Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media
The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for Television New Zealand and Radio New Zealand. The current Minister is Kris Faafoi, member of the Labour Party.History
In 1936 the First Labour Government decided that broadcasting would be run by the state. As a result a government minister in charge of Broadcasting was appointed and new legislation was passed that abolished the existing New Zealand Broadcasting Board and established the new National Broadcasting Service in its place. A Director of Broadcasting was appointed and a Broadcasting Advisory Council formed as a result of the act to advise the minister. The Labour Party had specifically sought to broadcast parliamentary debates via radio as a means of allowing the public to listen and make their own judgment of events, rather than relying solely on the press, whom Labour were distrustful of.
Later the minister oversaw the introduction of television into New Zealand and became responsible for the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation.The following ministers have held the office of Minister of Broadcasting.
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