Hone Edwards has been appointed a role as kaihatu at TVNZ, in a job where he will advise the network on its Maori content. The position has been attacked in Parliament as “tokenistic” and “politically correct”, and controversy has surrounded Edwards' alleged $180,000 salary. But colleagues and friends agree that the appointment of Edwards, whose past work covers reporting, directing, producing and editing in mainstream and Maori programmes, is a sound one. Producer Nicole Hoey, who has co-produced award-winning childrens's shows with him, says there are few with his breadth of skills or his network of contacts. Fellow broadcaster and friend Tainui Stephens describes him as outgoing, charismatic and intelligent, with a strong sense of his Maoriness, but also a humble man who has never sought a public profile. Socially, the New Zealand Herald article describes Edwards as flamboyant, based on an incident from several years ago when he turned up at work in a turban and wearing a kaftan, and mentions that he tells friends that he is “born gay”. But, says the article, he doesn't make a big deal of his sexuality.