By Chris Whitworth
The organiser of a Radio New Zealand protest in Auckland today says the Chile quake and subsequent tsunami warnings were a key reminder of the importance of RNZ broadcasts.
More than 60 people gathered in Auckland’s Hobson St at midday, as social commentators and university tutors expressed outrage at the Government’s proposed funding cuts to RNZ.
“Let’s not let the sharks bite Radio NZ!” was protest organiser and founder of the Facebook group ‘Save Radio New Zealand’ Jake Quinn’s closing statement to the crowd.
He says the Government is testing the waters with “nibbles” at RNZ and if the nation doesn’t react they risk a major blow to democracy.
Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman announced last week that RNZ had to deliver cost-cutting measures.
Mr Coleman said this included the station’s board reviewing staffing numbers, sponsorship arrangements and studio budgets.
Mr Quinn says the Broadcasting Minister doesn’t share the same respect for public broadcasting as the general public.
He says RNZ proved its worth on the weekend, with the nation turning to the station for regular Civil Defence warnings every five minutes.
“It’s not like on TV where you’ve got a news bulletin at the top of the hour," he says.
“Radio New Zealand is the official Civil Defence broadcaster for New Zealand, that’s just another reason why it’s so important to keep them running and operational.”
The Auckland protest saw a reduced crowd compared with the 130-strong protest in the capital last week.
Mr Quinn says his Facebook support group has grown exponentially, boasting more than 16,000 members. He says the challenge now is reaching people who aren’t online.
“We don’t really mind if our group doesn’t get noticed. If people are talking about Radio New Zealand and the pressure is on the Government not to do anything silly with it, then mission accomplished.”
The protest saw an intentional lack of political presence, with social commentators and university lecturers making up the selection of speakers.
“Auckland is less interested in hearing politicians talk in my opinion and more interested in local people,” says Mr Quinn.
Political commentator Chris Trotter gave an impassioned speech saying RNZ was a hole in the system that allowed the light to shine through.
He says the station is an important alternative to commercial radio.
“Radio NZ is an icon for all New Zealanders, not just liberal lefties,” he says. “I think it links us all together without the intrusion of commercial radio.”
Auckland University of Technology journalism lecturer Martin Hirst spoke at the protest, denouncing claims that the public shouldn’t have to pay for RNZ when they get commercial media for free.
He says the argument is false as the whole of New Zealand pay for commercial media in their daily transactions that carry hidden taxes.
“We're already paying for it [commercial broadcasting] in the little transactions we make each day... We’re paying for it whether we listen or not."
RNZ costs taxpayers around $34 million a year but that looks set to change. Today’s protests in Auckland asked the simple question: at what cost?
3 News