sure don't like being caught out, pack of racist pricks.
It seems to be that this is unlikely to be just an excuse since the show exists and can easily be subjected to an independent translation. I find it entirely believable that the translation was bad.
If someone wishes to accuse them, as the previous person did, of making this up then I would like evidence from the previous poster that the translation was, in fact, accurate.
I hope I don't sound like a Pollyanna, but it truly sounds refreshing that Maori TV took note of the complaint and responded.
I am giving them the benefit of the doubt. Mainly because I want to believe their explanation. And ditto second anonymous.
Slightly off topic but still a fact that needs to be out there. My uncle is of Ngati Porou and was a Principal of an east coast maori school. He is very clear - the pressure to have children speak english at school came from their parents. They knew they spoke te Reo at home every day but the children needed to learn English for their future. All of this post colonial handwringing about Maori being forced by the government to speak English was as a result of the parents wishes. Oh, thats right - it can't be true as it doesn't suit the grievance industry
Paranormal
Once again Maori TV seems to me to be coming across rather well. CAn you imagine a TVNZ producer responding to a blog comment? I'm almost tempted to suggest that we just give up on the whole idea of TVNZ as a public broadcaster, flog it off for whatever we can get and let Maori TV be the 'charter' station...
I also watched that particular programme and commend Maori Television for firstly responding, secondly apologising and for also elaborating as to the context of the two ladies conversation. Also to Lindsay for raising this issue with Maori Television. As for the comments from anonymous regarding the "grievance industry" it seems you may have one or two grievances of your own by the tone of your comments? Maori have assembled and are settling their claims within "the system," no longer grieving but moving on.
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