19 August 2009
Media Statement

McCully and Tolley at odds on school funding

Murray McCully and Anne Tolley need to get their stories straight and assure Kiwis that funding for programmes like Stage Challenge, Kapa Haka, Polyfest and the Pasifika Festival will be funded next year, Labour’s Sport and Recreation spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“Today in the House Education Minister Anne Tolley said Stage Challenge funding would not be cut, despite Sports Minister Murray McCully’s decision to axe the Mission On programme that used to fund it.

“When Mr McCully was asked to confirm that her comments were correct he ducked for cover and said he wasn’t responsible.

“Murray McCully’s answers to written parliamentary questions show that Stage Challenge, Kapa Haka, Polyfest and the Pasifika Festival have all received Sponsorship or funding from Mission On or Push Play. He has slashed both of these programmes.

“So who should Kiwi kids believe, Murray McCully or Anne Tolley? Both of them can’t be right.

“National’s decision to gut the successful Mission on and Push Play programmes is a bad one on two fronts: not only will it worsen New Zealand’s growing obesity problem, but National’s limited replacement programme concentrating solely on sport is fundamentally unfair – it takes money away from schools in poorer areas and gives it to those that are much better off,” Chris Hipkins said.

Replies to WPQs provided below.

Subject: 10474 (2009) Published - Sport and Recreation - Normal Reply
Question: Did any organisations or events receive sponsorship through the Mission On programme and how much did each of them receive?
Portfolio: Sport and Recreation
Minister: Hon Murray McCully
Date Lodged:23/07/2009
Answer Text: Please see the attached document
Date Received: 30/07/2009

Organisation Show/event Value and year of sponsorhip
Stage Challenge Foundation Stage Challenge $200,000 (2008)
$200,000 (2009)
TVNZ Ltd Activate Cooking Challenge Show (aired on TVNZ) $350,000 (2008)
$350,000 (2009)
Taylormade Studio 2 and the Hub (aired on TVNZ) $400,000 (2007)
$500,000 (2008)
Cinco Cine Film Productions Ltd Pukana (aired on Maori Television and TV3) $180,000 (2008)
24/7 Girl Limited 24/7 Girl website $70,000 (2007/2008)
$85,000 (2008/2009)
Te Matatini Society Kapa Haka $3,000 (2009)
Ministry of Health HEHA Research and Evaluation Conference $5,000 (2008)
Subject: 08455 (2009) Published - Sport and Recreation - Normal Reply
Question: Further to his answer to written question 08115 (2009), which non-sports events were previously sponsored as part of the Push Play programme and how much did each of them receive?
Portfolio: Sport and Recreation
Minister: Hon Murray McCully
Date Lodged:30/06/2009

Answer Text: I am advised that the following non-sports events were sponsored as part of the Push Play programme:

2008/09
The Pasifika Festival ($35,000)
ASB PolyFest ($30,000)
WhatNow ($265,000)
Wonder Walkers ($30,000)

2007/08
The Pasifika Festival ($45,000)
ASB Polyfest ($25,000)
WhatNow ($270,000)
Brotown (TV series) ($150,000)

2006/07
The Pasifika Festival ($45,000)
ASB Polyfest ($25,000)
WhatNow ($250,000)

2005/06
PasifikaFestival - $80,000
Polyfest - $25,000
WhatNow - $250,000

2004/05
PasifikaFestival - $50,000
Polyfest - $20,000
WhatNow - $250,000

Date Received:08/07/2009

ENDS

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