Hon Georgina te Heuheu MP National Party Broadcasting Spokeswoman
15 November 2004
Charter, What Charter?
"So much for the Charter's influence on New Zealand public television," says National Party Broadcasting spokeswoman
Georgina te Heuheu.
"The lack of local programmes, particularly New Zealand drama, during TVNZ's 2005 season underpins the need for
transparency as to where Charter funds are being spent.
"Programmes previewed for the coming year such as 'Rescue Me', about the inner workings of a New York city firehouse and
'Locked Down', where myths about life in our jails are debunked, show that TVNZ is no more serious now than it has ever
been in terms of its Charter obligations.
"The comments today by the Screen Directors Guild reinforce my earlier concerns about the huge disadvantage to the local
screen production sector that flow from the government funding arrangements for TVNZ.
"It is totally unfair and inequitable for the Labour Government to continue pouring millions of dollars into the TV
network that it owns and controls, while other highly creative, independent local producers miss out," says Mrs te
Heuheu.
Ends