KEY POINTS:
United Future is promoting the idea of a "Do Not Call" register to prevent people being bothered by telemarketers.
United Future MP Judy Turner said such registers gave people legal protection from getting unwanted calls.
She said the register was a party policy and United Future would also seek a ban on telemarketers calling anyone after 9pm or on Sundays.
"We should be able to be free from advertising in our own home in the evenings if we wish to be, and a 'do not call' list would allow people to make this choice."
Ms Turner said the Marketing Association had a list but taking part was voluntary and was not working.
The United States, Australia and Canada have registers.
"The register is to apply to all profit-making companies and will ensure that their calling lists are updated at least monthly."
The call comes after the Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff said the Government should set up such a database.
"People are constantly raising this with me and there is widespread concern about the intrusion of cold-calling," she said earlier this month.
"Other countries have moved to address it and we can draw on their experience, so we are bringing it to the attention of the minister and the Law Commission by suggesting they look at it quite hard."
However, Marketing Association head Keith Norris said at the time that a government-run register was unnecessary.
"We have a pretty good system already and this would be just another way of expanding a government department and spending more of the taxpayers' money on something that is already well handled."
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF
