Why New Zealand is a terrible example to follow

"New Zealand was also highlighted as a model system by some experts, who said that given its size and geographic position, it might be a more suitable model for smaller nations."Rethinking Public Service Broadcasting's Place in International Media Development" by the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA  As a journalist since 1982 in the Pacific Islands including New Zealand, my view would be that advice from these experts should be evaluated much more critically. Under various administrations, from both major parties since 1984, public broacasters have suffered endless restructuring, corporatisation, funding cutbacks and freezes.

Equally damaging, the charter governing public service aspects of TVNZ channels was dumped under the current government, leaving the station an entirely ratings and profit driven organisation. Dividends are regularly paid to government, with an estimated half billion dollars paid over a ten year period - a not insignificant amount for a nation of just four million.

Unlike next door in Australia, where investigative current affairs programmes such as Four Corners are respected, even feared, New Zealand journalism has been left shattered, demoralised and basically dysfunctional.

As an example of how dysfunctional, there were no professional journalism conferences in New Zealand between 1987 and 2007, either by unions, companies, public bodies or journalists themselves. The 2007 conference, held at Parliament, turned into a one off, with promises from the host union of a journalism review and follow up conference failing to materialise.

Another example is the almost complete absence of any professional journalism bodies outside of limited trade focused groups. The country's largest grouping, the so-called Kiwi Journalists Association, exists in name only as a social network on Facebook. Members have been banned for criticising ethical standards.

One final example of why New Zealand is a terrible example to quote for smaller countries: state broadcasters across the Pacific are either absent, crushed or still damaged from privatisation efforts promoted by New Zealand in the island region.

Hostility towards journalism and public broadcasting is entrenched in New Zealand, and should instead serve as a case study of how not to handle public service responsibilities, and aspirations. 

Understandably, New Zealand does not figure large on the world stage and is easy to overlook when preparing a global study such as this one, which is otherwise excellent in its accessibility.

However, news media lessons to be learnt from the New Zealand example have wide application in an era of globalisation, free markets and deregulation, which New Zealand also champions.