NZ Police Demand Media Divulge Sources

http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/new-zealand-police-demand-media-divulge-sources

[Note by Pacific Media Watch editors: This controversy has been branded by NZ media as the "teapot tapes" affair - see video link at the end of this item.]

WELLINGTON (International Federation of Journalists / Pacific Media Watch): The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns demands by New Zealand police for news organisations to divulge information relating to the so-called secret recording of a meeting between Prime Minister John Key and a candidate for the seat of Epsom, John Banks.

The recording was made by freelance cameraman Bradley Ambrose during an event organised by Key in Auckland, in the country’s north on November 11. The event was intended to encourage supporters of Key’s National Party to vote for Banks, a member of the governing coalition’s ACT party, at the November 26 NZ general election.

Key has stated that neither he nor Banks were aware their conversation was being recorded and has made an official complaint to the police about the unauthorised recording of the conversation.

The story has generated considerable public interest, and NZ police have demanded Radio New Zealand, TVNZ, TV3 and a fourth unnamed media organisation to hand over unpublished news material relating to recordings.

Radio New Zealand has reportedly refused these demands, prompting threats by NZ police to obtain a search warrant and seize the material later this week. Radio New Zealand says it does not have a copy of the tape at the centre of the complaint.

“While there are ethical questions about how the recording was made, the police clampdown on news media organisations just nine days before New Zealand's general election is alarming, and may be interpreted as an attempt to suppress media freedom,” IFJ Asia-Pacific director Jacqueline Park said.

The IFJ supports journalists at Radio New Zealand and other news media organisations for upholding their ethical obligation to protect confidential sources and responsibility to gather and report news in the public interest.

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* TV3 video on PM John Key and the "teapot tapes" affair

* Comment on this item: pmediawa@aut.ac.nz

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