TVNZ turns to Britain for ideas on election coverage

Three of the people who will be deeply involved with TVNZ's coverage of the New Zealand election are studying how the British election was covered.

Bill Ralston, head of news, and independent producer Richard Harman, contracted to produce TVNZ's election coverage, were in Britain this week. Political editor Mark Sainsbury was also there to cover the election for One News.

The state broadcaster's public affairs manager, Megan Richards, said Mr Ralston was on a business trip for a week to meet other television executives and "have a close look at the technicalities of the election coverage".

Ms Richards said Mr Harman was an independent producer, so details of who was paying for his trip were confidential.

The trips have drawn fire from Mark Jennings, head of news at rival broadcaster TV3, who estimated it would cost about $35,000 for the three to travel over.

"It sounds to me like a trip for the boys. I'm sure they are going to enjoy the lunches. But I will be interested to see the innovative and exciting new treatment that they bring back to deploy in their own election night broadcast.

"If they're sending three people over, they must be going to do a serious number on their own coverage."

Megan Richards said it was a valid use of resources to have three people with different roles at the network in Britain.

"People can have different approaches to things, so it's absolutely legitimate to send different people.

"We don't regard it as anything out of the ordinary. It is well within the realm of what is expected of people in their positions."

TVNZ has previously been accused of unnecessary spending by its rivals, including Prime Television's Chris Taylor, who criticised the amount it spent on promoting its shows and its decision to send Susan Wood to Rome for the Pope's funeral.

Mr Jennings said sending one person, such as Mr Harman, might have value, but sending three was extravagant.

"Sending Sainsbury over is like sending Susan Wood to Rome. "It added nothing to that story," Mr Jennings said.

"They trumpet the fact they have BBC, CNN and all these other news agencies on board.

"Surely they could use somebody from one of those august organisations who knows about British politics.

"As usual, they have to spend a huge amount of money and that is what we have come to expect from them."

TVNZ said it provided business class seats for staff on international journeys longer than five hours. Mr Jennings said TV3 had no similar policy. "I expect our reporters to travel economy, so I always do as well. Sometimes I have been upgraded, but I always book economy."