National MP Murray McCully is questioning the use of a promotional bumper sticker to advertise the non-commercial
National Radio and Concert FM radio stations.
Mr McCully says some tens of thousands of taxpayer funds is being spent printing the bumper stickers and many thousands
more on distributing them as inserts in the NZ Herald and AA Directions Magazine amongst others.
"National Radio and Concert FM are given over $20 million of taxpayer funding each year. These funds are provided for
programming, not to run promotional campaigns. Promotional campaigns are the preserve of commercial stations competing
for ratings and for advertising dollars.
"It is ironic that Radio NZ is spending taxpayers money on advertising when they receive that taxpayers money to
compensate for being a commercial-free station!
"Radio NZ staff have been striking demanding more pay. Radio NZ claims it doesn't have the funds yet it's frittering
away tens of thousands of dollars on bumper stickers that will end up in rubbish bins.
"This spending spree suggests that Radio NZ is being given more money than it needs for programming purposes. The
Broadcasting Minister clearly needs to ask for a refund," Mr McCully said.
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