Tracey Martin MP

Spokesperson for Broadcasting
6 MAY 2016

Radio NZ Starvation Leading to State Asset Sales

New Zealand First is appalled that “starvation” funding by the National Government has forced Radio NZ to consider selling public assets.

“The National Government has always detested public broadcasting because it is the hardest form of media to control,” says Broadcasting Spokesperson Tracey Martin.

“But a public broadcasting service is at the heart of democracy and will protect us from governments like this.

“New Zealand First would reinvest in public broadcasting services so the New Zealand public can have greater confidence that the information they are being given has not been first run through a government spin machine.

“It is disappointing to read that the board has obviously been backed into a corner by the freeze on funding from the National Government, as mentioned in NZ Herald: RNZ weighs up assets sale.”

NZ First Broadcasting policy, p10 http://nzfirst.org.nz/content/manifesto-2014

ENDS

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