BSA Uphold Complaint Against RNZ

Tuesday 30 Sep 2003 Rodney Hide Press Releases -- Broadcasting

MPs Katherine Rich and Rodney Hide today said they were pleased that the Broadcasting Standards Authority had upheld their complaint against Radio New Zealand.

"RNZ had believed it could get away with a private apology for a Mana News broadcast that RNZ agreed was inaccurate, failed to distinguish factual reports and opinion, compromised RNZ's impartiality, and was delivered in a disrespectful tone and manner," Mr Hide said.

"The BSA has ruled in our favour and ordered RNZ to broadcast an apology".

Mrs Rich said, "The Mana News finding confirmed that taxpayers' dollars were being spent on self-serving and party-political propaganda. That's not what New Zealanders pay their taxes for".

Mr Hide said, "The BSA-ordered apology showed that hell had frozen over for RNZ. I am hopeful that the BSA will make a similar finding against `Edwards at Large'.

"It's not acceptable that Government radio and Government TV use taxpayers' money to slag off opposition MPs - only to apologise privately when caught out," Mr Hide said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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