25 Feb 2014

Programmes to be combed for bias

2:45 pm on 25 February 2014

A panel of media specialists will look for any political bias in TVNZ programmes such as Te Karere.

It follows the resignation of Maori and Pacific programming general manager Shane Taurima after it emerged he used TVNZ premises for a Labour Party hui.

Media law expert and barrister Steven Price and former commercial radio senior manager Bill Francis will conduct the review.

The channel says the pair will be given full access to its resources, and will also study the political programme Q+A.

They will examine a year of material, from February 2013 to February this year.

TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick says the review will take a matter of weeks, not months, and the final report will be made public.

The review panel will be chaired by TVNZ head of legal and corporate affairs Brent McAnulty, who will be joined by others as needed to provide such things as Maori language expertise.