Kedgley takes the fight out of TV

Television New Zealand will be expected to review the amount of violence it screens, as a result of a successful amendment to TVNZ's charter moved by Green MP Sue Kedgley.

"I expect TVNZ to take the new code of practice on violence seriously and to review the amount and type of violence it screens on TV One and TV 2," said Ms Kedgley, the Green Broadcasting spokesperson.

"The Television Code on Violence is quite specific - it places an obligation on broadcasters to ensure that any violence shown is not gratuitous and is justified by the context, and that broadcasters take into account the cumulative effect of violent incidents and themes in programmes."

Ms Kedgley said there was compelling evidence that children who regularly see violence on television are likely to regard violence as a normal part of life, and to become more aggressive themselves.

A survey undertaken by New Zealand's Broadcasting Standards Tribunal found that children are themselves disturbed by violence on television and find it disturbing, distasteful and potentially harmful.

Ms Kedgley said parents cannot be solely responsible for monitoring the programmes that children watch and it was essential that television channels and regulators took a leading role in ensuring that children are not exposed to harmful television content.

"Television New Zealand, which is owned by the people of New Zealand, ought to take a lead in ensuring that our children are not exposed to potentially harmful television content, in the form of gratuitous and excessive violence," Ms Kedgley said.

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