Speaker backs freedom of the press

The Speaker, Hon Margaret Wilson, tonight affirmed the freedom of the press in light of an incident at Parliament yesterday involving a Chinese delegation and a journalist.

‘Freedom of expression is something which we try very hard to preserve in New Zealand,’ she said. ‘That freedom extends to members of the press, and for those with accreditation to the Parliamentary Press Gallery it allows them to report Parliamentary and political news from within the Parliamentary complex.’

Ms Wilson said she was disturbed by reports that staff from the Chinese Embassy had called for a journalist to be removed from a photo opportunity involving China’s Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan. She was equally disturbed to see television film showing the way in which the incident was handled.

‘As Speaker, I am responsible for accreditation of journalists to the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

‘However, we are all subject to security and occasionally circumstances warrant restrictions. However, that is something which is raised with the Speaker in advance, discussed, and if warranted, communicated to all parties well in advance of the event.

‘No such arrangement was suggested and Mr Nick Wang correctly assumed he could cover the events.’

Ms Wilson met representatives of the Parliamentary Press Gallery tonight and told them that if police and/or members of the Diplomatic Protection Squad were concerned about a member of the Press Gallery, they should first raise the issue with the Speaker.

That did not happen and Ms Wilson said she would seek a meeting with the Commissioner of Police to agree protocols to ensure incidents like that involving Mr Wang do not reoccur.

She will also write to the Chinese Ambassador outlining New Zealand’s rules for the press in Parliament.

‘It appears that there may have been a misunderstanding on Monday night and that is why I intend to see protocols put in place so such incidents do not happen again.’

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