Brendon Burns

Labour broadcasting spokesperson Brendon Burns has tabled a petition in Parliament this week recording the support of more than 2500 people for Radio New Zealand as the Government directs it to “reconfigure” services.

Brendon Burns said today he started an e-petition after Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman instructed the Radio New Zealand board to change its mindset and start considering options such as turning National Radio off between midnight and 6am, ending FM coverage in some areas and finding sponsorship for Concert FM.

“An e-petition is a valid expression of opinion but it cannot be tabled in Parliament,” Brendon Burns said. “That’s why the Parliamentary petition I tabled yesterday actually comes from former RNZ board member Alison Timms and requests the House to note that 2640 people have signed the e-petition.

“The petitions affirm that Radio New Zealand is a national institution adding daily to the lives of New Zealanders and to the fabric of our society. We say that Radio NZ deserves Government’s support and encouragement, not an ongoing freeze and directives which can only mean reductions in output and quality.”

Brendon Burns said Jonathan Coleman should take note of his own Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill, which he introduced a year ago and which was due to come into force on 1 January this year, but which continues to languish on the Parliamentary order paper.

“Perhaps that’s because the Minister’s own bill pledges to retain Radio New Zealand without advertising or sponsorship, but within months of its introduction, Dr Coleman was telling the board to think about sponsorship.

“This is the same Minister who promised a year ago to ‘release a new Broadcasting Work Programme shortly, the content of which is consistent with our manifesto commitments’,” Brendon Burns said.

“No such Broadcasting Work Programme has ever been released, showing the Minister’s ability to deliver is about as convincing as his support for Radio New Zealand.”

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