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Download AudioThe merger of state broadcasters Radio New Zealand and TVNZ is off as Prime Minister Chris Hipkins moves to cull policies which have failed to gain public support.
Instead Cabinet will give Radio New Zealand more funds to strengthen its public media role.
New Zealand on Air will also receive additional funding for public media content, which will be available to a wider range of broadcasters.
Mr Hipkins says no decision has yet been made on whether anymore money will go to Maori broadcast funding agency Te Mangai Paho.
I wouldn’t rule out changes to that in the future but that isn’t a decision we’ve taken today. I think there’s no question that the broadcast media landscape has changed significantly so it is important Government looks to how we can best support making sure there is quality New Zealnad content available to a wide range of audiences,” he says.
Also wiped off the Government’s slate is the social insurance scheme, the hate speech bill and the biofuels mandate, with three waters infrastructure reform also in line for some changes.
In a positive move, the minimum wage is to increase by $1.50 to $22.70 an hour from April 1.
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