All Blacks tests could become free-to-air under proposed law change

All Blacks tests would have to be broadcast on free-to-air television under a proposed law change to be debated by Parliament. Photo / Brett Phibbs

All Blacks tests would have to be broadcast on free-to-air television under a proposed law change to be debated by Parliament.

The bill in the name of New Zealand First MP Clayton Mitchell would ensure that any game of "national significance" was freely available to all New Zealanders.

That included all international rugby, rugby league, netball, cricket, and football games either played in New Zealand or in a major event such as a world cup.

It would also include the Summer and Winter Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

The bill also proposed making some domestic events such as the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final or Super 15 rugby final free to air if they featured a New Zealand team.

The bill's explanatory note said supporting New Zealand teams and other taxpayer-supported events could involve costs of $1000 a year per household.

"The objective of this bill is to break this barrier down so that taxpayers can support New Zealand teams in key events and enjoy events that have about due to taxpayer support."

The bill will get its first reading next year.

The full of proposed free-to-air events:

• All Rugby World Cup matches involving New Zealand (adult men and women)
• All domestic rugby test matches involving New Zealand
• Super XV Competition Rugby Final (if a New Zealand team is involved)
• ITM Competition Cup Final
• All Netball World Cup matches involving New Zealand
• All domestic netball test matches
• ANZ Netball Championship (if a New Zealand team is involved)
• All Cricket World Cup matches involving New Zealand (adult men and women)
• All domestic one-day cricket international matches involving New Zealand (adult men and women) \
• All Rugby League World Cup matches involving New Zealand
• All domestic Rugby League test matches involving New Zealand
• National Rugby League Grand Final (if a New Zealand team is involved)
• All Football World Cup matches involving the New Zealand All Whites
• All domestic football international matches involving the New Zealand All Whites
• All Women's Tennis Association and Association of Tennis Professionals tennis events held in New Zealand
• Australian National Basketball League Grand Final (if a New Zealand team is involved)
• The Summer Olympic Games
• The Winter Olympic Games
• The Commonwealth Games
• The New Zealand Trotting Cup
• Any other sporting event funded by the Major Events Development Fund