Gallagher Martin: Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Gallagher Martin: Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:616;Page:12241] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I was waiting to hear from the previous speaker the enthusiasm that should naturally follow from this particular bill in terms of the wonderful service Radio New Zealand provides to our country. With due respect to my good friends in New Zealand First I was a little disappointed with their contribution. I think if they check with their own party president Mr Doug Woolerton they will find that he is a very avid listener to National Radio and that he knows all the programmes. They should double-check with their party president regarding National Radio. 
This bill is necessary and I will give as an example of that the recent launch of the National Radio FM service in the Waikato which I attended. It was an absolute privilege to be part of that because it accentuated the wonderful vitality that is Radio New Zealand today. It accentuated for me that Radio New Zealand is very very serious about catering to a range of varied interests and age groups in our country. It is really good to see that Radio New Zealand and particularly National Radio is not just catering for people of my chronological age. It is very serious about reaching out to a wider audience embracing younger New Zealanders and looking for and fostering young talent—particularly some of the bands that can now be heard on National Radio and that National Radio is providing an audience for and focusing on. That frankly is very exciting. 
Lest we forget this I remind members the shareholders of Radio New Zealand are all of us and that is why we have a charter. The shareholders do not live in Toronto London or Washington. The stakeholders in Radio New Zealand are every man woman and child in this country. Radio New Zealand is about maintaining and preserving our culture our nation and our society. I think that by and large—albeit still with relatively limited resources although under this Government the resources have been increased—in terms of what Radio New Zealand has it does an excellent job. I am particularly enthusiastic that we acknowledge the different spiritual dimensions of our society and that National Radio acknowledges that. It is very enthusiastic about catering for a full range of age groups so that there is not a crusty old National Radio that caters just for people like me with my very conservative tastes—and that is where Doug Woolerton and I would have a bit in common—but one that reaches out to a younger audience and builds a younger audience over a lifetime. 
I also think it is excellent that we focus on—I think this is very very important and I notice the Acting Minister is here in the Chamber with us and I know that he will agree with me—the international radio service to the South Pacific Radio New Zealand International which may include a range of programmes in English and Pacific languages. That is a benchmarking and an underscoring of the very important role that New Zealand and our national radio service have in terms of our immediate neighbourhood. Radio New Zealand is actually doing that albeit it came about through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade funding etc. in a different funding stream from the usual broadcasting funding. Radio New Zealand has historically had a very proud and constructive record in the South Pacific and of course because it has a very significant listenership it is one of the important links between the South Pacific nations and New Zealand. 
Unlike the speakers from the Opposition I am enthusiastic about this bill. I know that it is a short bill but I think it puts some very important good positive things into the Radio New Zealand charter. To those who do not listen to National Radio and Concert FM—and I am sure the Opposition members should listen to them—I say they should tune in some time because they are exciting and diverse. I think National Radio and Concert FM are doing a very good job. I think it is important that the charter helps them. It is really wonderful to have radio that deals with the issues looks at all sides of the issues and does not just repeat some people’s prejudices. 
Finally I say I am enthusiastic about this bill. I will also place on record that I think the Minister of Broadcasting Steve Maharey has done a fantastic job in this portfolio. He has vision and he has a passion for our national broadcaster. I wish Radio New Zealand well.