Friday 25th Jun 1999
Richard Prebble
Media Release -- Governance & Constitution
Covert filming complaint
ACT Leader Richard Prebble has made a formal complaint to Television New Zealand over covert filming by TV1 of the Prime
Minister at the Beehive last night.
Mr Prebble says footage was secretly obtained by filming through a window of the Beehive, possibly from a nearby
building.
"If it is legitimate to secretly film the Prime Minister in the Beehive in this way, is it also legitimate to secretly
film through her sitting room window in Ashburton? If not, what is the difference? And if it is legitimate, we should
logically expect TV3 to begin such practices also," Mr Prebble said.
Mr Prebble said yesterday's action by TV1 has altered the nature of journalism in this country. "If this breach of the
Broadcasting Act is allowed to pass without comment, it will set a precedent for media to routinely violate the privacy
of public or private individuals."
Mr Prebble has also referred the matter to Parliament's Speaker and the Privacy Commissioner.
The footage was shown TV1's late bulletin last night and breakfast bulletin this morning.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.