October 01, 2020
Advance NZ blocked from TV3 debate
Advance New Zealand co-leaders Jami-Lee Ross and Billy Te Kahika are crying foul at a High Court decision upholding MediaWorks' decision to exclude them from the Newshub Nation TV3 Powerbrokers debate.
The court says the debate focuses on parties who may be key to the balance of power and deciding the next government, so the exclusion lay within media's editorial discretion.
The pair say the court is helping MediaWorks stack the deck against democracy.
Mr Ross says the decision will be disappointing for people who deserve to hear a range of ideas and perspectives in the lead up to the election.
He says they took the case because they believe in free speech, and because hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are asking for a new direction that isn’t the same old tired Labour and National path.
MediaWorks excluded any political party formed after the last election.
Mr Ross says Mr Te Kahika is in a strong position to win Te Taitokerau,. which means there’s a far higher likelihood of Advance NZ entering Parliament than NZ First or the Māori Party, who are in the debate.
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