Maori Television CEO quits

Maori Television chief executive Paora Maxwell has resigned his position, three years into his five-year contract with the self-described indigenous broadcaster.

In the announcement of the move, Mr Maxwell is quoted as saying the “difficult decision” has been prompted by “changing family and business circumstances” and that it had been a “tremendous privilege” to have led the channel “through a challenging era for the entire industry.”

The official release contains no reference to alleged tension between Mr Maxwell and the Maori Television board, something mentioned in a report on the resignation by the broadcaster’s own online news team.

The report is largely the same as the official release, except for a paragraph noting it’s understood Mr Maxwell (who will remain as chief executive until August and then serve out the remainder of the year in a consultation role) had been at loggerheads with his board about “a number of matters,” including the creation of “a fit-for-purpose studio” at Maori Television’s new East Tamaki premises – a decision the board had reportedly deferred “several times.”

This follows a report from TVNZ on May 4 headlined “Maori TV negotiate chief executive's release as relationship turns toxic” that appears to have been taken down since.

If there is some veracity to these stories – NBR has approached Maori Television for comment but has yet to receive a response – it marks something of a turn in Mr Maxwell’s relationship with the board.

There were a number of reports alleging widespread disquiet on the part of staff at Mr Maxwell’s appointment, including a petition decrying the possibility of him becoming chief executive.

The concerns reportedly centred on Mr Maxwell’s strong ties to MTS' (then and current) chairwoman and ex-National cabinet minister Georgina te Heuheu, and suspicions he would attempt to exercise control over current affairs content critical of Maori establishment figures and institutions.

The departures of news and production head Julian Wilcox and production general manager Carol Hirschfeld within months of Mr Maxwell’s arrival served to fuel that speculation, as did the resignations of four key staff from current affairs show Native Affairs, including host Mihingarangi Forbes and founding producer Annabelle Lee.

As well as staff claims about executive interference in the content of Native Affairs, Labour also alleged attempted political influence on the part of Maori development minister Te Ururoa Flavell, something the minister strenuously denied.

At the time, Mr Maxwell declined to comment on staff’s reported disquiet about his appointment and categorically denied allegations of managerial or political interference in Native Affairs.