Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:10873] 
7.  
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: How many employees of Television New Zealand Limited were sent to international broadcast conventions and trade fairs in 2003 and what was the total cost including all fares accommodation entertainment dining and transport costs of this? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Broadcasting) 
: 
 I am advised that for the financial year ended 30 June 2003 TVNZ employees made 28 trips to international conventions and trade fairs at a cost of about $380000. In the time available TVNZ has been unable to provide information for the entire 2003 calendar year and I will undertake to supply that information to the member as soon as possible. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Can I take it the Minister is saying that although the year that he has taken ended in June 2003 TVNZ could not on 4 hours’ notice provide him with this information but had the greatest of ease in making false allegations about someone having a free meal and at the same time gave Ross Armstrong carte blanche to do what he liked—to massively overspend and not account for money—and would not show that on television one night? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I know the member is feeling wounded about those issues but I can confirm— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No I’m not. It’s my turn now. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Well I am sure he will enjoy it—scamper around. Now if I can go back to the issue. Yes TVNZ can provide the information up to 30 June 2003 and yes it will provide information for the rest of the year and I will give that to the member. 
Darren Hughes 
: Does the Minister consider it appropriate for employees of TVNZ to attend international broadcast conventions and trade fairs? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes I do. TVNZ is a very successful broadcaster with revenue in excess of $300 million off waiting at arm’s length from the Government. For the company to fulfil its dual objectives of the charter and of being commercially successful its employees do need to attend those kinds of events to contract business and they will continue to do so. 
Rodney Hide 
: On the subject of free dinners does the Minister think it was appropriate for Dr Ross Armstrong to wine and dine Ministers of this Government including Dr Armstrong’s very good friend the Prime Minister and Government MPs all on TVNZ’s expense account while Dr Ross Armstrong was under intense inquiry firstly by the Finance and Expenditure Committee and secondly by the Privileges Committee—and is that one scandal that we do not expect to see on Government television? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Dr Armstrong over many years has worked for both the National and Labour-led Governments and undoubtedly he has been to a number of dinners during that period of time in the course of his duties. His activities that are being referred to by the member were the subject of an investigation by the independent Auditor-General who gave the comments that we have all read in his report. As far as we are concerned that is the end of the matter. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I would ask you to get the Minister to address the question which was this: does he think it was appropriate for the chairman of TVNZ to be wining and dining Ministers and MPs while he was under inquiry by the Finance and Expenditure Committee and the Privileges Committee? Why can he not answer that question yes or no? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: He did answer. He did address that question. 
Rodney Hide 
: He did not. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Please be seated. He did address that question. If he is asked for an opinion he can give an opinion if he wishes to do so. The answer he gave definitely did address that question. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It may be your view that he answered that question because what we have here is the view that any old words or excuse will do. The question was quite simple: yes or no—was it appropriate? What this Minister has done is to dodge it entirely with your help. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No he has not. Now the member will stand withdraw and apologise for those last three or four words talking about my help. 
Rodney Hide 
: I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I have not finished ruling yet. Please be seated. As far as I am concerned I have to ask myself whether the question was addressed. It was and that is the issue. The answer may not satisfy the member and it may not even satisfy me except to the point of whether the question was addressed. It was. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. What standard will you apply to your judgment of whether a Minister addresses a question? It seems to members on the Opposition side of the House that whenever it gets tricky any set of words will do without actually addressing the question which was whether it was appropriate. There has been an Auditor-General’s inquiry report. The Minister said he has read it. My question to that Minister was whether that was appropriate. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister I thought in his last sentence said there the matter would rest in his opinion. I thought that answer addressed the question quite specifically— 
Rodney Hide 
: Well what was the answer? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member is really going right to the edge. As far as I am concerned the Minister addressed the question.