Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:616;Page:12441] 
6.  
SUE KEDGLEY (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: Does he think it is acceptable for a public broadcaster—TV2—to screen on average 8.3 violent incidents in each hour of its programming; if so why? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Acting Minister of Broadcasting) 
: 
 The Television New Zealand Act specifically prevents me from interfering in the day-to-day operations of broadcasting including programming decisions. I am informed however that TVNZ executives met this morning to plan action on reducing television violence—in particular the concerns raised by the working-group on television violence over the concentrated level of violence in promotions. I need to add that TVNZ is pleased that it has the lowest level of television violence across the networks. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Will he amend TVNZ’s statement of corporate intent to require it to reduce substantially the number of violent episodes in programmes screened on TV2 a channel that of course is targeted at children and young persons; if not why not? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I am confident that Television New Zealand listens well and is responsive to the views of the community. Indeed I am aware that the TVNZ charter clause in relation to television violence was included at the suggestion of the questioner. 
Mark Peck 
: What role did broadcasters play on the working-group on television violence? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: The chief executives of Television New Zealand and TV3 were both members of that group which prepared the list of proposals on television violence. TVNZ has acted promptly and is drafting a new policy detailing processes for addressing the issue that I am informed should be completed within the next 2 to 3 weeks. TVNZ is looking at sharing its action plan with other broadcasters. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that there are videos out there for hire that are equally as violent as anything shown on TV and what will the Government do about that? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Yes and they should be dealt with by the same process relating to community concern and a change of attitude. 
Marc Alexander 
: Does the Minister think it is acceptable for a public broadcaster TV2 to screen adults-only content containing violence and horror programming which has now been well established to have a deleterious effect on young children at the early time of 8.30 p.m. when the international benchmark is 9 o’clock; if so why? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: As I commented in the answer to my first question the Act prevents me from being involved in programming decisions. However I do believe that TVNZ should be complimented on the responsible way in which it is responding to the findings of the working-party. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree with the editorial in the  
New Zealand Herald  
yesterday that television bosses are delivering lame excuses in response to the findings of the working-group on violence and will he be calling on all television networks to act immediately to reduce the number of violent incidents on television rather than waiting for a revamped Broadcasting Standards Authority to require them to do so? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: No I do not agree with the editorial. In fact I find it ironic that the  
New Zealand Herald 
 the only newspaper that was not present at the launch of this report last week was so inaccurate in its reports of the good initiatives stated at the time by Mr Fraser. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree that a State-owned public broadcaster has a special responsibility to ensure it is not screening potentially harmful television content in the form of gratuitous or excessive violence on a channel that children and young people watch and will he therefore amend the statement of corporate intent to require that broadcaster to take a lead on television violence—not just in promos but in its programmes—as it is called on to do in its charter? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Yes I do agree with the questioner’s initial statement and I believe that TVNZ is delivering on that responsibly.