MP Reuben Davidson, a former television producer, was given the lion’s share of Labour’s questions in Question Time to put the heat on Goldsmith over the telephone call between himself and TVNZ chairman Andrew Barclay.
It was already known that National was septic about TVNZ’s coverage on Thursday last week, or lack of coverage, about a 49,000 fall in the victims of crime over two years.
Instead, it ran a story about how the rise in gang members had overtaken the number of police officers, and did a catch-up story on the crime statistics only this week, after criticism by Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell.
Goldsmith revealed the Sunday phone call to reporters yesterday.
Interference by politicians or TVNZ board members in editorial decisions is no laughing matter. And without knowing the details of the Sunday telephone conversation, that remained a possibility and an inference throughout Davidson’s questions.
The trouble with Davidson’s line of questioning was that it treated the whole thing as a scandal waiting to be revealed – even perfectly normal behaviour, such as MPs grumbling about news coverage.
Goldsmith neutralised the attack, not by deflection but by answering the questions in more detail than was needed.
Davidson: What did the minister say when the subject of 1News coverage of crime numbers was raised by TVNZ chair Andrew Barclay?
Goldsmith: I didn’t engage further in the discussion on that matter. I may possibly have grunted, but I’m not sure.
Davidson: Is it appropriate for a minister to complain about TVNZ news coverage in a public forum?
Goldsmith: Well, I’m afraid that does happen from time to time, and it seems to me it’s quite possible that the previous Labour Government may have done that from time to time as well… I’ve often made the observation that a politician complaining about the media is like a farmer complaining about the weather. You might be right, but it makes no difference…
Davidson: What, if anything, has the minister done about other ministers in Government complaining about news coverage at TVNZ?
Goldsmith: My concern is that I might find that I have no time left to do anything else…
Paul Goldsmith, left, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Police Minister Mark Mitchell at their press conference in Auckland last week to announce crime figures. Photo / Jason Dorday
Davidson: Did the Prime Minister or his office raise 1News’ coverage of February 26, 2026, concerning rising gang numbers with him or his office?
Goldsmith: I’m in constant conversation with the Prime Minister, and he did grumble about that story. What we grumbled about was the fact that on the day that we had announced there were 49,000 fewer victims of crime in this country, there was a story that ignored that entirely and talked about something else. We weren’t happy with it. That’s life.
Davidson: When did he inform the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister’s Office of his discussion with Andrew Barclay on Sunday, March 1?
Goldsmith: I don’t recall informing him at all.
Davidson: Would it be appropriate for the chair of TVNZ to raise the issue of 1News media coverage with the minister?
Goldsmith: I don’t think it would be appropriate for the chair to interfere with the decision that TVNZ made about their coverage. In terms of mentioning it to me in the context of a board focusing on levels of trust and the issue that’s been raised, I don’t have a particularly strong view. Probably shouldn’t have, but it’s certainly not a major issue.
Davidson: Does he still have confidence in the man he appointed as chair of TVNZ, Andrew Barclay…?
Goldsmith: I do have confidence in the chair. I think he’s doing a great job.
In the course of Labour’s questioning, Goldsmith said the chairman had requested the call on Sunday, they spoke about a range of matters, including TVNZ’s financials, board appointments and “he observed, as I recall, that TVNZ had been in the news that week over a law and order story and that he was taking an interest in it in the context of the board’s interest in improving trust in TVNZ”.
“I didn’t engage further in the discussion on that matter.”
He also revealed he had spoken to the chairman again yesterday to tell him he had revealed their conversation, and then again after the 1News item about the conversation “to check on his welfare as he is a new chair”.