Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Kedgley Sue: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:672;Page:18639] 
4. 
SUE KEDGLEY (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: When will Radio New Zealand’s funding freeze end? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister for Building and Construction) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: Radio New Zealand has been informed that it is unlikely to receive any increase in Crown funding over the next few years. Radio New Zealand has informed the Minister that it is able to operate effectively within current funding levels for at least the next 3 years. No changes in funding have been provided by the Government to Radio New Zealand. The baseline funding for 2010-11 was the same as for 2009-10 and is forecast to be the same for 2011-12. The Minister has advised Radio New Zealand that there will be no increase in its funding for the foreseeable future. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Is it not the case as Richard Griffin chairman of the Radio New Zealand board conceded in the Commerce Committee last week that the present freeze in Radio New Zealand funding which comes at a time when operating costs such as electricity and transmission are going up is actually a cut in funding; if not why not? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: No; because at the same time as the funding has been kept at the same level Radio New Zealand has been able to find quite significant efficiency gains in the way it operates. The chair of Radio New Zealand in October 2010 Christine Grice wrote to the Minister to say that clearly Radio New Zealand would be able to continue to function fully within its current funding for at least the next 3 years. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree with the present chairman of the board of Radio New Zealand Richard Griffin that if the funding freeze continues beyond the next few years it will erode staff morale and create havoc in the organisation and that Radio New Zealand will “wither on the vine”; if not why not? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: One of the things I have found to be terribly unproductive around this place is to get involved in hypothetical debates about what might happen many years into the future. What will be done is on a case-by-case year-by-year basis. The funding for Radio New Zealand will be assessed by the Minister of Broadcasting and Minister of Finance and if many years into the future it is determined that Radio New Zealand requires an increase in funding then that will be considered when it happens. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Is he concerned that Richard Griffin told the Commerce Committee that the only strategy the board has to increase revenue for Radio New Zealand is selling two grand pianos setting up a trust so that the board can go cap in hand to the public to try to raise funds and running cake stalls? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: I would be very concerned if I thought the new chairman’s only way of raising funds was holding cake stalls. I believe that Richard Griffin has a very good view about broadcasting and has the ability to think quite innovatively about how other revenue streams and more cost-effective mechanisms can be brought to bear so that Radio New Zealand can continue to deliver the quality product it does within its current baseline. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree with the majority of the board of Radio New Zealand that commercial sponsorship of Radio New Zealand should be a no-go area; if not why not? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: I am told in my briefing notes that the current Radio New Zealand bill before the House does not allow sponsorship of Radio New Zealand so the member can sleep calmly in her bed. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he support the board’s proposal to set up a charity trust so that it can go begging to the public for financial support to maintain Radio New Zealand Concert and down the track possibly Radio New Zealand National as well; if so why? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: The Minister of Broadcasting supports any move the board takes to increase revenue from other sources. I say good on it and if it thinks there are ways it can get its loyal listeners to contribute in some way to help I think that is a great thing for it to do. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Is he disappointed that his hand-picked political appointee Richard Griffin is telling the truth about the effect of the funding freeze on Radio New Zealand instead of just exercising his skills in public relations and spin? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: No I can say I have never been disappointed in Richard Griffin.