PM pulls plug on cameras for debate

Helen Clark has had a change of heart over a head-to-head radio debate with Don Brash, refusing to allow it to be televised.

The debate - the first one-on-one between the pair - was organised by Radio New Zealand and is being broadcast live on the station from the Wellington State Opera House on Friday night.

Sky TV accepted an RNZ offer to telecast the hour-long event live here and in Australia, and an RNZ spokesman said yesterday that Helen Clark's office had agreed to the terms several weeks ago.

But over the weekend RNZ "heard from the Prime Minister's office that they had changed their position regarding the presence of cameras".

"We had advice from the PM's office that their position had changed, that the Sky channels weren't acceptable."

Although it wouldn't affect RNZ's debate, it was "disappointing" it wasn't able to offer the extended coverage, the spokesman said.

Sky media spokesman Tony O'Brien said RNZ had approached the company some weeks ago to provide a telecast of their debate.

"The simulcast would have given our subscribers the opportunity to listen to political parties debate with each other in a non-commercial environment."

Sky had already been promoting the debates, he said.

Helen Clark's spokesman said RNZ invited Sky to televise the debate even before the PM's office had agreed to participate in it.

A long proposal had been put to her office, and there was a general agreement it would go ahead.

However the office felt the idea of bringing in the television broadcaster was "foisted upon us".

"She said the two formats are too different to be accommodated in one programme, and that's her formal objection to it," the spokesman said.

National refused to comment yesterday, other than to say through a spokesman, Dr Brash "probably will" agree to continue to take part. This was not to suggest he was considering withdrawing, but that he had not been fully appraised of the new circumstances.

Helen Clark has been intent on limiting the number of one-on-one debates she does with Dr Brash, concerned about elevating his potential prime minister status.

Aside from the RNZ debate, she has limited the televised debates between the pair to two, with the first debate on TVNZ on Monday night.

She agreed to two additional debates, where the pair are joined by other parties' leaders. The first screened last Thursday on TV3.

The Herald understands Helen Clark's office was in discussions over the format of the RNZ debate until Friday night, when it signalled she might change her mind about Sky.

* The RNZ Debate is being hosted by Sean Plunkett and Linda Clark. RNZ will broadcast it live 7-8pm on Friday and replay it at 8am on Saturday.