A review into the controversial TVNZ cop show Police Ten 7 is calling for changes after accusations it perpetuates racist stereotypes of Māori and Pacific peoples.
The show, produced by Screentime NZ, was targeted by calls for cancellation earlier this year. South Auckland Councillor Efeso Collins hit out saying it feeds on stereotypes of Māori and Pacific men as "brutish".
He tweeted that an ad for the show was edited to prominently show "young brown people".
"This stuff is low level chewing gum tv that feeds on racial stereotypes & it's time u acted as a responsible broadcaster & cut it," he tweeted at TVNZ.
Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon told Newstalk ZB he agreed that Police Ten 7 should be cancelled as the show targeted more brown people than white people, "therefore, it is racist".
This lead to a review by senior content consultant Karen Bieleski and Dean of Law at AUT, Khylee Quince. Their review found that in general, the portrayal of Māori and Pacific individuals in the show was fair, but the show did little to discourage negative stereotypes.
"Maori and Pasifika peoples feature frequently in the show. To some degree this is reflective of the reality of patterns of crime and offending in Aotearoa/New Zealand, where Maori and Pasifika peoples are significantly over-represented as both offenders and victims of crime," their report states.
"Given the conditions and purpose of the show and the geographical limitations of its filming, we find that in general that the Maori and Pacific individuals who participate in the show are fairly portrayed."
The review makes eight specific recommendations:
- Formalise the programme's policy for cultural integrity and have TVNZ and Screentime NZ staff undertake relevant training in racism, bias and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Commission and/or review relevant research to contribute to the programme's reflection of societal values
- Maintain contemporary values as laid out in BSA and Media Council decisions
- Provide more regional and demographic coverage
- Include planned events with police presence for better geographical representation
- Have promo directors undergo specific training for producing promotional material for Police Ten 7
- Ensure promo activity is overseen and signed off by the programme's commissioner
- Utilise generic promos where episodic material could be misrepresented in a condensed advertising spot
TVNZ says it and Screentime NZ will announce their decision around the new series and the format it will take later this year.
"We have an opportunity to go further than incremental change though and we are committed to reimagining Police Ten 7 so it serves viewers in the years to come," TVNZ director of content Cate Slater said in a statement.
"Our ambition is to continue to highlight the important work of the Police, while better acknowledging the communities they assist."
