Māori TV is set to premiere Jonah From Tonga, the sequel to Summer Heights High, but Minister for Pacific Peoples Alfred Ngaro says it isn't funny and "perpetuates negative stereotypes of Pacific people".
Created by Australian Chris Lilley, the six-part series was subject to criticism when it screened in the US in 2014 for racism, including for using 'brown face'. Almost 12,000 people signed a petition that called for TV network HBO to pull the show off air.
Mr Ngaro said it's up to Māori television to decide whether or not they want to screen the show, but he'd like to see a positive focus on Pacific communities. He doesn't like the "negative stereotypes" and "anti-social" behaviour portrayed in the show.
"I'm all about promoting positive images that continue to relay the great things that are happening in our communities for young Pasifika and young Polynesians," Mr Ngaro said.
It begins screening on Thursday, and Māori TV describes the show as "an adventurous journey into the life of 14-year-old rebellious schoolboy Jonah, his family, friends, teachers and counsellors who are exhaustively trying to help him channel his seemingly limitless energy into bigger and brighter things".
Mr Ngaro said "It's particularly disappointing to see this programme being picked up within weeks of The Human Right's Commission's 'Give nothing to racism' campaign," Fairfax reports.
Māori TV head of content Mike Rehu told RNZ the show is intended to be satire, and you can't please everyone. Mr Rehu said the channel had consulted widely with the Tongan community, and that the feedback was positive.
Newshub.
