Māori Television Board Chairman Wayne Walden ONZM has advised that he will relinquish his chairmanship to spend more time on personal business interests.

Mr Walden – a Crown appointee who was appointed to the chairmanship in 2003 – will remain on the Board of Māori Television as a director.

  Garry Muriwai (Ngāpuhi), who is chief executive of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants and a current Māori Television Board director, has been appointed Māori Television’s new Board Chairman.  

“I am delighted with the significant progress that Māori Television has made since launching,” said Mr Walden. “It is now soundly established financially, is well managed, has gained considerable credibility in respect of the New Zealand public and continues to meet its statutory obligations. It is well positioned to achieve its full potential to assist in the revitalisation of te reo Māori and to contribute to the development of our nationhood and pride as New Zealanders.

“I have been involved with the channel for five years. It is my view that in light of the progress and the advancement the channel has made, my specific role to guide the launch and establishment phases has come to an end. However, I look forward to continuing my involvement with Māori Television as a Board director. This period will allow for a smooth transition of responsibility and ensure continuity and stability at the governance level.”

The channel’s joint stakeholders, the Crown and Te Pūtahi Paoho (Māori Electoral College), extended their appreciation to Mr Walden for his contribution as Chairman.

Māori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia paid special tribute to Mr Walden’s significant involvement in getting the channel launched and guiding it through its crucial first three years of operation. He made particular mention of Mr Walden’s role in the success the channel is enjoying today.

Te Pūtahi Paoho Chairman Tu Williams acknowledged the value of Mr Walden’s business and governance expertise in providing direction and leadership in the establishment phase of the channel.

Mr Muriwai said the efforts of Mr Walden have provided a firm foundation for the channel, and he was pleased the board will continue to benefit from Mr Walden’s experience. “With a strong governance team we can carry on providing the direction, guidance and overview that Māori Television needs as it attracts a growing and increasingly broad audience.”

Mr Muriwai is chief executive of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. Since taking up this position in 2002, he has led the institute’s efforts to promote the accounting profession and fulfil the institute’s obligation to establish the New Zealand equivalents to the International Financial Reporting Standards.

In April last year, Mr Muriwai was appointed the inaugural chairman of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), a grouping of nine ‘best in country’ accounting organisations focused on helping accountants worldwide address global challenges. Before joining the institute, he was Head of the School of Business at the Auckland University of Technology and has also held senior accounting and IT roles in the corporate sector as well as acting as a business consultant for a variety of public and private sector organisations.

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