11. Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media Minister—Contact with Carol Hirschfeld and Radio New Zealand FundingMELISSA LEE (National) to the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital MediaBroadcasting Communications and Digital Media Minister—Contact with Carol Hirschfeld and Radio New Zealand Funding11. MELISSA LEE (National) to the Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media: On how many occasions has she met with Carol Hirschfeld since becoming Minister?Hon CLARE CURRAN (Minister of Broadcasting Communications and Digital Media): I had breakfast with her on 5 December. She was present at a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) board meeting on 7 December. I've already been clear that I was wrong to characterise the breakfast meeting as unofficial and I corrected the parliamentary record as soon as I realised that. I have since apologised to the Prime Minister.Melissa Lee: In answering that question has she considered any other informal or unofficial meetings she may have had apart from those mentioned in the corrected answer to written question No. 19129?Hon CLARE CURRAN: Not to my recollection.Melissa Lee: In her 5 December meeting with Carol Hirschfeld did she discuss anything at all to do with funding for Radio New Zealand?Hon CLARE CURRAN: As has been said previously—very high-level discussions about the future of broadcasting in New Zealand policy ideas that were already on record and there was very high-level discussion that included potential funding.Melissa Lee: Why didn't Radio New Zealand report that she and Hirschfeld had high-level discussions about RNZ funding?SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to allow the member to rephrase that question. She has no responsibility.Hon Member: Hand on hip.Melissa Lee: Ha ha! Has she seen reports about the RNZ funding that she actually mentioned?Hon CLARE CURRAN: I have no idea what the member's referring to.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could the Minister advise the House as to whether or not it's a fact that one member of the coalition had announced a substantial multi- multi-million dollar funding for RNZ five months before her meeting—the one that's being complained about?Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: No. I'm not going to allow the question.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: No. Mr Peters I'm going to explain why—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Yeah but can I make a point of order first—SPEAKER: Not until I've explained.Rt Hon Winston Peters: —before I get the explanation?SPEAKER: Not until I've explained. This Minister has no responsibility for announcements that are made five months before or four months before she was a Minister.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That is only pertinent to the history behind this meeting. This meeting it's alleged was about funding and I'm putting on the record that the amount which would have been within any conversation on funding had already been promised by the Labour Party five months before that meeting—that's my point.SPEAKER: And that might well be the case but it does not mean that this Minister has responsibility for answering questions about it in this House.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You're quite right to rule as you had. I simply want to extend the invitation to the Rt Hon Winston Peters to join my seminar.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I will. I'll come along and lecture them anytime I feel like it.SPEAKER: Right I think that's about three each.Melissa Lee: Does she still believe that I quote Openness and transparency and doing things differently is important so we've got to practise what we preach and actually do it."?Hon CLARE CURRAN: Absolutely.SPEAKER: Right that concludes oral questions—oh sorry. Rino Tirikatene—I apologise. That concludes the National Party supplementaries."