World Indigenous TV Conference Confirms Keynote Speaker

An internationally recognised expert in indigenous rights law and one of New Zealand's leading specialists in Maori issues – Chief Judge Joe Williams – will be the keynote speaker at the first ever World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference to be held in Auckland in March 2008.

Leaders, producers and planners involved in indigenous and public television must register online at www.witbc.org before November 30 this year to receive a special early bird rate to the three-day event which will be hosted by New Zealand’s national indigenous broadcaster, Maori Television.

Industry experts in the fields of broadcasting, media and indigenous languages are among the featured guest speakers and include John Walter Jones (S4C, Wales); Jean LaRose (APTN, Canada); Pól Ó Gallchóir (TG4, Ireland); Patricia Turner (NITV, Australia); Shaun Brown (SBS, Australia); and Yuan-hui Hu (PTS, Taiwan).

Judge Williams (Ngati Pukenga, Te Arawa) is the chairperson of New Zealand’s Waitangi Tribunal – a permanent commission of inquiry charged with making recommendations on claims brought by Maori relating to actions or omissions of the Crown that breach the promises made in the Treaty of Waitangi.

As well as being the youngest person to have been appointed Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court, he was the first Maori lecturer in law at Victoria University in Wellington and established the first unit specialising in Maori issues at a major law firm.

Maori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the theme of the conference – and the keynote address – is reclaiming the future of indigenous identities, cultures and languages.

“The aim of the conference is to unify, strengthen and promote indigenous broadcasters throughout the world and the theme is inspirational, positive and forward-focused, moving away from a more traditional historical perspective,” says Mr Mather.

“We are extremely pleased to confirm Judge Williams as our keynote speaker and his experiences, vision and insight will set the tone for the entire conference.”

Leaders, producers and planners involved in indigenous and public television can register their interest to attend the World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference at www.witbc.org.