12. Hon PETE HODGSON (Labour—Dunedin North) Link to this
to the Minister of Broadcasting
On what dates did he meet with NZ On Air between 1 May this year and today?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General) Link to this
The Minister had meetings with the chief executive officer and the chair of NZ On Air on 8 June and 18 August. The Minister was also hosted by NZ On Air at the New Zealand Music Awards on 8 October.
Did he discuss at either of those meetings any issues concerning the Rugby World Cup; if so, at which meeting was the first of those discussions?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
At the meeting on 8 June the NZ On Air quarterly report and Platinum Television Fund were discussed, and on 18 August the Platinum Television Fund was discussed. The occasion on 8 October was primarily a social occasion; it was not a business-orientated meeting for the Government to push ideological agendas. That, of course, stands in stark contrast to when the previous Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage attended awards shows, which were described by—
Mr SPEAKERThe member will sit down. [ Interruption] I am on my feet and there will be no interjection. The member is sitting right on my right-hand side. He can see when I get to my feet, so in future he will not continue; when I am on my feet he will cease answering immediately. The question was a perfectly fair question asking whether a certain matter was discussed at those meetings. It did not deserve a diatribe of attack from the Minister on the questioner or the questioner’s party. I will not tolerate further abuse like that.
Why have the public statements of the Minister of Broadcasting in the last 24 hours been repeatedly challenged by the chief executive of the Māori Television Service and by Mr Derek Fox? Might it be because they think that he is not telling the truth?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The primary question was directed to meetings relating to the Minister of Broadcasting and NZ On Air. The supplementary questions should flow from that and should not, to quote you, be a general diatribe in the form of questions about broadcasting issues.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
The long history of this Parliament is that supplementary questions flow from supplementary questions and answers as well as from the primary question. The matter of the Rugby World Cup was certainly a prior supplementary question.
I do not think I need further ruling on this. Because I realise the Opposition is running out of questions, I invite the member to reword his question to make sure it comes within the basis of the primary question. I will not penalise him; he will not lose a question.
Does he stand by his statement that an issue concerning his colleague Melissa Lee that he was advised of on 18 or 19 August was a relatively technical accounting matter that they just needed to let him know about? Was that advice in writing?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
The Minister is able to confirm that the advice was proffered. He is unable to confirm whether it was in writing or it was oral but he stands by what was said. It was certainly was not misappropriation, which is a term the member has been peddling.
What action, if any, did the Minister take having learnt on 18 August that NZ On Air was investigating his colleague; and how did he manage, as he advised Morning Report earlier this week, to completely forget about it, given that $100,000 was at stake?
Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON Link to this
The Minister confirms that this was a routine audit matter that was mentioned to the Minister towards the end of a meeting. Nothing further needed to be done by him because—it may come as a surprise to the Opposition—it was an independent investigation.