KEY POINTS:
Speaker Margaret Wilson met Police Commissioner Howard Broad today over an incident when a journalist who held parliamentary accreditation was stopped from covering a Beehive event.
The pair decided to work on a protocol to avoid future problems.
The meeting came after an incident last month when Wellington-based Chinese journalist Nick Wang was stopped from covering a photo opportunity attended by Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen and China's Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan.
TV footage showed Wang was blocked from entering the room by a Diplomatic Protection Squad officer. He said the officer was acting on instructions from a Chinese official who did not like his reporting and Chinese media were allowed to enter.
Ms Wilson told Parliament this morning's meeting was constructive.
"I must ... emphasis that I had a very good meeting with the commissioner who does respect the privileges and the position of Parliament," she said.
"I have no doubt at all we will reach an agreement with protocol. I will of course be discussing this with the press gallery."
Wang is an accredited member of the Press Gallery and holds an identity card and a pass giving him access to Parliament and the Beehive.
He works for New Zealand Asia TV and Capital Chinese News, a New Zealand-based Chinese language newspaper.
Ms Wilson has previously expressed concern at reports of the incident.
She said circumstances sometimes warranted restrictions, but that was something that had to be discussed with her well in advance and conveyed to the person involved.
"No such arrangement was suggested and Mr Nick Wang correctly assumed he could cover the event," she said.
"It appears that there may have been a misunderstanding ... and that is why I intend to see protocols put in place so such incidents do not happen again."
Previously Dr Cullen said Wang got upset before his removal but since admitted he may have been given inaccurate information by police.
- NZPA
