June 23, 2015
Peters challenges Hansard rewrite
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is calling for the resignation of Te Ururoa Flavell as Minister in charge of Maori Television for altering the official parliamentary record of his statements about alleged interference at the channel.
Mr Peters says the video record shows Mr Flavell admitted he was aware of interaction between his staff and Maori Television over a planned Queen’s Birthday debate on the whanau ora policy.
But when the Hansard draft came back from his office, it was changed to say he was not aware.
Mr Peters says the Maori Television Act has specific provisions barring the minister or his staff from interfering with television news and current events.
"It all comes down to this: his staff at his office were interfering in a debate because they didn't want me on. It's appalling to think that they would take that attitude. Who are these temporary people in any way as ministers or as staff to think they could interfere with who should be on a panel," he says.
Mr Peters says leaving Mr Flavell as minister would compromise the work of Maori Television in future.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com