ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

'A money making exercise': Media offered exclusive access to Waitangi marae in exchange for $10k donation

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 3 Feb 2017, 5:32AM

'A money making exercise': Media offered exclusive access to Waitangi marae in exchange for $10k donation

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Fri, 3 Feb 2017, 5:32AM

The money media organisations are being asked to pay for covering Waitangi Day have reached a new high.

Media organisations often pay a fee to report from Waitangi's lower Te Tii Marae.

This year, MediaWorks says it was offered exclusive access to most of the marae site if it agreed to donate $10,000.

Political editor Barry Soper said it's becoming an all too familiar part of the annual Waitangi Day tradition.

"I've got to say that the Te Tii Marae have always tried to get money out of the media for covering events," he said.

Soper said former Prime Minister John Key once described it as more of a fee than a donation.

"John Key himself said it always had the look of a money making exercise around it, and I think that's exactly what they're trying to do yet again."

 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you