TVNZ fined over Fraser case

The Privileges Committee has found Television New Zealand committed a contempt of Parliament and fined it $1000 -- the first fine the powerful committee has handed down in 103 years.

The committee's interim report tabled today said that TVNZ -- over its actions against former chief executive Ian Fraser after he gave evidence to a select committee -- had committed contempt.

It ordered the fine and required the state broadcaster to apologise to the House for its actions.

Yesterday TVNZ apologised to Mr Fraser and said it had settled the personal grievance case he brought against it.

TVNZ had described Mr Fraser's comments in December last year to the finance and expenditure committee amounted to "serious misconduct and were quite inappropriate".

The privileges committee investigated because punishing anyone for the evidence they give to any select committee is a breach of Parliament's rules.

- NZPA