Broadcasts to Pacific

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 22

Broadcasts to Pacific

Sir,—The Prime Minister attempts to undermine the “Listener,” because it dares to remain an independent journal. It now appears that Mr Muldoon has recruited an ally in Mr Cooper, in this steady erosion of freedom of the press in New Zealand. Mr Cooper’s recent suggestion that Radio New Zealand’s broadcasts to the Pacific cease, adds another potential victim of National Party control of the media. The alarming aspect of Mr Cooper’s statement is that it goes beyond cost cutting to justify stopping the Pacific broadcasts. Mr Cooper adds as a second reason for the move, that the broadcasts “... do not show New Zealand in the best possible light” (“The Press” March 11). The media, here as elsewhere, must maintain a critical stance and not simply become a tourist promotion machine, if it is to maintain anv credibility. The Government claims to support freedom of the individual yet at the same time attacks a vital source of that freedom, independent media. — Yours, etc., K. S. ALLAN. March 12, 1982.