11 JULY 2018

More public funding must come with increased obligations on Radio NZ to reflect the political diversity of New Zealanders, says the Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “RNZ’s biggest problem isn’t a lack of funding, but a failure to stick to the basics – providing an accessible, balanced news service, without the cheap-shot activism and left wing slant. Today’s announcement means the station’s left-wing hosts might be slightly better paid, but it’s a negative for the taxpayers footing the bill, unless it comes with a drive to balance up its news and programming.”

“A new ‘Innovation Fund’ means we can expect to see new projects like ‘The Wireless’, the taxpayer-funded youth platform that most young people haven’t heard of because they’d be bored witless by its politically correct agenda. These platforms tend to target imaginary audiences instead of responding to the interests of real people.”

“Meanwhile, extra funding for NZ on Air means we can expect more of our tax dollars used on the likes of Jono and Ben, 7 Days, and Game of Bros. These programmes do little to add to New Zealand culture, and ought to obtain their funding commercially.”

“On balance, we accept there is a role for public broadcasting, but it must be balanced, and not just try to replicate what private media companies would provide anyway.”

ENDS

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