$512,000 for news service to the Pacific

Hon Steve Maharey
Minister of Broadcasting

Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Foreign Affairs

14 September 2005 Media Statement

$512,000 for news service to the Pacific

The Government will provide $512,000 for a satellite service to South Pacific television broadcasters, Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey and Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said today.

The service includes ONE news satellite broadcasts to the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, as well a weekly half-hour programme of Tagata Pasifika.

“Funding of the news service will help strengthen the important linkages between New Zealand and Pacific Island communities," Steve Maharey said.

TVNZ has provided news to the Pacific for a number of years, but recent satellite service technical failures and reception problems have meant that TVNZ has had to consider other options for continuing its broadcasts to the Pacific.

Following a review, the Government decided to fund an interim satellite service while a more permanent long-term solution is found for continuation of TVNZ broadcasting to the Pacific.

TVNZ broadcasts are offered to the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga without charge, as commercial pricing would typically put the content beyond the reach of these countries.

The Culture and Heritage and Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministries will be working with TVNZ to further develop the broadcaster’s current Pacific broadcasting and will consider future options for broadcasting to the region in 2006 and beyond.

ENDS