Hodgson Pete: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hodgson Pete: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:658;Page:7010] 
12.  
Hon PETE HODGSON (Labour—Dunedin North) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: On what dates did he meet with NZ On Air between 1 May this year and today? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: 
 The Minister had meetings with the chief executive officer and the chair of NZ On Air on 8 June and 18 August. The Minister was also hosted by NZ On Air at the New Zealand Music Awards on 8 October. 
Hon Pete Hodgson 
: Did he discuss at either of those meetings any issues concerning the Rugby World Cup; if so at which meeting was the first of those discussions? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: At the meeting on 8 June the NZ On Air quarterly report and Platinum Television Fund were discussed and on 18 August the Platinum Television Fund was discussed. The occasion on 8 October was primarily a social occasion; it was not a business-orientated meeting for the Government to push ideological agendas. That of course stands in stark contrast to when the previous Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage attended awards shows which were described by— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: —top musicians as like a— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will sit down. [ 
Interruption 
] I am on my feet and there will be no interjection. The member is sitting right on my right-hand side. He can see when I get to my feet so in future he will not continue; when I am on my feet he will cease answering immediately. The question was a perfectly fair question asking whether a certain matter was discussed at those meetings. It did not deserve a diatribe of attack from the Minister on the questioner or the questioner’s party. I will not tolerate further abuse like that. 
Hon Pete Hodgson 
: Why have the public statements of the Minister of Broadcasting in the last 24 hours been repeatedly challenged by the chief executive of the Maori Television Service and by Mr Derek Fox? Might it be because they think that he is not telling the truth? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The primary question was directed to meetings relating to the Minister of Broadcasting and NZ On Air. The supplementary questions should flow from that and should not to quote you be a general diatribe in the form of questions about broadcasting issues. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: The long history of this Parliament is that supplementary questions flow from supplementary questions and answers as well as from the primary question. The matter of the Rugby World Cup was certainly a prior supplementary question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not think I need further ruling on this. Because I realise the Opposition is running out of questions I invite the member to reword his question to make sure it comes within the basis of the primary question. I will not penalise him; he will not lose a question. 
Hon Pete Hodgson 
: Does he stand by his statement that an issue concerning his colleague Melissa Lee that he was advised of on 18 or 19 August was a relatively technical accounting matter that they just needed to let him know about? Was that advice in writing? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: The Minister is able to confirm that the advice was proffered. He is unable to confirm whether it was in writing or it was oral but he stands by what was said. It was certainly was not misappropriation which is a term the member has been peddling. 
Hon Pete Hodgson 
: What action if any did the Minister take having learnt on 18 August that NZ On Air was investigating his colleague; and how did he manage as he advised  
Morning Report 
 earlier this week to completely forget about it given that $100000 was at stake? 
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON 
: The Minister confirms that this was a routine audit matter that was mentioned to the Minister towards the end of a meeting. Nothing further needed to be done by him because—it may come as a surprise to the Opposition—it was an independent investigation.