Maharey expecting massive changes at TVNZ

Steve Maharey

Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey says there will be widespread organisational changes at TVNZ and increases are likely in the amount the state broadcaster gets from the public purse.

Mr Maharey said the "massive change" would be largely initiated because of technology advancements.

"This has been predicted for a long time ... We are on the edge here of having free to air moving on to digital. That is a huge change."

Mr Maharey also indicated the way TVNZ was funded would change.

"It is unlikely you could have the kind of television that is evolving here if you have a balance of 90 per cent commercial revenue and 10 per cent public funding."

Asked if this meant greater Government funding, Mr Maharey said: "I think there has to be".

The minister's comments came the day after former chief executive Ian Fraser's explosive comments to the finance and expenditure select committee's inquiry into TVNZ.

Mr Fraser criticised the TVNZ board and singled out director John Goulter, who he said had "seeded" stories in the media which were designed to undermine him as CEO.

In reaction, TVNZ deputy chairman Rob Fenwick said last night: "We are concerned about the statements made ... but are not able to comment on any action we might take as a result of that."

Mr Goulter denied the allegations. "Anybody who knows me will know there is not a modicum of truth in that. But I'm not interested in any tit-for-tat situation. It's not my style."

Yesterday, Mr Goulter attended the TVNZ board meeting in Wellington.

Chairman Craig Boyce said the meeting was "very routine" and there were no big announcements to make.

"So we are moving on and that's it until next year. I think everybody should go off and go surfing."

Dame Ann Hercus, whose resignation was announced on Wednesday, told National Radio yesterday that she had no regrets about being the only board member to blow the whistle over the doubling of newsreader Judy Bailey's salary to $800,000.

"I am enormously proud of being the minority of one ... I still think I was right."

Select committee chairman Shane Jones said the panel of MPs was focused on getting its report on TVNZ finished early in the New Year.

Act Party leader Rodney Hide said he was writing a letter of complaint to Mr Jones over comments he made about Mr Fraser there.

Mr Jones described Mr Fraser as a "superfluous CEO" who had turned on "something akin to a sewage pump".

He then said: "Mr Fraser, like an aged Lancaster bomber, dropped a few bombs".

Yesterday on National Radio, Mr Jones said: "I'm not sure he needed a confessor or a counsellor's couch".

Mr Hide said Mr Jones' comments during the hearing were inappropriate. He would ask Mr Jones to apologise to both the committee and Mr Fraser.

"I think he is sailing perilously close to a breach of privilege.

"He has certainly lost my confidence as chair."

In response, Mr Jones last night said it was obviously the silly season and he was resigned to the fact he was "condemned to work with Rodney".