Media moguls might need prodding to cough up under news law, but Melissa Lee easily found $7m for ‘choir games’
Melissa Lee – remember her? – was replaced as Minister of Media and Communications after just seven months in the role in which she promised new policy to tackle the media sector’s complex challenges.
At that time job losses were looming within the Newshub and TVNZ newsrooms and TVNZ – troubled by “commercial viability” considerations – had confirmed that the future of Shortland Street was under review.
Melissa Lee had repeatedly insisted she was planning to take a paper to Cabinet but shied from sharing what she proposed.
The Spinoff, in a series on the media crisis, reported that much of the industry was hoping Lee would get behind the Fair News Digital Bargaining Bill which would force digital platforms like Google and Meta to pay for the use of NZ news content.
Lee previously said she opposes the bill in its current form but has been sounding more positive about its prospects this week. As detailed by Stewart Sowman-Lund in his excellent recap of Lee’s miserable run of post-Newshub interviews, Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking scoffed at her suggestion that the bill is a realistic solution, and industry veteran Bill Ralston told the host she has “no idea of what she’s doing” – words echoed later in the day by her predecessor, Labour’s Willie Jackson. The government “have just totally given up and said, ‘Bad luck.’,” said Jackson. “You’ve got a stupid minister who doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
Paul Goldsmith, who took over the media portfolio, today did what Lee apparently was struggling to do and announced the government was taking “immediate” action to support New Zealand’s media and content production sectors while it develops a long-term “reform programme”.
“Reform” sounds ominously like a restructuring driven by the state and reliant on regulatory arrangements.
But Lee has demonstrated she is up to the challenge of giving money away in an easier portfolio.
As Minister of Economic Development, she has winkled $7 million out of the Major Events Fund for the World Choir Games in Auckland next week.
It seems unlikely the organisers of these games are in financial trouble because Lee said:
“It’s the biggest choral competition and festival in the world, so I’m absolutely thrilled that New Zealand gets to play host for the first time.”
Around 11,000 singers from 40 countries will be taking to the stage for the games, generating important economic and cultural benefits for the supercity, Lee said.
Christopher Luxon, the fellow who gave Lee the heave-ho from her media job, has had something to say too. Or rather,, something to brag about.
He has banged out two press statements, one to tell us his government has completed a “ successful second quarter Action Plan” (here are his team’s accomplishments) and to assure us its latest Action Plan will have a strong focus on making Kiwis safer and restoring law and order…
The Spinoff, in a series on the media crisis, reported that much of the industry was hoping Lee would get behind the Fair News Digital Bargaining Bill which would force digital platforms like Google and Meta to pay for the use of NZ news content.
Lee previously said she opposes the bill in its current form but has been sounding more positive about its prospects this week. As detailed by Stewart Sowman-Lund in his excellent recap of Lee’s miserable run of post-Newshub interviews, Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking scoffed at her suggestion that the bill is a realistic solution, and industry veteran Bill Ralston told the host she has “no idea of what she’s doing” – words echoed later in the day by her predecessor, Labour’s Willie Jackson. The government “have just totally given up and said, ‘Bad luck.’,” said Jackson. “You’ve got a stupid minister who doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
Paul Goldsmith, who took over the media portfolio, today did what Lee apparently was struggling to do and announced the government was taking “immediate” action to support New Zealand’s media and content production sectors while it develops a long-term “reform programme”.
“Reform” sounds ominously like a restructuring driven by the state and reliant on regulatory arrangements.
But Lee has demonstrated she is up to the challenge of giving money away in an easier portfolio.
As Minister of Economic Development, she has winkled $7 million out of the Major Events Fund for the World Choir Games in Auckland next week.
It seems unlikely the organisers of these games are in financial trouble because Lee said:
“It’s the biggest choral competition and festival in the world, so I’m absolutely thrilled that New Zealand gets to play host for the first time.”
Around 11,000 singers from 40 countries will be taking to the stage for the games, generating important economic and cultural benefits for the supercity, Lee said.
Christopher Luxon, the fellow who gave Lee the heave-ho from her media job, has had something to say too. Or rather,, something to brag about.
He has banged out two press statements, one to tell us his government has completed a “ successful second quarter Action Plan” (here are his team’s accomplishments) and to assure us its latest Action Plan will have a strong focus on making Kiwis safer and restoring law and order…
Latest from the Beehive
2 JULY 2024
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Around 11,000 singers from 40 countries will be taking to the stage in Auckland next week for the 13th World Choir Games, generating important economic and cultural benefits for the supercity, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee.
A reservation over the Kermadec Arc preventing the granting or extending of minerals prospecting, exploration, and mining permits will be extended for 18 months from 5 July, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.
The Government is taking immediate action to support New Zealand’s media and content production sectors, while it develops a long-term reform programme, Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
Congratulations to Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Puku o te Ika a Māui on winning this year’s national secondary schools kapa haka competition Te Huinga Whetū, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says.
1 JULY 2024
The coalition Government’s latest Action Plan will have a strong focus on making Kiwis safer and restoring law and order, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced.
A successful second quarter Action Plan shows the coalition Government has continued to build on the momentum of its first 100 days, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.
And what’s in store for the troubled media sector?
Firstly, the Government will progress the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill with amendments, to support our local media companies to earn revenue for the news they produce.
“I have looked closely at the design of the legislation and will be changing the approach to align more closely with the Australian digital bargaining code to give all companies greater certainty.
“The key change is adopting a ministerial designation framework. This will enable the Minister to decide which digital platforms are captured by the bill, allowing the Government to manage unintended consequences. We’ll also ensure an appropriate independent regulator is appointed as the Bill’s Authority.”
Beneath the waffle, we are talking about forcing overseas tech giants to pay news organisations for their content.
Fair to say, Goldsmith won’t have the support of all coalition partners.
ACT will not support the Bill and the leaders of the three coalition parties have agreed ACT can hold a differing view. This means the bill will rely on the support of other parties to pass.
Goldsmith further said:
“In addition, much of the legislation underpinning our media landscape is outdated and stifling innovation. While full legislative review takes time, we are starting by removing outdated advertising restrictions for Sundays and public holidays.
“The Government will also tweak the eligibility criteria for the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for local shows with strong industry and cultural value, like our longest-running drama Shortland Street.
“Finally, I have spoken to NZ On Air about the role it can play in supporting local news and current affairs. They have committed to reporting back to Cabinet on progress by the end of the year.
“All of these short-term measures will be in effect by the end of this year.
And the ominous matter of the wider “reform” programme,?
Goldsmith said “proposals for a truly modern and streamlined regulatory landscape are currently under development and the Government will be announcing next steps later in 2024.”
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
7 million seems a lot for a choral copetition but it at least involves post stone age refinement. Meanwhile what did regressive kapahaka ger? Iseem to recall about $50 million!!
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