Time for some Quality

The Republic of New Zealand Party (The Republicans) has come out in support of the 31 prominent New Zealanders who advocate a publicly funded television service.

"We have been concerned about programme standards and scheduling for some time," said Wayne Hawkins, The Republicans Broadcasting spokesperson.

"The news is full of crime and court stories or the downright trivial and tells people very little about the world they live-in." Mr Hawkins referred to a recent story about half a billion dollars allocated for roads in Auckland which never made it to One News.

"Surely an investment of that magnitude is News," he said. Mr Hawkins also referred to last Sunday night's Insight programme on the West Virginian mining disaster. It occupied the whole programme time.

"Where are the local issues on news backgrounders?" he asked. Mr Hawkins criticised Television New Zealand's decision to screen a programme on Men's Rights after 11pm on 2.

"This programme was locally produced and examined serious issues that affect 2 million New Zealanders. The schedulers buried it," he said

He also mentioned the current series on Dunkirk, being screened after 11:30pm on Sunday evenings.

"Yet again we have quality programming being buried in television's graveyard slots, while we are forced to endure the crass pap that's shown during prime time," he said.

Mr Hawkins said Television New Zealand had forgotten its roots and become immersed in an insidious star culture

"The outrageous salaries paid to so called stars are a testament to this."

Mr Hawkins said Television New Zealand needed to get back to basics with a service that informs and entertains

"We want a good basic service without any of this star culture nonsense," he said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media