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Maori TV snaffles feisty reporter off TV3

Award winning journalist Mihingarangi Forbes has left her role with TV3’s current affairs show Campbell Live and signed with Maori Television to produce its daily news programme, Te Kaea.

The highly-regarded reporter won a Qantas Award for ‘best reporter for daily current affairs’ in 2008. Before this, Forbes worked on TVNZ’s 20/20 programme where she won a Qantas Award for producing ‘The Lillybing Story’ with Amanda Miller. During her 17 years in the television industry, Forbes has worked as a journalist and producer for TV3 and TVNZ, both in Auckland and Wellington, where she began her career with Te Karere.

Maori Television general manager of news and current affairs Te Anga Nathan says he is delighted Forbes will join the channel.

“Mihingarangi brings with her a wealth of news and current affairs reporting experience and has a reputation for breaking stories. We’re delighted to have her producing our daily news bulletin Te Kaea and being part of our team,” says Nathan.

“Te Kaea is keen to replicate the feats of our current affairs show, Native Affairs, which won an AFTA for best overall current affairs programme in 2011. Te Kaea viewers can expect a new look and approach in the months to come as we strive to continue our solid coverage of news reporting.”

Highlights of her career include securing an exclusive interview with drug-accused Sharon Armstrong from inside an Argentinian prison, and a controversial interview with former EMA boss, Alasdair Thompson, which forced him to resign his position. Forbes says it was a tough decision to leave reporting after seven years in daily current affairs.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working at TV3 but the opportunity to join a team like Maori Television, which is focused on cementing its place as the leading Maori news provider, excites me and I want to be a part of that.”

Forbes will be joined by former Maori Television Press Gallery Reporter Tina Wickliffe, who will head the Wellington News Bureau as part of changes to Maori Television’s news and current affairs department. Forbes replaces former Te Kaea producer Taiha Molyneux, who has taken on a new role to develop Maori Television’s online news presence.

The hard-working Forbes is known for her workaholism. The multi-lingual journalist has more energy than the ever-ready bunny, and more tenacity than a pitbull on steroids. Recidivist drunk drivers, Andy Haden, Alasdair Thompson, Bishop Tamaki, all know how it feels to have been Mihi’d. Misbehaving men throughout the land will no doubt be breathing a huge sigh of relief.

“Sick Mihi onto him,” was a phrase oft heard in the Campbell Live offices. Not least because she never FTD’d (failed to deliver). Forbes says the new role was too good an opportunity to pass up, rather than stemming from any dissatisfaction with her former role on Campbell Live.

Forbes starts at Maori TV on 5 March. The move to Maori Television reunites her with former TV3 producer Carol Hirschfeld, who joined Maori Television in 2009 as head of programming and was last year promoted to general manager of production.  No word yet on who her replacement will be on Campbell Live, but they are big shoes to fill.

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