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Nelson, New Zealand
Wednesday, 28 January 2004-Focus Media Ltd,

Brownlee says TVNZ have reached a new low in their standard of Journalism

In an exclusive interview with Port Focus Asia Pacific news website today, Nationals Deputy leader Jeremy Brownlee said TVNZ have reached a new low in media standards. Jeremy Brownlee today said that TVNZ have so far offered little information in support of their accusation of corruption of Winston Peters over his pro bono dinner at Simunovichs' Auckland Harbor restaurant. Mr. Peters was sitting on a select committee inquiring into the $100 million scampi fishery, involving Simunovich Fisheries.

Brownlee said that the TVNZ programme "attempts to tip over the good work that the scampi select committee has done. Accordingly the whole report loses credibility and TVNZs' actions have also reduced the credibility of all the individual MP's involved in the committee with their yet to be substantiated allegations."

Nationals' deputy leader went on to say "If all TVNZ have to substantiate their allegation of corruption of Peters is what they have presented then this is a very serious case indeed."When questioned why he thought that TVNZ have chosen to run the story in the manner that they have, Jeremy Brownlee said that "Any allegation of corruption made against any MP is a very serious issue. With the recent significant changes to the staffing in TVNZ, I can only imagine their substantiations against Mr. Peters are ratings driven."

For more information:

http://www.portfocus.co.nz or Contact: Liam Butler Editor www.Portfocus.co.nz Liam@PortFocus.co.nz

ENDS

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