Maharey Tunes Out Over RNZ Spend Up

Monday 6 Dec 2004 Deborah Coddington Press Releases -- Broadcasting

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey has obviously lost the plot over his portfolio, ACT Broadcasting spokesman Deborah Coddington said today.

"Radio New Zealand's announcement that it has spent $7.5 million of taxpayers' money on a building in central Auckland is outrageous," Miss Coddington said.

"RNZ chief executive Peter Cavanagh says this is to increase State radio's presence in the city. This is ludicrous. How does owning a multimillion-dollar property make listeners tune their dial to National Radio?

"Public radio receives taxpayers' dollars to provide quality news, interviews and features. Taxpayers support State radio - in the main - because it doesn't carry commercials.

"Spending $7.5 million on a building is not National Radio's core business. Steve Maharey should never have allowed it to spend up large on a building.

"No wonder taxpayers are felling squeezed when the Minister allows this sort of investment in property with public money.

"I have written to the Auditor-General and asked for an investigation as to whether this is an appropriate use of taxpayers' money," Miss Coddington said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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