Trade Secrets

By Frances Grant

The leaky washer in Leanne Malcolm's household is a problem. The presenter of TV3's new consumer rights show, Target, might just have to learn to fix it herself.

Finding a professional handyperson willing to venture into her home could now prove difficult, Malcolm fears. "I think I'll scare off tradesmen all around."

Target, made for TV3 by Top Shelf Productions in association with the Consumers' Institute, promises to take a different approach to consumer issues from that longstanding television champion of the hard-done-by, Fair Go.

Malcolm, who was offered the role after quitting her Nightline newsreading job late last year, claims to be undaunted entering the territory of the highly popular TV One show.

"I really respect and rate Fair Go. It's a New Zealand institution and that's cool, but it was probably time TV3 took on something related to consumers because we are all consumers."

Target, she says, doesn't aim to compete but to be an alternative. "This is a different genre in that the main focus of the programme is hidden camera material and what tradesmen do in people's homes."

Producer Vincent Burke describes it as "proactive rather than reactive," giving people information about products and services rather than the Fair Go method of investigating possible ripoffs.

Target also includes a consumer report, a segment on the legal rights of consumers, disaster stories and a tip of the week. Reporter Steve Joll and actor David Fane (he plays hapless consumer Theo) make up the team.

Tomorrow night's opener looks at sunscreen lotions, breaking of items for sale in shops and hidden cameras scrutinising TV repair workers.

Malcolm says she's comfortable with the candid camera aspect of the show.

"People are picked at random and they are all notified before items go to air that they have been shot on camera and they're given a chance to respond before it goes on."

Burke says identities will not be disguised although company names, not those of individual tradespeople, will be given.

Candidates are picked from the phone book to do jobs set up by experts, he says.

"They are jobs they would be asked to do at any time. There are no traps, they're not difficult and where they do a good job they get the accolade."

He is keen to emphasise the segment is not like candid camera shows out to shock and amuse viewers with clips of employees caught in bad acts.

"It's not voyeurism, it's not an entertainment item. It's a serious consumer affairs show. People are very concerned about the level and quality of service in all kinds of areas."

The footage is analysed by experts - in many cases professional trade bodies - who comment on quality of work and price.

Results so far show the standard of repair work is extremely inconsistent, Burke says. He hopes the programme will act as a "reinforcement for good behaviour" and promote better training in many trades.

Consumers' Institute chief executive David Russell will spell out buyers' rights using the hidden camera item as an example and give other consumer advice.

Like Malcolm, Russell says he is satisfied the hidden camera approach is fair.

"We feel that when you invite a tradesman into your house, you have every right to know what goes on, so we have no problem at all."

In keeping with the show's aim of scrupulous objectivity, Russell is quick to declare the interest of his subscriber consumer information and advocacy organisation in it.

"We hope it will spread the word about our organisation and what it does and has to offer, but of equal importance is getting information out to an audience that otherwise would not be a recipient."

As a condition of its association, the institute insisted there be no commercial sponsors. "We have to watch very carefully that we are not seen to be compromising our independence."

Malcolm, too, is stressing transparency. After her years in the newsreader's chair, she's relishing a presenting role which doesn't require that perfect mask of studio makeup.

"I like people seeing me for what I am, it's not just head and shoulders, the figurehead Leanne. This is the real Leanne, out in the street doing things."

Meanwhile, there's still the problem of that washer in her potentially tradesperson-free zone. "Maybe I'll have to fix it up myself - and put up a camera and capture myself doing it."

And one last question for Burke: if Target doesn't rate, will TV3 be entitled to a refund? "You must be joking," he says. "Ask rather if I get a bonus if it does. Anyway, it'll rate."

What: Target

Where: TV3

When: 7 pm, tomorrow