By Amelia Romanos
Under current budget constraints, Radio New Zealand may only be able to act as an effective public broadcaster for the next two years, RNZ chairman Richard Griffin said today.
He told a Parliament's commerce committee other streams of revenue, including a form of charity trust, were being considered to help meet its costs.
"We can do the job for the next two years without sweating it, but eventually, and it is starting to impact now, reducing public funding and increasing costs, because it is a reduction, is going to create havoc."
"We understand the financial constraints entirely. I think we are duty bound to try and find some other way to help."
Mr Griffin said his own opinion was that sponsorship would be an effective form of revenue, but the board had ruled it out and was intent on remaining non-commercial.
When questioned about whether RNZ content was suffering as a result of financial restrictions, Mr Griffin sought to reassure the committee.
"As far as the whole board is concerned, we won't be cutting into programmes or staff, we'll move mountains before that happens."
Plans to set up a trust to raise money in the community were initially just for RNZ's concert programme, although Mr Griffin said he could not make a commitment that they would not be expanded for other areas.
Green MP Sue Kedgley appeared dubious about the plans to attain funds, comparing the trust to setting up cake stalls.
"Isn't this tragic and isn't this going to erode morale?" she asked.
"Surely one of the ways, other than cake stalls, is to go back to the minister and say we can not run this organisation without some additional funding."
NZPA