Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mallard Trevor: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:6999] 
4.  
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
 to the  
Minister for the Rugby World Cup 
: What discussions if any has he had with Rugby World Cup Ltd on broadcasting rights for the Rugby World Cup 2011 and what consultation has he undertaken on that issue? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (Minister for the Rugby World Cup) 
: 
 As the member would know Rugby World Cup Ltd regards the broadcast rights for the Rugby World Cup as a matter between itself and the broadcasters that have bid for those rights. Accordingly any discussions regarding broadcasting rights have related to the process and timetable for those rights being resolved. I have had a number of discussions with Ministers and officials including attending a meeting convened by the Hon Mr English. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Is he responsible for the overall coordination of Government matters to do with the Rugby World Cup; if so is he proud of his work in relation to this coordination? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I hold overall responsibility for the coordination of the Rugby World Cup. My position on the broadcasting rights is very simple: I want to see the widest possible access free to air for New Zealanders to see the games that they are at the present time substantially investing in. To the extent that Maori Television Service will contribute to that process in an economical fashion I welcome it. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Why did the Minister confirm to Television New Zealand the financial detail of the Maori Television Service right bid? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: That assertion is simply not accurate. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Is he aware that his behaviour in relation to the chief executive of Te Puni Kokiri is to be raised with the Prime Minister by the State Services Commission? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: The meeting that I think the member is referring to occurred in the office of the Hon Mr English and several other Ministers were present. The member himself put out a press release on 2 October in which he raised a number of questions regarding the process for the Maori Television Service bid and cautioned against a bidding war in which the International Rugby Board would be the only winner. I substantially agree with the questions that the member raised in that press release and he will find that I put those questions firmly to Mr Comer only a few days prior to the member putting out that press release. 
Hon Pete Hodgson 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member’s question referred to a meeting and the possibility that as a result of that meeting the State Services Commission may be approaching the Prime Minister in respect of the Minister’s behaviour. That aspect of the question was not even remotely addressed. 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I would be very happy to supplement my answer if you wish me to do so Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister does not have to do that because he answered the other part of the question but if he wishes to help the House that is to be commended. 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I am not aware of any complaint from Mr Comer in relation to the meeting but as it was chaired by the Hon Mr English and attended by two other Ministers I am more than comfortable that they will be able to verify that the questioning of Mr Comer and other officials that I undertook was vigorous and professional. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Does the Minister’s description of the Maori Television Service as “a millstone around … the neck of … Government.” justify his approach outside the House which has been described as involving deceit? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I suspect that the member is quoting from a very old article that relates to a time when he was a Minister and I was not. My position has been very clear from the beginning: I and the Prime Minister want to see that the New Zealanders who have invested some hundreds of millions of dollars in the Rugby World Cup preparations are able to see the games of the tournament free to air in the easiest possible fashion and without significant additional cost. To the extent that the Maori Television Service wants to contribute to that process I welcome it now and I always have. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Tena koe Mr Speaker kia ora tatau. Kua mohio ranei a ia ma te whakapaohotanga o te Taumahekeheke o te Ao i Peihinga i te tau 2008 me te takariri o te tokomaha ki Te Reo Tataki o Aotearoa mo te he o nga korero mo te koretake o etahi patai mo nga raruraru hangarau hoki ka mutu e kore pea enei raruraru e aki i a ia ki te tautoko ko ta Whakaata Maori tono ki te paho i te Kapu o te Ao hei whai haere i tana mihi nui i tenei rangi tonu mo nga mahi papai e hia ke nei a Whakaata Ratonga Maori? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Greetings Mr Speaker and to us. Is he aware that during the coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Television New Zealand was accused of having left many viewers fuming because of mucked-up commentary some dumb questions and technical glitches; and would that not perhaps influence him to support the Maori Television Service in its bid to screen the Rugby World Cup particularly acknowledging his statement earlier today that the Maori Television Service has done a good job of much of its sporting coverage? 
] 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I am reluctant to accept the opportunity to dwell on the shortcomings of other broadcasters in this respect but I reiterate the response I gave earlier. New Zealand taxpayers have invested some hundreds of millions of dollars in preparations for the Rugby World Cup. Taxpayers deserve as the Prime Minister has stated in recent days the opportunity to see the games in that tournament in the easiest possible fashion and without significant additional cost. To the extent that the Maori Television Service will form part of that process—and that negotiation process is ongoing—I welcome it. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Kei hea nga purongo kua whakatakotoria ki mua i tona aroaro e ki ana ko Whakaata Maori anake te teihana e kore e ahei ki te whakapaoho ki te motu katoa a ka whakaputaina ranei e ia te korero pono ara kaore e taea e tetahi teihana te whakapaho ki te motu whanui? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
Where are the reports presented to him verifying that the Maori Television Service is the only television broadcaster that does not have universal coverage or when will he tell the truth and acknowledge that there is no television coverage that gets to all parts of the country? 
] 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am very reluctant to defend Mr McCully against the obvious but the statement that the Minister does not tell the truth—the fact that he does not tell the truth—cannot be put that way in this House. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have got myself into trouble here. I just invite the Minister to handle that question in the way he sees fit. 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I again reiterate that New Zealand taxpayers have invested some hundreds of millions of dollars in preparations for the Rugby World Cup 2011. The Government believes that they deserve the opportunity to have access to those games without significant additional cost. To the extent that the Maori Television Service can contribute to that process I welcome it. I do not intend to enter the debate that others can have about what coverage can be provided by what channel. The International Rugby Board has a process which is ongoing for the resolution of the various bids that are on the table. I am comfortable with leaving that matter in its hands and with the issues amongst the various broadcasters to be dealt with through a different process. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: He take whakatau e Te Mana Whakawa. Kia ora Mr Speaker. Ki taku mohio kaore tera whakautu i whakautu i taku patai ka mutu ae he pai tonu te korero engari ko taku patai hei whaiwhai haere ko tana i whakatakoto mai ai he ngoikore te paoho a Whakaata Maori ki era atu teihana. Ko taku inoi ki a koe mana tenei e whakautua. 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[ 
I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Thank you Mr Speaker. To my knowledge that response did not answer my question; further to that yes his grandstanding was eloquent but my question for him to follow up related to the statement he made that coverage by Maori Television compared with that of other broadcasters was weaker. My plea to you is that he should be made to answer it. 
]  
Mr SPEAKER 
: I believe in fairness that the question was a bit marginal in any case and I think it would be unreasonable for me to try to force the Minister to give a different kind of answer.