16 Dec 2009

Tribunal to hear spectrum case urgently

10:20 pm on 16 December 2009

The Waitangi Tribunal has agreed to an urgent hearing on whether Maori should get a share of spectrum freed up by the shift from analogue to digital television.

Jim Nichols from the New Zealand Maori Council says the claimants, who also include Nga Kaiwhakapumau i Te Reo and 3G spectrum claimant Graeme Everton of Ngati Raukawa, felt they were being shut out of decision making.

He told Waatea News spectrum has become important not just for protecting te reo but for wider Maori development.

The tribunal says it will hold a hearing on the claim on 28 January.