Tuesday, June 23, 2009

[pima.nius] TVNZ faces legal action from Samoa govt

6:09 PM |

TVNZ faces legal action from Samoa govt

By CLIO FRANCIS - Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 07:41 24/04/2009

A TVNZ story about gun-running and gangs in Samoa has so enraged the Apia government that its cabinet is consulting high-profile lawyers with the idea of suing the broadcaster.

The One News item Gangs and Drugs in Samoa has provoked fierce debate in Pacific journalism circles, with suggestions from Samoan media that parts of the item were staged.

TVNZ has strongly defended its Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver, and took the rare step of releasing a signed affidavit from Dreaver, saying it would be "completely unconscionable and unethical to stage manage material for a story, and I would never do such a thing".

Dreaver said in her affidavit she had reported Pacific issues for 19 years. "I understand that Samoan police have alleged that some of the people who appeared in my story were 'actors' who were asked by TVNZ to act like gangsters and drug dealers.

"It has also been alleged that TVNZ supplied alcohol to them, and asked them to smoke a cigarette on camera as if it was marijuana. I categorically deny these allegations."

TVNZ news editor Paul Patrick stood by the story and said the allegations hit directly at TVNZ and Dreaver's reputation.

Screened on April 5, the story showed young men brandishing machetes, smoking cannabis and discussing what TVNZ said was a growing gun and drug trade.

The item also screened on Samoan television. The Samoan Government responded, in a statement released by Auckland law firm Chapman Tripp, to say it was concerned by the "inaccurate report and seeming lack of professionalism".

The Samoan Attorney- General, Ming Leung Wai, said a cabinet meeting was held yesterday to discuss legal options.

The government said police had statements from individuals who appeared in the story, and they were not real gang members and had been asked by TVNZ to act as though they were gangsters and drug dealers for the purposes of a documentary. The government also complained that the item damaged the reputation of Samoa as a safe place for tourists.

Hugh Rennie, a Queen's Counsel and former head of the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand, said the case seemed entirely novel. "Under New Zealand law I am not aware of any examples where it has been claimed that a whole nation has been defamed and is entitled to legal action."


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