NZ on Air’s admission that its budget is under huge pressure will be a concern to New Zealanders already disturbed at the lack of quality local television programmes, says Labour's Broadcasting Spokesperson Clare Curran. 

“The National Government’s seven year starvation funding for new public interest television is eating into money available for programmes made by New Zealanders about New Zealanders.

The fate of Auckland’s historic St James theatre could be in the Government’s hands, Labour’s Arts, Culture and Heritage spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.

The future of the Category 1 building, which has twice been damaged by fire, will be determined over the next few months.

The loss of more quality current affairs television shows the New Zealand on Air funding model is broken, Labour’s Broadcasting spokesperson Clare Curran said today.  

“A huge amount of public money is being used to prop up television executives’ expensive, commercial visions which offer nothing new to the public, while Investigative journalism and current affairs shows are axed.