Luke [No Last Name Provided]
No address provided
Via email:
[FYI request #25902 email]> 22 March 2024
Dear Luke
Official Information Act request dated 27 February 2024
We refer to your email dated 27 February 2024 (your Request) requesting information
regarding TVNZ’s editorial decision making under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act). TVNZ’s Response is set out below.
Request 1:
Does TVNZ support the views of Newsroom editor Mark Jennings when he
commented on The Detail: “Quite a lot of talk and discussion in the media, particularly
amongst senior editorial people about whether we should even report Winston Peters'
attacks on the media when he says there’s corruption and clearly there’s no basis for
that, whether we should all just stick together, and decide not report him”?
Response 1:
TVNZ does not hold a position on Mark Jennings’ views expressed on The Detail. This
request is therefore declined on the basis of section 18(e) of the Act: the information
does not exist.
Request 2:
Has any of the "quite a lot of talk and discussion .. amongst senior editorial people"
included persons within TVNZ?
Response 2:
TVNZ’s news leadership team has not discussed Winston Peters’ comments on media
corruption with other media organisations. This request is therefore declined on the
basis of section 18(e) of the Act: the information does not exist.
Request 3:
In the last three years, has TVNZ ever engaged in any discussions or conversations of
any kind with any news media organisation, where refusing to report on either media
corruption, the Treaty, or any other controversial political issue has been discussed?
Response 3
TVNZ regularly engages in discussions with other media on newsgathering. However,
TVNZ has not discussed refusing to report on media corruption, the Treaty, or any
other controversial political issue. his request is therefore declined on the basis of
section 18(e) of the Act: the information does not exist.
Request 4:
In the last three years, has TVNZ ever engaged in any discussions or conversations of
any kind either internally or with NZ on Air, where refusing to report on either media
corruption, the Treaty, or any other controversial political issue has been discussed?
Response 4:
TVNZ’s news leadership team have not discussed any editorial decision making with
NZ on Air This request is therefore declined on the basis of section 18(e) of the Act:
the information does not exist.
Request 5:
In the last three years, has TVNZ ever engaged in any discussions or conversations of
any kind with any other organisation, where refusing to report on either media
corruption, the Treaty, or any other controversial political issue has been discussed?
Response 5:
TVNZ’s news leadership team has not discussed editorial decision making on these
topics with other organisations. his request is therefore declined on the basis of section
18(e) of the Act: the information does not exist.
Request 6:
Please provide a summary, relevant emails, and a transcript of all mentioned above.
Response 6
This request is declined on the basis of section 18(e) of the Act: the information does
not exist.
Request 7:
Does TVNZ agree that if major New Zealand media organisations form agreements
over what controversial issues to report on and what not to report on, then the
outcome has the potential to cause significant harm to the public interest?
Response 7:
This Request requires TVNZ to create an opinion and is therefore declined on the basis
of section 18(e) of the Act: the information does not exist.
Request 8:
Why has TVNZ not reported on Winston Peters' allegations of news media corruption,
at the same time as several other news media outlets in New Zealand have stopped
reporting on it?
Response 8:
TVNZ has often reported on Winston Peters’ comments. Examples can be found on
the 1News site and in 1News bul etins (i.e. on 29 November 2023 available on TVNZ+ or
at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EFWOUoi3_U) Request 9:
Has TVNZ ever chosen not to report on a controversial political issue in the last three
years? If so, what?
Response 9:
2
Section 12(2) applies to this Request: Please set out your Request with due particularity
including specificity as to what you mean by a ‘controversial political issue’.
Request 10:
Other than stories that might breach the BSA and Media Council standards, on what
grounds does TVNZ deem a story inappropriate to report on?
Response 10:
In addition to complying with BSA and Media Council standards, TVNZ’s news stories
must comply with the law. For example, a news story cannot breach name
suppression.
Request 11:
Is TVNZ party to any agreement with any other news media organisation which either
prevents TVNZ from reporting, or materially affects TVNZ’s reporting on any particular
political issue?
Response 11:
No.
Request 12:
Is TVNZ party to any agreement with any other organisation which either prevents
TVNZ from reporting, or materially affects TVNZ's reporting on any particular political
issue?
Response 12:
No
We trust this information assists. As you may know, if you are dissatisfied with this
response section 28 of the Act provides you with the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman in order to seek an investigation and review.
Yours sincerely,
Official Information Requests Team
TVNZ
3
