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Report on allegations surrounding the production of Asia Downunder
A report conducted by NZ On Air into funding of Asia
Downunder has found that the agency was not misled, and that
there is no evidence public funding was misused.
Media reports over the past week have alleged that National Party
list MP Melissa Lee deceived NZ On Air in October 2008, by not
disclosing she was standing for Parliament when applying for
funding for the 2009 series of Asia Downunder.
Later reports also alleged that Ms Lee was improperly involved in
editorial decisions in the 2008 series of Asia Downunder,
and that public funds were used to make an election video.
NZ On Air has investigated all of these allegations. Its
investigation included:
• Reviewing correspondence resulting from Ms Lee's announcement
that she intended to stand as a candidate in the 2008
election
• Reviewing reports and correspondence relating to the application
for funding for the 2009 series
• Making enquiries of TVNZ (the broadcaster of Asia Downunder) and
the Overseeing Producer of the series at the time that Ms Lee was a
political candidate
• Examining Asia Vision Limited's production call sheets,
production and budget reports and associated paperwork for the 2008
series of ADU and making enquiries of the production company
• Examining the promotional video on YouTube
• The conclusions of the investigation are that:
NZ On Air is satisfied that Ms Lee did not have editorial control
for Asia Downunder programmes dealing with political
matters, and that the systems put in place were robust, managed
well by TVNZ and the Overseeing Producer, and willingly complied
with by Ms Lee.
NZ On Air was not misled at any stage about Ms Lee's intentions to
stand for Parliament.
NZ On Air is satisfied that public funds intended for production
of Asia Downunder were not misused.
No further allegations have surfaced. At this stage NZ On Air has
found no evidence of misappropriation of public funds and no
further action will be taken.
Click here to see the full report of this
investigation.
