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Allegations Surrounding Asia Downunder 2008
21 May 2009
Press Release - For Immediate Release
Report On Allegations Surrounding The Production Of Asia Downunder 2008
A report conducted by NZ On Air into funding of Asia Downunder has found that the agency was not misled, and that there is no evidence public funding was misused.
Media reports over the past week have alleged that National Party list MP Melissa Lee deceived NZ On Air in October 2008, by not disclosing she was standing for Parliament when applying for funding for the 2009 series of Asia Downunder.
Later reports also alleged that Ms Lee was improperly involved in editorial decisions in the 2008 series of Asia Downunder, and that public funds were used to make an election video.
NZ On Air has investigated all of these allegations. Its investigation included:
* Reviewing correspondence resulting from Ms Lee’s announcement that she intended to stand as a candidate in the 2008 election
* Reviewing reports and correspondence relating to the application for funding for the 2009 series
* Making enquiries of TVNZ (the broadcaster of Asia Downunder) and the Overseeing Producer of the series at the time that Ms Lee was a political candidate
* Examining Asia Vision Limited’s production call sheets, production and budget reports and associated paperwork for the 2008 series of ADU and making enquiries of the production company
* Examining the promotional video on YouTube
* The conclusions of the investigation are that:
NZ On Air is satisfied that Ms Lee did not have editorial control for Asia Downunder programmes dealing with political matters, and that the systems put in place were robust, managed well by TVNZ and Ms Jean, and willingly complied with by Ms Lee.
NZ On Air was not misled at any stage about Ms Lee’s intentions to stand for Parliament.
NZ On Air is satisfied that public funds intended for production of Asia Downunder were not misused.
No further allegations have surfaced. At this stage NZ On Air has found no evidence of misappropriation of public funds and no further action will be taken.
The
full report of this investigation is available on NZ On
Air’s website:
http://nzonair.govt.nz/files/news/REPORT_ON_ALLEGATIONS_SURROUNDING_THE_PRODUCTION_O.pdf
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