LISTEN LIVE TO NEWSTALK ZB - PM CHRIS HIPKINS ON AT 5:05PM:
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has set out the first tranche of policies and reforms that he intends to scrap, including the media merger of TVNZ and RNZ.
Hipkins is speaking after the first meeting of his new Cabinet this morning, which discussed and signed off on changes he has called an “immediate reprioritisation”.
He said his Government was going through a process of making sure everyone was on the same page about refocusing. He added the changes announced today were unanimously agreed to.
Hipkins said work on the TVNZ/RNZ merger would stop.
Radio New Zealand will be given additional funding, as will NZ On Air to support public media content.
The remaining funding for the merger would be redirected to other Government priorities.
When asked about the decision on the merger, Hipkins said he didn’t have a figure on how much had been spent, but a financial breakdown would be provided “soon”.
Asked how much money RNZ would need, Hipkins said it would be around $10 million. That was the level of funding...
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