Level 2
119 Ghuznee Street
P O Box 9744
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
[NZ On Air request email]
www.nzonair.govt.nz
Tel: 04 382 9524
Fax: 04 382 9546
14 July 2022
Luke
By email: [FYI request #19383 email]
Tēnā koe Luke
Official Information request and response
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act (“OIA”) dated 17 May 2022.
On Friday 20 May NZ On Air responded to your initial query with an email outlining the released
statement regarding the funding here and a release of documents under the Official Information Act
here. We have not had a reply form you to confirm if your queries have been answered, please see
below for more detail from NZ On Air.
You had requested:
1. Who made the decision to grant $200,000 in funding for a proposed documentary about a sitting
Member of Parliament?
This has been answered in our 20 May information release.
2. Is this a tacit endorsement by NZ On Air of a political candidate?
This a request for comment, not information, we decline to respond.
3. If not, how does NZ On Air aim to stay politically neutral in light of funding this documentary?
This a request for comment, not information, we decline to respond.
4. Please explain the reasoning used by NZ On Air in deciding to fund this documentary.
This has been answered in our 20 May information release.
5. Please release the guidelines that NZ On Air has regarding their obligations to stay politically neutral.
NZ On Air operates under the Broadcasting Act 1989.
6. Please state whether NZ On Air has met their neutrality obligations by funding this documentary.
This a request for comment, not information, we decline to respond.
7. How many days (or hours) did it take for NZ On Air staff to consider the documentary proposal before
granting funding?
We do not count hours per funding decision in our assessment process. We decline this part of
your request under Section 18(e) of the OIA, that the document alleged to contain the
information requested does not exist. To understand how NZ On Air assesses applications please
refer to the following information on our website.
Connecting and reflecting our nation
8. What processes did NZ On Air go through when considering this particular proposal?
This has been answered in our 20 May information release and at Q 7.
9. Please provide al correspondence between NZ On Air and Chloe Swarbrick MP regarding this
documentary.
We decline this part of your request under Section 18(e) of the OIA, that the document al eged to
contain the information requested does not exist.
10. Please provide al correspondence between NZ On Air and the Department of Prime Minister and
Cabinet regarding this documentary.
We decline this part of your request under Section 18(e) of the OIA, that the document al eged to
contain the information requested does not exist.
11. Please provide al correspondence between NZ On Air and the Film Commission regarding this
documentary.
Please find attached al correspondence NZ On Air has had with the New Zealand Film
Commission up until the date of your request.
12. Please provide al correspondence between NZ On Air and any other government Ministry regarding
this documentary.
We decline this part of your request based on section 18(e) of the OIA, that the document
al eged to contain the information requested does not exist.
13. Please release al correspondence between senior NZ On Air staff regarding the choice to fund this
documentary. If there are any relevant board minutes, then release those too.
This has been answered in our 20 May information release. Al correspondence between senior
NZ On Air staff regarding the choice to fund this documentary took place at our 15 November
2021 Staff Investment Committee meeting and was recorded in the corresponding minutes.
Once this project has been broadcast/released we wil be happy to reconsider your request and may be
in a position to release some of the information we have redacted or withheld. Please contact us again at
that time with a new request.
For your information, funding provided by NZ On Air for al successful projects is searchable on our
website. You can also sign up to receive our regular industry newsletter via our website.
You have the right to refer this response to the Ombudsman if you are dissatisfied with it. More
information on how to do this is here. NZ On Air proactively releases information in accordance with the
Government’s commitment to the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan. This includes
publishing responses to requests for information under the OIA. Please note that this response (with your
name removed) wil be published on the NZ On Air website shortly and wil remain on our website for 12
months.
Thank you for your interest in our work.
Yours sincerely
Sharon Kerry
HEAD OF CORPORATE SERVICES
Connecting and reflecting our nation
