TVNZ stars in its own reality show

The latest revelations regarding TVNZ now flowing from Susan Wood’s employment case are deeply worrying, says National Party Broadcasting spokeswoman Georgina te Heuheu.

“They indicate an organisation in deep trouble. They also indicate an organisation suffering from a leadership vacuum.”

Mrs te Heuheu is commenting after claims by Bill Ralston that he was under instructions from Ian Fraser and the Board to cut Susan Wood’s salary.

“Those comments appear to conflict with Ian Fraser’s statement at the beginning of the week - that he quit because the Board wanted him involved in Susan Wood’s salary negotiations.

“Daily now, TVNZ is the subject of the news. This is nothing short of a fiasco.

“It is a damning indictment on the Board, which is supposedly in charge of running this organisation. If they aren’t up to the task, the ‘politically appointed’ Board should step down.

“How can the Ministers in charge, say they have confidence in the Board, when just a few hours ago Michael Cullen criticised the content of TV One News as being ‘relentlessly gloomy and negative’?

“Is the shareholding Minister saying he wants TVNZ to play only the Government’s good news?

“Michael Cullen’s comments will do nothing to improve the slide in TVNZ’s audience share. Dr Cullen has said TV3 produces a ‘slicker’ product. No doubt some advertisers will accept this endorsement as fact.

“Surely, these ill-considered remarks run the risk of further damaging a valuable publicly-owned asset,” says Mrs te Heuheu.

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