The process for reviewing the TVNZ Charter has begun with the public being invited to make submissions on a suggested redraft.

The Television New Zealand Act 2003 says the Charter must be reviewed every five years by Parliament. In preparation for the statutory review, TVNZ wishes to present the Minister of Broadcasting with a suggested redraft with the public's views on it.

The suggested redraft of the TVNZ Charter is being made available to the public via the TVNZ website ( www.tvnz.co.nz keyword: Charter Redraft). It will be out for public consultation for a month. The public's responses will be considered by a working party of TVNZ and Ministry for Culture and Heritage officials and be chaired by leading broadcasting academic Peter Thompson from UNITEC.

The public's views and a finalised redrafted TVNZ Charter will be presented to the Minister later in the year to be forwarded to a Parliamentary Select Committee for consideration.

TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis said the proposed redraft of the TVNZ Charter did not change the substance of the current document.

"We're keen to get the public's views on the suggested redraft so will be advertising that fact on TV ONE and TV 2," Mr Ellis said.

"We've deliberately been conservative with this suggested redraft and merely tried to condense the current Charter, making it more readable and understandable. We're not intending to change the substance of the current Charter until we've had input from the public.

"If you look at the current Charter it has seven themes - an informed society, national identity and citizenship, Maori, diversity, high standards, innovation and New Zealand talent. We've given each theme a section in the suggested redraft so that there is a clearer structure for the public to see.

"The suggested redraft also tries to take into account that while TVNZ's main broadcasting services will remain for some time via TV ONE and TV2, additional programming content will become available to the public later this year and early next with the new digital channels TVNZ 6 and TVNZ 7 and increasingly in future years through TVNZ ondemand, the TVNZ website and other media devices."
 
He said the website contained sections of Charter-like documents from public broadcasters in Australia, Britain and Ireland to help stimulate the public's thinking about the suggested redraft.

TVNZ is following the process Radio New Zealand adopted when its Charter was recently reviewed.

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For further information: Peter Parussini, ph: 0274 843 230

Suggested Redraft of the TVNZ Charter

The shaded areas in the following text are TVNZ's suggested redraft of the Charter.  The text that follows each section indicates the areas of the current Charter that have been reflected in the revision.

The Charter shall apply to all of TVNZs operations that contribute to making its content available to New Zealanders wherever and whenever they wish to access it. The Charter shall be predominantly fulfilled through free-to-air broadcasting.

1. An Informed Society

To provide impartial and comprehensive information and national and international programming that is essential to having an informed and educated society, TVNZ will:
(a) Have programming across all genres;
(b) Strive for the highest standards of programming quality and   editorial integrity;
(c) Provide independent, comprehensive, impartial and in-depth news and current affairs; and
(d) Feature programming of an educational nature.
Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point:
(a) (i) feature programming across all genres that informs, entertains and educates New Zealand audiences.
(a) (ii) strive always to set and maintain the highest standards of programme quality and editorial integrity.
(b) (i) provide independent, comprehensive, impartial, and in-depth coverage and analysis of news and current affairs in New Zealand and throughout the world and of the activities of public and private institutions.
(b) (xiv) feature programming of an educational nature that support learning and the personal development of New Zealanders.
 
2. National Identity/Citizenship

To provide entertaining and informative programming that reflects the diverse range of cultures and interests that contribute to an overall sense of who we are as New Zealanders, TVNZ will:

a. Provide shared experiences that contribute to a sense of citizenship and national identity;
b. Feature programming that contributes towards intellectual, scientific and cultural development;
c. Enhance citizens opportunities to participate in public life by featuring programming that provides a forum for critical debate;
d. Feature programming about the diverse cultures, history, heritage and natural environment of New Zealand; and
e. Enable New Zealanders to have access to programming that deals with minority interests.
Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point:
(a) (iii) provide shared experiences that contribute to a sense of citizenship and national identity.
(b) (ii) feature programming that contributes towards intellectual, scientific and cultural development, promotes informed and many-sided debate and stimulates critical thought, thereby enhancing opportunities for citizens to participate in community, national and international life.
(b) (v) promote understanding of the diversity of cultures making up the New Zealand population.
(b) (vii) feature programmes about New Zealand's history and heritage, and natural environment.
(b) (ix) include in programming intended for a mass audience material that deals with minority interests.

3. Maori

To provide entertaining and informative programming that reflects Maori interests, culture and language, and to convey these interests to a wider New Zealand audience, TVNZ will:

(a) Feature programming with a significant Maori participation and voice;
(b) Enable New Zealanders to have access to programmes that promote Maori language and culture; and
(c)Feature programming that serves the interests and informational needs of Maori, including language, history, culture and contemporary issues.

 Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point:

(a) (iv) ensure in its programmes and programme planning the participation of Maori and the presence of a significant Maori voice.
(b) (iii) in its programming enable all New Zealanders to have access to material that promotes Maori language and culture
(b) (viii) feature programmes that serve the interests and informational needs of Maori audiences, including programmes promoting the Maori language and programmes addressing Maori history, culture and current issues.

4. Diversity

To provide entertaining national and international programmes that serve the interests and needs of different audiences, including cultures, lifestyles, age and regions, and particularly those that may not be provided for in a purely commercial broadcasting environment, TVNZ will:

(a) Feature programming across all genres;
(b) Feature programming that caters for tastes not normally taken care of by other national television broadcasters;
(c) Balance the programming needs of general and smaller audiences;
(d) Feature programming that reflects the different cultures and regions of New Zealand;
(e) Feature New Zealand films, drama, comedy and documentaries;
(f) Feature programmes that educate, entertain and involve children and young people;
(g) Feature programmes that support, encourage and highlight environmental awareness;
(h) Feature programmes that support, encourage and feature the sciences;
(i) Feature programmes that support, encourage and feature the arts;
(j) Feature national and international programming that reflects the role of sport and recreation in New Zealand; and
(k) Feature programming that supports and learning and personal development of New Zealanders.
Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point:
(a) (i) feature programming across all genres that informs, entertains and educates New Zealand audiences.
(a) (v) feature programming that serves the varied interests and informational needs and age groups within New Zealand society, including tastes and interests not generally catered for by other national television broadcasters.
(a) (vi) maintain a balance between programmes of general appeal and programmes of interest to smaller audiences.
(b) (iv) feature programmes that reflect the regions to the nation as a whole.
(b) (v) promote understanding of the diversity of cultures making up the New Zealand population.
(b) (vi) feature New Zealand films, drama, comedy and documentary programmes.
(b) (x) feature New Zealand and international programmes that provide for the informational, entertainment and educational needs of children and young people and allow for the participation of children and young people.
(b) (xii) feature programmes that encourage and support the arts, including programmes featuring New Zealand and international artists and arts companies.
(b) (xiii) reflect the role that sporting and other leisure interests play in New Zealand life and culture.
(b) (xiv) feature programming of an educational nature that support learning and the personal development of New Zealanders

5. High Standards

To promote high programming standards and editorial independence and integrity, TVNZ will:

(a) comply with free-to-air Codes of Broadcasting Practice, particularly around violence;
(b) comply with a code of ethics around the level and nature of advertising, particularly to which children are exposed; and
(c) strive for the highest programme quality standards and editorial independence and integrity.
Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point:
(a) (ii) strive always to set and maintain the highest standards of programme quality and editorial integrity.
(a) (viii) play a leading role in New Zealand television by setting standards of programme quality and encouraging creative risk-taking and experiment.
(a) (ix) play a leading role in New Zealand television by complying with free-to-air Codes of Broadcasting Practice, in particular any code with provisions on violence.
(b) (xi) maintain and observe a code of ethics that addresses the level and nature of advertising to which children are exposed.

6. Innovation

To promote innovation, risk taking and creativity, TVNZ will:

(a) Feature programming that extends the range of ideas and experiences available to New Zealanders; and
(b) Feature programming that encourages creative risk-taking and experimentation.
Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point:
(a) (vii) seek to extend the range of ideas and experiences available to New Zealanders.
(a) (viii) play a leading role in New Zealand television by setting standards of programme quality and encouraging creative risk-taking and experiment.

7. New Zealand Talent

TVNZ will support and promote the talents and creative resources of New Zealanders, including the independent television and film industries.
Areas of the current Charter covered by this redrafted point:

(a) (x) support and promote the talents and creative resources of New Zealanders and of the independent New Zealand film and television industry.