Taxpayer-funding of Maori TV's World Cup bid 'stupid' - Labour

Trevor Mallard. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A taxpayer-funded Maori Television Service bid to screen free-to-air Rugby World Cup matches has been described as "plain stupid" by the Labour Party.

"It sets a precedent for an incoherent and almost unbelievable broadcasting policy," Labour's Rugby World Cup spokesman, Trevor Mallard, said yesterday.

"It would see public money used to up the bidding war and the coffers of the International Rugby Board will reap the benefits."

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples is backing the $3 million bid, reported to be higher than those put in by TVNZ and TV3.

The money would come from funds set aside to foster Maori development.

Mr Mallard said that it would create an unfair bidding platform and undermine a competitive commercial arrangement.

"Questions should be raised about whether a small agency like Te Puni Kokiri [the Ministry of Maori Development] should be investing such large sums of money in this, rather than in job creation or othersimilar programmes for Maori," he said.

"If there is a spare $3 million of taxpayers' money sitting around to invest in broadcasting the Rugby World Cup ... then there at least needs to be a proper Cabinet process to ensure it reaps the biggest benefits for the New Zealand public."

TVNZ previously approached Maori TV with a proposal fora joint bid, but that was not takenup.

Sky has won broadcast rights for the tournament to produce coverage of all 48 matches.

Tenders will go out this year for local broadcast rights for up to 16 matches, including All Black pool games, the quarter-finals, semifinals and the final.

- NZPA