Nats would scrap TVNZ charter

A National-led government would scrap TVNZ's charter and allow other broadcasters to contest its $36 million charter funding, National's broadcasting spokeswoman Georgina te Heu Heu says.

The TVNZ charter, put in place by the Labour-led Government, requires the network to create programmes that reflect New Zealand life and culture.

Ms te Heu Heu said the commitment to local programmes would continue under National, but the $36 million charter funding would be transferred to broadcasting funder NZ on Air.

That would allow other broadcasters and companies to contest the funding.

"The charter seemed to be this Government's answer to some quality local content," she said on National Radio.

"I have a sense that most New Zealanders think we haven't got what we bargained for."

Ms te Heu Heu said National believed all New Zealand broadcasters would reflect local life in their programming whether they were public or private. That was because there was viewer demand for local content.

The lion's share of the contestable fund would probably still go to TVNZ, she said.

National would also develop a new appointments process for the boards of TVNZ and Radio New Zealand to ensure they were apolitical.

That would make the appointment process more transparent and would leave board members less exposed to accusations of political bias.

But Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey said the charter was essential in building the culture of TVNZ as a public service broadcaster.

"I think what we are seeing is the setting of the scene for National to be able to say 'why do we have this organisation' and we've got an asset sale on the road," he said on National Radio.

He said TVNZ was still able to perform well commercially with the charter, with the Government receiving record returns from the organisation.

- NZPA