1. Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she stand by her statement in relation to the agreement between Harmeet Sooden’s family and Television New Zealand, “There’s been a lot of public interest and then to see the one media outlet try to scoop everybody else I don’t think is very appropriate.”; if so, does she approve of the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to attempt to facilitate such an agreement?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister) Link to this
Yes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided a significant amount of support to the family, including in their dealings with the media, over an extended period of time. Although extending that role to pass on the family’s request for financial assistance for travel was, in my view, an error of judgment, it should be noted that the official who did so advised against that particular move.
Does the Prime Minister think it appropriate for Government agencies and public servants to act as media agents for people trying to gain financial support in return for exclusive interviews; if not, will she be conveying this view to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his ministry?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
On the latter point, I am sure the Minister of Foreign Affairs is already cognisant of the Prime Minister’s views. On the former, I think it is very important to be quite clear that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was not involved in seeking an exclusive relationship with Television New Zealand. It merely passed on the request to both Television New Zealand and TV3—the family’s request for financial assistance for travel.
Is she concerned about reports in the media this morning that Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff contacted only a private TV network to offer it an exclusive deal with the Soodens and failed to contact the State broadcaster, and does she believe the ministry should at least have been impartial when negotiating cheque-book journalism deals?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have been aware of a number of reports but my advice is that the approach was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to both Television New Zealand and TV3 and that they would have no role in negotiating any deal; that would have to be done directly with the family.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Would the Prime Minister accept that this was an extremely delicate situation over a number of months and that, in passing on the request of the family, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade may have unconsciously got itself involved in a possible negotiation process, even though it warned the family that that was a bad idea?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
That is correct. It is very important to note that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade did warn the family that this was a bad idea and also to place on the record that the ministry had, over an extended period of time, gone out of its way to assist the family, as had of course other Government agencies.
Keith LockeDoes the Prime Minister welcome media coverage of peace worker Harmeet Sooden’s critical assessment of the American and British military occupation of Iraq, and is it not very appropriate to have such media coverage at the time British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is visiting this country?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I do not think Mr Blair has to come to New Zealand to face criticism of Britain’s role in Iraq.
Is the Prime Minister aware that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has negotiated exclusive deals of this kind in the past, and does she expect it to be negotiating any more such deals in the future?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I reiterate that the ministry did not negotiate this deal. It simply passed on the family’s request—to both Television New Zealand and TV3. It was the family who sought an exclusive deal with Television New Zealand.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Would the Prime Minister confirm that at all points in respect of Harmeet Sooden the Canadian Government was the lead agency and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand was purely engaged in trying to assist the Canadian Government in its attempts where he was concerned, and the United States and the UK in respect of the other three captives; and is it not the point that we as a Government and as a foreign affairs department have sought to do the humanitarian thing, without trying to make some cheap political points out of it?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
It is absolutely clear that the Canadian Government had the lead role throughout. Of course, Mr Sooden is a Canadian citizen. Canada acted entirely properly throughout and kept us informed throughout of any progress that was being made.
Has she asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs whether he had any knowledge that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was acting as media agents for the Sooden family; if so, what was his response?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
No, I repeat the ministry did not act as media agent. Firstly, it merely passed on a request, and, secondly, it stated to the family that it thought actually that was not itself a wise move, and, thirdly, it declined to be involved in any negotiations between the family and Television New Zealand, because that was a matter for the family.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is it the Prime Minister’s position that if a member of the House wants to know what the Minister of Foreign Affairs did, it would be a good idea to ask him?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I think it is fair to say that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has always been extraordinarily approachable in terms of ascertaining his views on matters.
Gerry BrownleeDoes she think Television New Zealand got good value for the deal, as it appears to have paid $10,000 per second of air time and TV3 ran the same footage for nothing?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I think it is clear that if this were a value-for-money exercise it would fail to meet the criteria the Government might lay down in those respects.