Networks stung for filming breach

Chris Carter. Photo / Mark Mitchell

TV3 and Television New Zealand have been punished following breaches of Parliament's rules, including one cameraman entering and filming inside Labour MP Chris Carter's suite of offices in his absence and without his permission.

Lockwood Smith withdrew parking entitlements for their networks in Parliament's basement carpark after they failed to get permission to film in the corridor and stairwell. However he also noted a cameraman had entered an MP's offices without permission - a clear breach of parliamentary rules.

The incident took place as media sought to interview Mr Carter about his credit card expenses and subsequent demotion from Labour's front bench.

Both One News and 3 News were waiting outside Mr Carter's office. One of the news teams knocked on the door, opened it and entered the office of executive assistant David Hawkins.

In a letter sent to Speaker Lockwood Smith - aspects of which are disputed - Mr Hawkins said he was startled to arrive at the office and see the door ajar.

"Consequently I walked into my office. I found that a second camera person, a male with One News badges on his camera, had proceeded beyond my office, into my Member's office.

"It appeared that the cameraman was filming items on my Member's desk; particularly his lens was pointing towards my Member's in-trays and a copy of a print-out of his diary.

"I was deeply startled by this find ... there is private and confidential information stored in my office and my Member's office."

It is understood it was a 3 News cameraman who entered Mr Hawkins' office.

Dr Smith met the news networks and a representative of the Press Gallery yesterday and viewed footage taken from inside Mr Hawkins' office.

There was no footage from inside Mr Carter's office.

Later on Tuesday morning news teams from both channels followed Mr Carter from the caucus room, down a stairwell and through the corridors of Parliament following the caucus meeting. Dr Smith said the news teams were filming in a secure area without authority.

"There were clear breaches of the rules where television journalists pursued a Member of Parliament down a staircase where access for filming was specifically prohibited.

"In an associated incident, a camera person entered the office area of a member without permission - again a breach of the rules."

The networks have been stripped of their 22 access passes to Parliament's basement carpark.

Dr Smith said the breach was serious and the punishment would reinforce the importance of the rules.

"Alternative arrangements in an external car park at the rear of Parliament have been offered to both channels," Dr Smith said.

3 News political editor Duncan Garner said the crew "knowingly" broke the rules, but he had no regrets because Mr Carter needed to front up.

He rejected the notion that his coverage of Mr Carter was coloured because of a spat between the two, after they exchanged harsh words in an airport lounge and again on the plane.

One News political editor Guyon Espiner said the news team was pursuing a legitimate story, but accepted they had broken the rules.