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Radio New Zealand registers as charitable trust

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MPs have accused Radio New Zealand of “taking up the begging bowl” after it registered as a charity.

The state-owned broadcaster set up a charitable trust for the Concert Programme last month, registering with the Charities Commission under the name Radio New Zealand Charitable Trust. [The RNZ charity’s registration number is CC 46801].

The Green Party broadcasting spokesperson, Sue Kedgley, said the move “shows the dire state of public broadcasting’.

“At first I thought this was a joke. I am appalled to discover that it is a serious proposition and that the board of Radio New Zealand has been forced by the Government ‘s funding freeze … to set up a trust so that it can go out with a begging bowl to the public.”

She questioned if there was a long-term plan to enable RNZ to solicit donations for their programmes at the network.

“This suggests to me that it could be intended to have a wider pupose in the long term – namely to enable Radio New Zealand to solicit donations for its wider radio network.” Labour’s Clare Curren said it was “a ridiculous turn of events”.

“The minister has already stripped TVNZ of its charter forcing it to become a commercial entity. What’s next? Morning Report brought to us by Fonterra?

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said the issue was an operational matter for RNZ.

Source: The Dominion Post Friday, August 12, 2011. P. A2.

Registered charity challenges Court of Appeal’s child porn ruling

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Stop Demand Foundation, a registered charity (CC 30599) with the Charities Commission, has attacked a Court of Appeal decision granting name suppression to a 50-year old Manawatu man found guilty of possessing images of child rape. The charity’s founder, Denise Ritchie, who was interviewed on TV One’s Breakfast programme about the matter this morning, says the Court’s decision is a blow to child rape victims in New Zealand and to lobby groups like hers around the world fighting sexual violence against children.

The Manawatu man, who admitted 21 charges of possessing objectionable material, was sentenced to six months home detention and fined $5250 at the end of last year.

In a decision only made public yesterday, the Court of Appeal ruled that his name should be kept completely secret to protect his family members.

Ms Ritchie, who has read and studied the decision, pointed out on TV One’s Breakfast programme that the convicted man has not lived with or had close association with any of the “family members” whose reputations and privacy the Court of Appeal Judges have sought to protect. She argues that granting name suppression to the offender merely to protect the reputation of these people sets a dangerous precedent. [Read more…]

Suspended Child Porn Doctor Should Be Named – says Family First

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Family First Media Release 2 September 2010

[Note Family First is a registered charity with the Charities Commission. See www.familyfirst.org.nz and www.charities.govt.nz ]

Family First NZ says that a doctor convicted of possessing and distributing child sex abuse images should be named.

“Patients and parents should be informed so that they can make an informed choice as to whether they continue having him as their family doctor, even after his nine month suspension,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of
Family First NZ.

“The doctor in question admitted 25 charges of possessing objectionable material and one charge of distributing an objectionable publication. He not only had 290,000 images of young girls in explicit sexual poses but as well as that, the doctor was found to be distributing objectionable material further. This is not a one-off slip.”

“The rights of the doctor to name suppression and privacy should not be greater than the right of patients and especially parents to know the character of their doctor. That is the price the doctor must pay to match the gravity of
the abuse of children. Many parents would rightly be concerned at a doctor with those convictions examining their young son or daughter.”

“Parents should be given the right to make an informed decision,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Sex creeps into early prime time TV

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NZ Herald Friday Sep 3, 2010

A respected children’s media expert is lamenting that kids have been sacrificed to sleaze under New Zealand’s TV standards system. Ruth Zanker is a lecturer at Christchurch Polytechnic and a researcher who has specialised in children and the media. She has noted a change. “There is a general sexualising that has gone on with tabloidisation of media – sex is the easy way of making a hit and it boosts ratings. Children are being sacrificed on the altar of ratings,” she says. Zanker has noted an increasing level of sexuality creeping into early prime time as the TV networks chase ratings. It is a difficult time and parents are either unwilling or unable to police their kids’ viewing. Zanker says New Zealand’s broadcasting laws have created the problem. The Broadcasting Standards Authority acts on complaints. But few complain and the BSA has steered at freedom of speech rather the protection of children, she says.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10670696

[Article highlighted on website by Family First NZ – A well-respected charity registered with the Charities Commission. See www.familyfirst.org.nz and www.charities.govt.nz ]

New Green MP Kevin Hague likely to promote anti-family policies says Director of Family Life International – NZ

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November 10, 2008 by Brendan Malone Director Family Life International – NZ

[Family Life International – a Catholic pro-life organisation – was registered as a charity with the Charities Commission on 28 April 2008 (Reg. No. CC23462)].

Well we have a new government, but while all the attention has been focusing on John Key and the National party, the latest member of the Green party to make it into parliament has received very little attention.

His name is Kevin Hague, and he will be a concern for those of us who care about marriage and family issues in NZ.

Firstly, he is the former head of the NZ AIDS Foundation – a gay lobby group [and registered charity] that has been responsible for some of the most immoral and obscene “safe” sex campaigns in NZ (one recent campaign even involved a website which gave tips on “cruising” – the practice of meeting strangers in public places for anonymous homosexual sex).

Secondly, in a recent interview with GAYNZ.com he stated that he considers the following issues a priority for his time in parliament…

1. Gay adoption
2. Full gay marriage
3. “Resourcing” for gay youth groups
4. Removing the right of NZ schools to say no to gay activist groups like Rainbow Youth

Remember the Greens already have Metiria Turei back again – the Green MP who has a bill to legalise gay adoption in NZ, and who lists “anarchist activism” as one of the aspects of her life experience over the last 20 years.

Make no mistake about it, Hague is an MP who is almost certainly going to be of concern to those of us who care about marriage and family issues in this country.

http://familylifenz.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/new-green-mp-likely-to-promote-very-worrying-policies/