Curran Clare: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Curran Clare: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Advance Copy - Subject to minor change before inclusion in Bound Volume.] 
9. 
CLARE CURRAN (Labour—Dunedin South) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: Is he aware that Stephen McElrea is part of a working group within NZ On Air which includes a representative of MediaWorks and which is determining details of a documentary about Whanau Ora? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health)  
on behalf of the Minister of Broadcasting: The Minister is now aware because it was discussed in the House yesterday. He was not previously aware because the Minister is not made aware of decisions made by New Zealand On Air before they are announced by New Zealand On Air or published on the New Zealand On Air website. 
Clare Curran 
: Is he satisfied that it is appropriate that a board member with such a close relationship to the Prime Minister is involved in operational matters in relation to programmes with political implications? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The Minister has confidence in the board of New Zealand On Air and the way that it manages its processes. Clearly a number of New Zealand On Air board members previously have had an association with Prime Ministers such as the former deputy chairperson Mrs Judy Callingham who would have been involved in such decisions I am sure. 
Clare Curran 
: Does he think that Stephen McElrea met the test set by New Zealand On Air board chair Neil Walter of being “… ‘perfectly capable’ of keeping his political interests separated from his decision-making role.” when he made a complaint about a documentary on child poverty a week before the election? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The Minister of Broadcasting has confidence in the chairman of the board of New Zealand On Air. 
Clare Curran 
: Is he responsible to this House for ensuring that the processes of the boards he appoints are appropriate; if not who is? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Of course as any Minister would the Minister of Broadcasting ends up being responsible in one way or another for the behaviour of his Crown entities. However in terms of the internal processes of New Zealand On Air for managing the way it approves funding the Minister has confidence in the chairman of New Zealand On Air. 
Clare Curran 
: Is he aware of the subject and title of the documentary which was not released in the document that was released publicly yesterday dated 10 November 2011 “Record of decisions made at working group meeting”; if so what is it? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: As the Minister answering this question on the Minister of Broadcasting’s behalf I am not in a position to give an answer to that question. 
Clare Curran 
: Given that documents were released in this House yesterday on these issues which are matters of importance to the public why is he not aware of the names of those programmes and why cannot he release that information to the House? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I am sure the Minister is not normally informed of decisions until they are made public. That is the information that I have received. As the Minister who is answering on behalf of the Minister of Broadcasting I do not know the title to that programme.