McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
McCully Murray: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8831] 
7.  
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (NZ National—East Coast Bays) 
 to the  
Minister of Broadcasting 
: Is he satisfied that in relation to the programme  
Edwards at Large 
 Television New Zealand Limited has always set and maintained “the highest standards of programme quality and editorial integrity.” as set out in its charter; if not why not? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Communications) 
: 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Broadcasting 
: Generally yes. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Can he explain whether the editorial integrity required by the charter will generally permit television presenters expressly to repudiate a formal apology tendered personally by the chief executive of Television New Zealand in relation to an admission of a serious breach of broadcasting standards by Dr Brian Edwards or is this a special concession being made by the Prime Minister’s friend Mr Fraser for the Prime Minister’s media trainer Dr Edwards? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In relation to the second part of the question the answer is no. But the point is that the Minister has a relationship with the board of Television New Zealand and it is the board that has responsibility for the chief executive and internal matters. That is a longstanding relationship. It is a shame that member did not follow it when he was Minister of Tourism because he was sacked for dabbling in operational matters—and rightly so. 
Russell Fairbrother 
: What is the process that viewers can use to make formal complaints about television programmes? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: If a viewer considers that a programme has breached one of the statutory broadcasting standards and wants to make a formal complaint the viewer must complain in the first instance to the broadcaster. If the viewer is dissatisfied with the broadcaster’s response the viewer can within 20 days of receiving the broadcaster’s response refer the complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Authority for investigation and review. 
Rodney Hide 
: In respect of the Edwards show does the Minister agree with Dr Brian Edwards that the funding from New Zealand On Air of $190000 is “chicken feed” and in light of Dr Edward’s view of what is chicken feed and what is not does the Minister know just how much of the Prime Minister’s $2.5 million leader’s fund is paid out to Dr Edwards as the Prime Minister’s media coach and spin adviser? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister has no responsibility for the second part of the question but he may answer the first part. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: That member will know that decisions on funding are nothing to do with the Minister. I am advised that the Edwards show in which Mr Hide was involved received the lowest rating of any of those shows. It looks like most New Zealand people have tuned out of the ACT channel. 
Sue Kedgley 
: How can New Zealanders be sure that TVNZ is meeting its charter obligations to maintain the highest standards of editorial integrity and to be impartial and independent in its current affairs coverage when its flagship current affairs programmes are sponsored by a bank and a car manufacturer? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The memorandum of understanding between the Minister of Broadcasting and TVNZ requires the organisation to provide the Minister of Broadcasting with quarterly reports on the use of the charter-related funding. That is the appropriate mechanism. 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Is the Minister aware that Mr Ian Fraser the Chief Executive of Television New Zealand completely bypassed the programme-commissioning process which is laid down within Television New Zealand to appoint personally the Prime Minister’s media adviser Dr Edwards with his own television programme—a programme that is now being exempted from the normal broadcasting standards process—and does the Minister regard that as acceptable within the charter? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I am not sure whether the Minister of Broadcasting is aware of that but if the member has a complaint about that issue he knows where he can go. There are complaints processes and the Broadcasting Standards Authority is the appropriate body. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek the leave of the House to table Television New Zealand’s apology to me for Dr Edwards’ rough treatment of me and also the regret expressed by Mr Ian Fraser that he allowed the PM’s media adviser to have me on his show. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a log showing that tens of thousands of people have logged on to the ACT party’s website to see the live screening of this particular interview. 
Document not tabled.