An outraged gay community has lashed out at a Tauranga radio station for using the word "poofter" live on air.

The television finalists have been announced for this year's Qantas Film & Television awards. Both film and television awards will be presented together at a red-carpet event on September 18.

Television New Zealand boss Rick Ellis's $140,000 credit card spending in two years sounds high, Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman says, but he will reserve judgment until he hears from the state broadcaster's board today.

New Zealand's top broadcasting bureaucrat is tuning out of the sector to be Climate Change Ambassador.