The Coalition for Better Broadcasting calls on the Minister of Broadcasting, Amy Adams to improve Radio New Zealand funding as a matter of urgency. Radio New Zealand has announced that 20 staff will lose their jobs over the next six months.
“Radio New Zealand is being slowly shutdown by this government with a harsh funding freeze that promises to bring our last public service broadcaster to its knees,” said CBB Chief Executive Myles Thomas.
The government has continually refused to increase funding despite increasing operating costs and the need to adapt to massive changes. As Radio New Zealand Chief Executive Paul Thompson notes, ‘All media are going through upheavals, but RNZ has suffered severely from limitations on its ability to increase revenue’.
It is understood that prior to the last Budget, RNZ made a strong case for improved investment from government to fund online expansion and maintain current services. This request was turned down flat. Similar countries enjoy multiple radio, video and online services, and New Zealanders expect the same from our government. Sadly the Minister of Broadcasting has chosen to deny us any of the benefits of new technologies.
“What does the Minister expect Radio NZ to do if she will not increase its funding?” asked Mr Thomas. “She is forcing them to either decrease services or run advertising.”
“Research shows that Radio NZ is hugely respected among the majority of New Zealanders for the independent news, emergency, entertainment and cultural services that only RNZ provides. But the government seems determined to slowly kill off its radio broadcaster through lack of funding.
The latest redundancies at RNZ show that government policy is taking effect.
The CBB calls on the government to urgently improve funding to Radio NZ to cancel these redundancies and avoid further weakening of RNZ’s service to the public.
That’s devastating news Miles,
I remember this happened back in 1996 when as a KIWI I was recovering in Florida from an accident and used to tune in to NZ radio to wonder how Home was going when I heard they were suggesting closing down RNZ then, so it is in National’s blood to get rid of any state run service be it hospitals, jails, schools or anything that is a public service.
NZ folks wake up before we have nothing but foreigners running NZ.
Then you will all be tenants in your own land.
I can well imagine that National are currently considering how they can outsource Radio NZ. Why not move it to an Asian country where it can all be done for a fraction of the price? After all, if you are not interested in quality then modern technology can allow you to run a radio network from pretty much anywhere in the world where you can find some English speakers.
The dirty bastards are still at it. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised in the light of TV7, Campbell Live and the print media.
Anyone trying to broadcast fairly and truthfully is an untenable threat to our current gang of shysters. Of course they’re going to want to shut down the only radio station I listen to.
I really wish the smug self-righteous crapheads that voted them in would wake up and smell the decaying democracy.
In the meantime just bring back the good ol’ days of radio and television licensing!
[…] While slashing 20 jobs is damaging and simply another example of how this Government strangles real …, news that they will update their awful website is a sign from above that there is a God. The Radio NZ website is second only in ugliness to the poor old Scoop website who – if they ever manage to emerge from their ‘chrysalis’ – needs a make over as desperately as a 40 year old virgin on their first date. […]
For several weeks now I have been unable to tick the thumbs up icon. Would this be a problem at my end ?
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