Today on the steps of parliament I received a petition for 36,000 signatures from New Zealanders who care about public broadcasting. hundreds marched along Lambton Quay with a coffin to mark the passing of our only public television station TVNZ7, which has its funding axed by the National Government on Saturday 30 June.
Labour, Green, and NZ First MPs were there en masse.
Even Peter Dunne turned up. He said a lot of words about supporting public television.
Do you hear that sound? that’s the sound of no one watching tvnz 7!!!
That’ll be the same sound you hear when waiting for a witty retort
funny enough yes! witty retorts from Labour supporters are as thin on the ground as people who actually watch tvnz 7, or for that matter members of the Labour caucus who still support Shearer
I think the witty retort may have been asking the kid in the photo, “So what programmes did you watch on Channel 7 aimed at your age group?”
@indiana. hehe yeah I hear back benchers was a smash hit in the 4-9 years demographic! As no one ever watched it the only result from the demise of TVNZ7 will be more Labour party cronies’ who’ll have to actually work for a living!
With the money saved from culling TVNZ 7 we will be able to fund more quality local content like The GC, Go Girls and Target (I never get sick of seeing deranged tradesmen sniffing an innocent actresses’ underwear).
So most of you have even watched TVNZ7? You seem a ragtag of mean puerility. The ‘post’ was just a report on a group concerned about the demise of a very informative and intelligent public service TV channel. It is easy to write such inconsequential drivel, but it is your motive that is concerning.
And “Even Peter Dunne turned up”… It is time he ‘turned down’ the Rogue Trader. The Chameleon has so dutifully overpaid his debt.
@ Paul B. ‘so most of you have even watched TVNZ7?” No one has outside the beltway, it’s shows can be as informative & intelligent as they like, but with 0 viewers the channel is completely ‘inconsequential’
Wouldn’t it have been more sensible to petition News Corporation?
@ thesorrow&thepity
“7″ has a very significant and rapidly growing number of viewers. The Nat`s were forced to admit that they deliberately fudged the figures (to discredit its usefullness?) . TVNZ has been less than helpful promoting the channel… . ‘The Listner’ does not even publish its programs. Yet a surprising number watch, BUT, they are the concerned thinkers, and their influence is way beyond just a number. They are often the intelligent at the water cooler, and smoko.
Why have you not sought it out? – of course anyone can view it by computer’
As with their Asset Sales spin the Nat`s have been just devious and deceitful
@indiana, George and thesorrow&thepity – I am amazed you find the time to come here and misinform, fudge and troll.
Don’t you have some repeats of Friends to catch?
Clare, can you suggest what Peter Dunne could do to try and restore public broadcast TV in the wake of TVNZ 7?
Seriously. You’ve done a lot that hasn’t yet achieved anything. What can MPs actually do that might succeed?
If Dunne had bothered to turn up for work and vote against asset sales, maybe people would have given him (another) fair go.
As it is, he betrayed the people of NZ, and will forever so be tainted.
His mini rant on backbenches was well rehearsed, and sickened me.
Fact is, he takes the queen’s shilling, and sometimes, personal issues have to come second.
Every serving Kiwi, overseas in war zones where they have no justifiable right to be, sacrifice weddings, funerals, the births of their children and much more, because they honour the duty expected of them.
Dunne, your treason will be your legacy. Enjoy it.
What petition is that? Is that an official formal petition which can be tabled in parliament? Or is that the time wasting meaningless online petition from this webpage: http://issues.co.nz/savetvnz7/Sign+The+Petition
What I don’t get is that people can’t even get a proper petition going. In no areas whatsoever. If it is Save TVNZ7 or the Food Bill Opposition. These online petitions say nothing but that there are people with internet access and one ore multiple email addresses somewhere in the world who can’t be traced and who are maybe supporting the cause of some online webpage which is set up to make money through advertising. Or maybe they just bored and browsing the web.
It doesn’t mean a thing. It doesn’t exist. A formal petition would mean something. But hey, that’s much more work to do than just setting up a petition on a silly webpage. Everybody can do this. Even 14 year old teenagers can set up petitions to bring Justin Bieber for a concert to New Zealand.
There seems to be a lot of criticism from those who have never watched TVNZ7! Amazing
WELL you have 2 days to see what you are missing.
’7′ is available on Freeview AND on SKY ’077′ I think. Of course TVNZ programs can be recalled on your computer
See what is being destroyed by the Nat`s before it became too dangerous – Truth is the first casualty of manipulative government.
“If Dunne had bothered to turn up for work…”
“As it is, he betrayed the people of NZ…”
“His mini rant on backbenches was well rehearsed…”
“Truth is the first casualty of manipulative…”
I am one of those NZers who only came to the channel lately being as a regular watchers,I appreciated being able to watch the news headlines when it fits my day, there were interesting documentaries that my young did family members find interesting and backbenchers and court report were worth recording to watch as suited, the Te Papa segments were
fun and excellant family conversation starters. Its all very well saying the watching public was not large but with many families in my situation a bit short of readies a freeview box was not a high priority compared to clothes and food and sky out of the question how can the viewership be massive as Paul B sayes it was significant and growing
“Truth is the first casualty of manipulative…”
Lack of integrity is not something one should have an excuse for.
But nicely swerved
“Fact is, he takes the queen’s shilling, and sometimes, personal issues have to come second.
Every serving Kiwi, overseas in war zones where they have no justifiable right to be, sacrifice weddings, funerals, the births of their children and much more, because they honour the duty expected of them.”
I’m having trouble playing straight, not all of my comments appear.
You seem to be confusing “the people of New Zealand” with what you and a few other people feel strongly about.
But you’re getting off topic, this thread is about TVNZ 7. Peter Dunne would like to see a public version of TVNZ 7 reinstated. The big question is, how can that be achieved? That’s the question that seems to be swerved.
al1ens 6:55 – so now Peter Dunne is an “enemy of the people” because he might not agree with you.
I actually watch TVNZ7 but if virtually nobody else does, then I don’t see why the taxpayers of New Zealand should have to fund my leisure time. I believe there are much more important things the government, and the country, should be focussing on.
@OneTrack – I love this new “well, there are more important things to focus on” as a deflection for all questions about National’s legislative agenda.
Can we take it that from now on all legislation progressed by your government shall be directed towards the paramount goal of ending World famine?
@Pete G
Peter Dunne swerved! During his dealings with Key He may have helped preserve RadioNZ, but baulked at Channel 7, maybe because he was told that it was a step to far for the Nats to ever stomach. OK so compromise is a feature of ‘the game’, but Dunne is so essential to the government that they would have blinked first. Whatever else he is, The Currency Trader will always be a numbers man.
Dunne is almost certainly doomed(unless on a Nats List?!?) and can afford to do the right thing now. The terrifying fact is that National is probably also doomed… and they may see that they have nothing to lose… so expect some idealogical indulgence? The right has done this before and so leave the mess to Labour. They are cunning and realise that cleaning up that mess will likely destroy the next government within a term. Be scared
A new “7″ must eventually be set up by the state but ringfenced from the slightest political influence. Sadly commercial input is very difficult or impossible to ringfence
@Pete George
You’d think that Peter Dunne, the great champion of public broadcasting would have made a bit more of an effort when he negotiated a deal with the National Government late last year.
If he was such a supporter of public broadcasting as he claims to be, why didn’t he make his support for asset sales legislation contingent on ongoing funding for TVNZ7?
Why couldn’t he have insisted? Instead the country gets its energy companies sold off to overseas interests and we lose public broadcast TV. All in the same week. What a great legacy that is!
@Pete George
And as for not achieving anything, that’s a bit of slap in the face to the Save TVNZ7 Group who have done an amazing job for a year, particularly in the last couple of months. Collecting 36,000 signatures online is no mean feat. 2500 people turning up to public meetings around the country. TVNZ7′s viewership has gone up nearly 120,000 in the last month.
A movement has been established and you should be part of it. After all, it’s all about us as nation.
We actually threw out the TV completely. The last channels we watched were TVNZ7 and Maori (no we are not Maori but European immigrants). So in my eyes, NZ lost the last TV channel which didn’t focus on voyeurism, reality (Yeah Right!) shit and so called “news” about brainless people like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.
TV in NZ to me is like calling McDonalds “food”.
Clare @ 2.49 pm
At the election TVNZ 7 was not one of United Future’s main priorities, it was more of a good-to-have rather than a must-have. It didn’t seem to be a major priority of Labour either. Was it even a minor priority?
I’m not sure you understand how coalition negotiations work. If you think your suggestion would have been a reasonable demand you’re going to have some interesting times with Russel Norman,Metiria Turei, Winston Peters and maybe Hone Harawira.
Clare @ 2.52pm
I agree that you’ve achieved a lot, sort of. You’ve creatd a lot on publicity and interest and support. But unfortunately TVNZ 7 is no closer to being saved.
After the Dunedin public meeting I chose to quietly keep supporting Save TVNZ 7, which I have, until after the end of the month. Then I was going to get far more active in trying to find a new TVNZ 7 model, I can’t remember if I told you but I told Myles.
I decided to stand up sooner becasue there have been many unfair and unrealistic demands made of Peter Dunne, and quite a lot of snarkiness to the extent of major abuse. Some of that has been directed at me as well.
So that’s why I’m speaking up now, to stand up to what I think are unwarrantd attacks.
On TVNZ 7 Peter Dunne seems to be a handy person to blame for many people’s failure to keep TVNZ 7 going. He is no more to blame than you.
When Peter Dunne gives a fireside chat the fire goes out.
“You seem to be confusing “the people of New Zealand” with what you and a few other people feel strongly about”
Or maybe I’m referring to the overwhelming support against asset sales in every single issue poll I’ve seen, or the people that voted for him because he said he would vote against the motion.
I have a sneaky feeling I’m not really on my own over this.
“But you’re getting off topic, this thread is about TVNZ 7″
Some people cry at funerals, some people tell it like it is.
“al1ens 6:55 – so now Peter Dunne is an “enemy of the people” because he might not agree with you.”
It was his vote to cast, on a most important piece of legislation, and he let the people down.
It’s as simple as that.
A1ien” or the people that voted for him because he said he would vote against the motion.”
Except the fact is he never said that. There’s proof he said the opposite – Ohariu people’s Power accept this as fact.
Some, like you, are either mistaken repeating otherwise, or deliberately lying.
http://yournz.org/2012/05/20/united-future-and-asset-sales-the-facts/
The first rule of Chameleonship is to never state what your real colour is
Paul B – it’s funny to see people who are staunch blue or green or yellow or red struggle to comprehend how it can be quite natural to take positions based on facts and common sense.
Painting oneself into an ideological single coloured straightjacket seems a bit mental.
Like I’ve said, I saw dunne say on tv he wouldn’t vote to sell the assets.
No mistake, no deliberate lie, just what he said.
It’s not my fault he changed his mind for baubels and a beemer.
That’s your mr integrity you have a crush on, not mine.
Fact remains, which you continue to ignore, that dunne used his family situation to get out of voting when others sacrifice every single day.
Cowardly and treacherous is UF’s legacy.
“Like I’ve said, I saw dunne say on tv he wouldn’t vote to sell the assets.
No mistake, no deliberate lie, just what he said.”
If that’s the case you would be able to find proof. No one has come up with any proof of anything like that – because it didn’t happen.
It looks like you’re either mistaken, or…
I’ve already said I believe it was said on a pre election Back Benches show, but certainly post three handed handshake and a cup of tea in Epsom (divs).
I’ve also requested a tv archivist to go ahead and look for for it. Just because no-one has looked or found it yet, doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.I even said if I were found to be wrong (which I didn’t, because I’m never am), I would graciously concede the point.
Can’t say it fairer than that, right?
I’m sure we’d be going way off topic, even at a funeral, but I’d love to here more about this “or…”
I know you’re not a politician, well, not a real elected one, so at least I’ll be sure to not get a straight bat explanation or excuse like Dunne gave on wednesday night.
Edit timer beat the draft.
I even said if I were found to be wrong (which I’m not, because I never am)
I never heard of TVNZ7. What channel is it on?
@ Allyson, Pathetic comment… You really must try harder
Clare seems to have once again claimed Peter Dunne should have negotiated saving TVNZ 7 in the C&S agreement. She accused him of “simply posturing”. http://news.msn.co.nz/article.aspx?id=8492574
Russell Brown has blogged:
“TVNZ 7 was irrevocably dead even when the campaign began; and because I don’t think that inside TVNZ is actually the right place for a public service channel to dwell.”
Ah, who has done the posturing?
And given people false hope that TVNZ 7 could be and should be saved as it was?
Peter George, sounds as if you are contradicting your own leader. You spoke quite strongly about public broadcasting at the public meeting in Dunedin. Are you now confused about your views?
And because it was unlikely that the Government would change its mind should never be a reason not to campaign. What a defeatist attitude!
Out of this a movementhas been born. Surely that’s a good thing.
Clare, at the meeting in Dunedin this is the main thrust of what I said:
“I don’t think TVNZ 7 can be saved. It’s a failed exercise, and too late to rescue. I don’t think TVNZ 7 itself failed, there have been noteable successes. And Labour’s intentions were good, even though in retrospect it can be seen as a flawed model. It is TVNZ who have failed, they have failed the people of New Zealand, they have failed to ensure we have strong public broadcast TV.
Tying it to a commercial network made it difficult. A conflict of priorities.
And now it’s too late. It would have been better campaign on it last year but bigger election issues overshadowed it.
But I applaud Clare, Myles and those involved in this campaign. I don’t think it will save TV 7. But it can be the springboard for a new, better model of non-commercial multi media.
The campaign has raised interest, and many people have stood up, like here in Dunedin. Don’t just sit back down at the end of the month. Stay standing. Keep talking. And do some walking.”
So I think now is the time to look forward at what can be done in the wake of TVNZ 7.
Peter Dunne could be a good ally in resurrecting something in PSB. Blaming the probably inevitable failure to save TVNZ 7 as it was doesn’t seem a great way of achieving that.
Surely it needs a cooperative effort?
Full TVNZ 7 speech: http://yournz.org/2012/06/08/save-tvnz-7-dunedin-speech-pete-george/
I enjoyed watching TVNZ7 because: a)Very informative, thought provoking and interesting programmes. b) No sex, smut, swearing and violence. c) No age restricted rubbish. d) There was always something of interest and news on the hour. e)No damned ads.
Since TVNZ7′s closure I have decided to boycot TV and watch one of my DVD’s instead. I have hundreds of CD’s and prefer to play them rather than listen to those disgusting erection ads on the radio.
BRING BACK TVNZ7 or I will never again vote for John Key or National again!