Party Leaders Centre Stage on National Radio
Radio
New Zealand is to broadcast three Leaders Forum programmes
on National Radio in the period leading to the general
election on Saturday 27th July.
The forums, to be
recorded at Victoria University, will be fronted by Morning
Report presenter Sean Plunket before a live audience of
political science students who will ask questions for
immediate response.
The first, broadcast on Sunday 30th June at 8.00 am, will feature the leaders of National and Labour. Subsequent forums will include the leaders of Act, New Zealand First and United Future ( Sunday 7th July ), and the leaders of The Greens, The Alliance and the Progressive Coalition. ( Sunday 14th July ).
Radio New Zealand’s
political editor, Al Morrison says the forums are not
intended to be debates in the sense of testing how the
leaders perform against each other, but are primarily an
opportunity to tease out policy positions.
“ Television
debates tend to focus on pitting the leaders against each
other; our interest lies in dealing with the issues.” he
said.
The forum broadcasts introduce a new element to Radio New Zealand’s comprehensive coverage of election issues and personalities.
Additional election coverage on National Radio will also be provided by Linda Clark who will now start her new role as presenter of the high profile Nine to Noon programme on July 1st one week earlier than originally scheduled.
Ends
National Radio is a network
of Radio New Zealand and is funded by
New Zealand On
Air