Unnamed TVNZ executive apology to Police Minister
Paul Barlow made this Official Information request to Television New Zealand Limited
The request was successful.
From: Paul Barlow
Dear Television New Zealand Limited,
Recently hosts on Newstalk ZB and individuals connected to lobby group the Tax Payers Union made claims that an unnamed TVNZ Executive reached out to Police Minister Mark Mitchell to apologise over coverage 1News had where they pointed out that gang numbers now exceed police numbers despite a public promise this would not happen from the Prime Minister.
I am using this OIA to request any information in relation to communications to the Police commissioner from any TVNZ executive or management apologising for any coverage relating to crime data. Or confirmation that no such communication exists.
Yours faithfully,
Paul Barlow
From: OIA
Television New Zealand Limited
Kia ora Paul
We have received your request and will respond within 20 working days.
Ngā mihi,
Official Information Act Requests
e. [1][TVNZ request email]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Paul Barlow <[FOI #33942 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 8:49 PM
To: OIA <[TVNZ request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Unnamed TVNZ executive apology to
Police Minister
Dear Television New Zealand Limited, Recently hosts on Newstalk ZB and
individuals connected to lobby group the Tax Payers Union made claims that
an unnamed TVNZ Executive reached out to Police Minister Mark Mitchell to
apologise over coverage
Dear Television New Zealand Limited,
Recently hosts on Newstalk ZB and individuals connected to lobby group the Tax Payers Union made claims that an unnamed TVNZ Executive reached out to Police Minister Mark Mitchell to apologise over coverage 1News had where they pointed out that gang numbers now exceed police numbers despite a public promise this would not happen from the Prime Minister.
I am using this OIA to request any information in relation to communications to the Police commissioner from any TVNZ executive or management apologising for any coverage relating to crime data. Or confirmation that no such communication exists.
Yours faithfully,
Paul Barlow
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Connor C left an annotation ()
An RNZ story states it was the Political Editor who contacted the Minister.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/5887...
From: OIA
Television New Zealand Limited
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2026.04.01 Letter to Paul Barlow 26 Feb Crime Story.pdf
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Kia ora Paul
We attach our response to your request for official information.
Ngā mihi
Official Information Act Requests
e. [1][TVNZ request email]
From: Paul Barlow <[FOI #33942 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 3 March 2026 8:49 pm
To: OIA <[TVNZ request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Unnamed TVNZ executive apology to
Police Minister
Dear Television New Zealand Limited, Recently hosts on Newstalk ZB and
individuals connected to lobby group the Tax Payers Union made claims that
an unnamed TVNZ Executive reached out to Police Minister Mark Mitchell to
apologise over coverage
Dear Television New Zealand Limited,
Recently hosts on Newstalk ZB and individuals connected to lobby group the Tax Payers Union made claims that an unnamed TVNZ Executive reached out to Police Minister Mark Mitchell to apologise over coverage 1News had where they pointed out that gang numbers now exceed police numbers despite a public promise this would not happen from the Prime Minister.
I am using this OIA to request any information in relation to communications to the Police commissioner from any TVNZ executive or management apologising for any coverage relating to crime data. Or confirmation that no such communication exists.
Yours faithfully,
Paul Barlow
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[2][FOI #33942 email]
Is [3][TVNZ request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Television New Zealand Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:
[4]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
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mailto:[TVNZ request email]
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3. mailto:[TVNZ request email]
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Connor C left an annotation ()
You are asking for communications to the "Police Comissioner", yet your preceding introductory paragraph refers to the Police Minister. So I am left wondering of you actually want communications to the Police Minister?
When you say "communications" what is in scope and out of scope? For example, I understand from the Police Ministers answers in Question Time on Wednesday that he received a phone call from a senior TVNZ employee (probably a senior Bews and Current Affairs (NCA) person). So you should probably say that communications includes but is not limited to: phone, email, letter, video/VTC, and in-person
Link to this