Broadcasting

UnitedFuture is committed to a broadcasting system that is inclusive, responsive and broad-based for all New Zealanders. Broadcasting is a comprehensive medium for promoting democracy and an essential social and cultural tool to transmit New Zealand’s cultural and national identity.

It is UnitedFuture policy to:

• Ensure a particular focus on improving quality, accountability and transparency within all publicly funded broadcasting services.
• Support NZ On Air as a mechanism for encouraging local content on television and radio, since it is available to all networks and it encourages creativity and diversity by allowing independent producers to flourish.
• Reform the Broadcasting Standards Authority to enable it to fulfil its ombudsman role, including streamlining procedures and providing extra resources to ensure complaints are dealt with expeditiously, broadening its scope so that it can be proactive in raising issues, and empowering the BSA to defend its rulings from network challenges.
• Reduce the compliance costs of regulations for bands on airwaves for regional broadcasters, to allow new players to enter the market and ensure that local voices have access to the airwaves.
• Maintain Radio New Zealand in public ownership, notwithstanding changes to its structure or operation.
• Support Radio New Zealand’s transmission to the greater Pacific region.
• Ensure that the sound and film archives housed at Radio New Zealand and TVNZ are protected and digitally recorded.
• Ensure the Broadcasting Act recognises the importance of Community Access Radio and ensures their continued access to FM and AM frequencies.
• Encourage the development of a free public service channel.
• Encourage all television and radio channels to raise the profile of local content in programming and productions through NZ on Air.