News director's appointment 'political'
Title -- 5367 NZ: News director's appointment 'political'
Date -- 12 March 2008
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Television New Zealand 12/03/08
Copyright - TVNZ
Status -- Unabridged
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NEWS DIRECTOR'S APPOINTMENT 'POLITICAL'
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1635235
AUCKLAND (TVNZ Online/Pacific Media Watch): Controversy has erupted over alleged political links to a top news job on a government-funded radio station.
The sister of William Sio, the Labour Party's candidate for the seat of Mangere in this year's general election, has been employed by Niu FM as its news director.
Despite her brother's candidacy this election year, station CEO Sina Moore is standing by the appointment of Vienna Richards, a former public relations executive.
She says that Richards' appointment has nothing to do with the political landscape or the elections.
However, the decision has raised eyebrows elsewhere.
Political commentator Chris Trotter believes the appointment is a bad look.
"Mr Sio is Labour's candidate, the Labour government is funding this station, and they've just moved the news director aside to put in the candidate's sister in an election year."
"I think they really will have to reverse this decision."
The station has received government funding of $12 million over four years to provide a voice for the Pacific community.
Niu FM is the radio station most Pacific Islanders in Auckland get their news from.
Many of those Pacific Islanders live in the Mangere constituency, and it is there that the news director's brother is standing for election as the Labour candidate.
Even so, Sio has a battle on his hands in this crucial seat. He is facing dumped ex-Labour MP Taito Phillip Field, who won the seat last time with the biggest majority in the country, and now seeks re-election as an independent.
Moore denies Richards' selection was a naive decision ahead of an election.
"Again, it's about the the best person for the job. We don't have a huge pool of Pacific broadcasters to draw on, and if I had to make decisions based on who someone was related to there'd be nobody working here."
She says it was not advertised, as the appointment is only for six months.
Even so, Trotter says specifically government-funded stations not only have to have clean hands, but have to be seen to have clear hands.
Controversy aside, Niu FM is promising to show their hand, fairly, on the airwaves.
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