Well written article.

I found the same thing in Wellington and Queenstown, NZ. One would have expected that New Zealand would have several BBC or ABC quality stations.

Particularly the relatively well read audience in Wellington was turned off by the TV available.

But, it is as the author describes it. When I was there Sky News NZ appeared to be the best station with much of the reporting (and reporters?) being Australia based http://www.skytv.co.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=1127 . It was something approaching ABC 24 round the clock news, but with commercials. http://www.skytv.co.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=116

Fortunately, as the author suggests, NZ has ample non-TV attractions.

Pete

G'day Duncan. I'm another one from Perth spending 6 months in NZ.

Totally share your dismay at the impending loss of TVNZ Channel 7. It's a breath of fresh air among the relentlessly commercial alternatives. Has many great educational science and arts programs including the local content 'Te Papa' and one about the young farmers awards. These give great information on the NZ rural areas, agriculture and culture - invaluable for city dweller and tourists alike. I cant believe that it costs only $15 to run and that the Nationals can't see its value for tourism and culture alone!.

Maori TV is of course the other exception - great programs that must do wonders for the self esteem and advancement of Maori, who need the 'leg up'. From your figures, the adequate funding has a lot to do with the good quality. They wouldn't drop that one for political reasons as the Maori do seem to have political power here. Unlike Aboriginal Australia. We should follow the NZ example with an aboriginal TV program.

I heard that Maori TV won coverage of the World Cup but were forced by Govt to share it with the commercials.

I reckon Key and his crew are neo-liberal pawns of big corporations; want to privatize everything and give it away to big business. They recently gave Sky City casino/ hotels changes to gambling regulations that would allow it to install 350 to 500 extra machines, generating as much as $46 million/yr of revenue in return for a $350 million convention centre. They are doing a lot of damage, which will be difficult for future governments to undo.

"What's happening across the Tasman is a distressing example of what happens when the principles of public service broadcasting are corrupted by commercialism and administered by Philistines."

Completely wrong. What's happening is a great example of the government getting its hand out of the taxpayers pocket.

It is quite immoral to force everyone to fund a TV station that only a minority is interested in. The Australian government should do the same with the ABC and SBS. If they are good enough, they'll survive without being propped up by the taxes of the workers. If not, good riddance.

The ABC should suffer a similar fate , if it continues to pursue its Leftist groupthink agenda, as highlighted by The Australian's Chris Kenny (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/groupthink-takes-over-at-national-broadcaster/story-e6frg996-1226367388769):

"Critics see the problem at the ABC as too much news judgment, opinion and perspective flowing in the same direction on a range of key issues. The ABC tends to favour an alarmist view on climate change, open borders approach on asylum-seekers, rights over responsibilities in indigenous affairs, antagonism towards Christianity but tolerance for Islam, reverence for the UN, animus towards the US, enthusiasm for gay marriage, suspicion about business and development, and deference to the green agenda."

Oh come on Duncan, instead of decrying some common sense shown by our little neighbour, for heavens sake tell us how they did it.

We have got to get rid of the nest of anti Australian propagandists that "our" ABC has become.

I see you decry a lack of drama produced , & have to wonder at your taste. The last few times I watched any ABC drama, quite a few years ago now, I came to the realisation that with the ABC to be classed as drama, the performers had to shout a lot. Great drama was when they all shouted all the time.

The sooner we get rid of the mongrel propaganda machine the ABC has become the better off all Ozzies will be.

We can pretty much say that about all Western media.NZ is just a step below us.