Pubdate: Sun, 14 Feb 2010
Source: Sunday News (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2010 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5119
Photo: The NORML bus [Photo courtesy of New Zealand NORML] 
http://www.mapinc.org/images/TheNORMLBus.jpg
Cited: NORML New Zealand http://www.norml.org.nz/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Dakta+Green
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?251 (Cannabis - New Zealand)

DRUG-TAKING ROW AT TVNZ

ONE of four TVNZ staff accused of smoking marijuana with pro-cannabis 
campaigners is understood to be fighting for his job after telling 
colleagues he was involved.

TVNZ received a complaint about a story, screened on Close Up on 
Tuesday, which followed cannabis-campaigner Dakta Green from Auckland 
to Waitangi.

Part of the complaint alleged that TVNZ staffers smoked cannabis on 
the National Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) protest bus at 
Waitangi, once filming had finished.

It also claimed the state broadcaster's employees' actions had been 
captured on film and video. It's understood that when a reporter was 
confronted by more senior TVNZ staff about the allegations, he 
acknowledged his involvement and that of three other co-workers whom 
he identified.

One of the other staff members involved is believed to have denied 
the allegations and another is understood to have blamed "peer pressure".

Sunday News has chosen not to name those involved, one of whom was 
hand-picked by a TVNZ executive who has mentored him.

TVNZ publicist Megan Richards said: "We've had some serious 
allegations drawn to our attention and there is an investigation 
currently underway.

"We can offer a reassurance that the issue is being handled 
appropriately but because it is an employment issue, and employment 
issues are always constrained by very strict protocol, we can't, 
we're not able to, comment any further at this stage."

Sunday News understands no TVNZ staff have been stood down in 
relation to the cannabis claims.

Yesterday, Green, a Norml board member and the founder of New 
Zealand's first cannabis club the Daktory, would not "confirm or 
deny" any TVNZer had smoked cannabis with Norml members.

But in February when Sunday News reported that Daktories may open 
nationwide, Green claimed a TVNZ employee had smoked at the New Lynn 
Daktory after One News did a story there when it opened in November 2008.

The 59-year-old said he had not seen any photos or video of TVNZ 
employees smoking cannabis at Waitangi, nor did he know if the 
material existed.

He said he didn't know who complained to TVNZ. Making such complaints 
was against both Norml and Daktory protocol.

"In no way, shape or form, would anyone involved with Norml or the 
Daktory cause anyone else harm relating to their use or non-use of 
cannabis to their employer, to their family ... to anyone," he said.

Green said the allegations may have simply been "exaggerated for 
effect" because the sender was "angry" at the Close Up story, which 
he said was "unbalanced and biased". The story showed lots of footage 
of cannabis smoking which had been manipulated.

The five minute-plus story also contained footage more than a year 
old - without any time reference - of a Norml member who has been in 
jail for nine months.

Despite thinking the story was a "piece of st" Green said "it was 
unfortunate" TVNZ staff members were now being investigated. "I don't 
think anyone's job should be at risk for doing something in their own 
time," he said.

Pro-cannabis campaigners have made complaints about the item to the 
Broadcasting Standards Authority and Green is also intending to send one. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake