Woodhouse Michael: Television New Zealand Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Woodhouse Michael: Television New Zealand Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:662;Page:10636] 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) 
: 
 I am mindful of the quote by Baltasar Gracián: “Good things when short are twice as good.” So I will be short—probably for a very long time. I think that is what the Television New Zealand charter should have been like. [ 
Interruption 
] I get taller with every interjection! [ 
Interruption 
] Is that some empathy there Mr Deputy Speaker? But I think that is true of the Television New Zealand charter. 
When the Television New Zealand Amendment Bill is passed 16 separate components will be reduced to about four succinct expectations. The present dual expectations to comply with the requirements of the charter and to act consistently with commercial imperatives are at best uncomfortable bedfellows and at worst completely unworkable. It is arguable that Television New Zealand (TVNZ) and its predecessor organisations worked very well for two generations prior to the implementation of the charter and I wonder whether the charter has made a single bit of difference to the delivery of New Zealand content—sport Maori content news and so on. 
It is also worth reflecting on the actions of TVNZ’s competitors through that period and the level of Kiwi programmes—news sport Maori content and so on—on private TV radio and Internet media. The online media developments are very interesting. TVNZ without any expectation has a massive interest in its TVNZ Ondemand with 1.4 million hits per month. It actually makes a profit without any of those expectations being set in the charter. This bill amends some things to make them more explicit which I think is very necessary. 
I will talk a little about the Platinum Television Fund and the criticisms of funding that was ring-fenced for TVNZ’s funding commitments now being contestable through NZ On Air. That criticism comes from a very outdated view about how programmes are made—vertically integrated companies produce film develop post-edit and then deliver the programmes—which is simply not the way TV films and music are now made. So I am very sure that this fund will result in better higher-quality programmes on our screens that give better value for money. 
I will put in a plug for NZ On Air. I think it does a fantastic job in promoting New Zealand music drama and entertainment. It is such a lean organisation; it manages about $150 million with just 13 staff. I am sure the Labour “spokesman on bureaucracy” Grant Robertson would be astounded at that sort of achievement. It is an organisation that has been supported by both Labour and National Governments for over 20 years and I wish it well in the future in particular on the management of that fund. 
This is a good bill and I commend it to the House. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: That ends the debate on this bill. Before I put the vote I ask the member to provide me with that quote. I thought it was exceptionally good. 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE 
: I seek leave to table the quote by Baltasar Gracián. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.