Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:615;Page:11207] 
1. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: Is Television New Zealand Limited undertaking any inquiries into the manner in which its reporters obtain information for news stories? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Broadcasting) 
: 
 I am advised that Television New Zealand is not undertaking such an inquiry. I am further advised that TVNZ adheres to standards under the Broadcasting Act consistent with the gathering and presentation of news and current affairs that is balanced fair and accurate. In addition TVNZ similar to any other reputable news organisation has a 104-page manual to direct news and current affairs staff in the proper conduct of newsgathering including the rigorous checking of news sources. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: If that is so why is one Brent Fraser a Christchurch reporter behind the TVNZ news and  
Holmes  
show of 23 January not the subject of an inquiry given that he impersonated a police officer in assembling the information behind that story? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: If the member has evidence of that kind then he knows that there is a procedure to use. I cannot do it. Under section 28 of the Act I am prohibited from bringing about such an inquiry but he himself can do that either by complaining to the institution or by making use of the broadcasting complaints process. 
Mark Peck 
: Would the Minister outline the procedures available for making a formal complaint about the gathering and presentation of television news and current affairs stories? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Under the Broadcasting Act complaints must be made in the first instance to the broadcaster concerned. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the broadcaster’s response the complaint can be referred to the Broadcasting Standards Authority for investigation and review. The authority’s decision can then be appealed to the High Court and the member is well used to such routes. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Is the Minister aware of the Police Act in particular section 51 in respect of impersonation of a police officer; and is it not a fact that Melanie Jones head of Television One news has been writing not one but various memos to Bill Ralston distancing herself from the Kermadec inquiry because of the manner in which it was conducted being both spurious and insufficient? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: These are interesting points and if the member believes that he has evidence of this kind—that somebody was impersonating a police officer for example—then I am sure with his legal experience he knows exactly what to do. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Can the Minister tell me whether as the Minister responsible he accepts that TVNZ has properly informed him of the information behind this question today given that it has one Brent Fraser who claimed to be working on a criminal investigation at the time he went with regard to certain witnesses on that story; that is criminal behaviour guilty if he is guilty and punishable by 3 months’ imprisonment; and does he not think that TVNZ owed him more today than to properly inform him of the inquiry which it knows is going on? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: As I said in my first answer TVNZ is not undertaking any inquiry at the present time in relation to this but if the member does have evidence of a person who has been impersonating a police officer—clearly something that is wrong—he should let me know that and I can perhaps help in ensuring that an investigation is taken up. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: What disciplinary action would the Minister regard as being at the very minimal requirement of TVNZ’s news management if a reporter claims to have been involved in a criminal investigation—in short impersonates a police officer? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: As Minister of course one of the things I am proscribed and prescribed from doing is answering that question in the sense that I get involved with it but the member knows that this is something that is against the law and he has probably himself already looked up what the likely result would be if that was prosecuted.