Adam Irish
No address provided
Via email: <[FYI request #25742 email]>
23 February 2024
Dear Mr Irish
Official Information Act request dated 15 February 2024
We refer to your email dated 15 February 2023 (your Request) requesting information
under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). Responses to your Request are set
out below.
As background, you said: “Recently you had a nutritionist on who is paid off and
employed by fonterra and the milk industry. She proceeded to claim that you can't
get vitamins from oat milk and that you should drink dairy by selecting favourable
studies paid for by the dairy industry. There was no indication of her clear conflicts of
interest the interview. And she made it seem that you couldn't get the nutrients you
need from a vegan diet. The interview also didn't touch on the animal welfare issues
of killing bobby cows or the exploitation of female cows reproduction systems.”
Request 1: Did TV NZ receive funding from industry for this interview, and if so how
much.
Response: TVNZ received no funding from any organisation for this interview. Nikki
Hart was approached by Breakfast producers in her role as a nutritional expert to
provide perspective on different milks and their respective health benefits.
Request 2: Does TVNZ receive funding from Fonterra and if so how much.
Response: TVNZ does not receive funding from Fonterra. Fonterra and their
subsidiaries run paid advertising campaigns on TVNZ’s channels and platforms,
alongside more than 900 other New Zealand businesses.
Request 3: What standards does TVNZ have in place to advise the public of its so
call[ed] informative interviews and their interviewees conflicts of interest.
Response: TVNZ adheres to the broadcasting standards established under the
Broadcasting Act 1989. Should you consider TVNZ has breached one of the
Broadcasting Standards you are able to make a formal complaint at the fol owing link:
https://corporate.tvnz.co.nz/contact/make-a-formal-complaint/
Request 4:
Why was there no disclaimer on the show with regards to the claims she was making.
Response:
Nikki Hart’s role as an industry professional and nutritional adviser to Fonterra is
disclosed in the online article containing the interview on the 1news.co.nz site:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/02/09/is-oat-milk-better-for-you-not-everyone-is-
convinced/. The information Nikki Hart discussed in this interview was based on global
research and her professional knowledge as a nutritionist.
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
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