No more broadcasting fee - but thousands still owe

WELLINGTON - The plug is pulled on the public broadcasting fee today, but NZ On Air will still pursue more than 150,000 people who have not paid.

This has outraged anti-fee campaigners, who say the $110 fee is an illegal tax and its abolition should signal the end of any outstanding payments.

The previous Government said last year that it was scrapping the 11-year-old fee - which funds locally made radio and television programmes - from July 1.

Funding will instead come from the Government's consolidated fund.

NZ On Air chief executive Jo Tyndall said it would still enforce payment of outstanding fees for the year ending yesterday, in fairness to the 850,000 who had paid.

- NZPA