Vaughan Davis: Media Commentator on Christopher Luxon's handling of Winston Peters' comments about the Public Interest Journalism fund

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Nov 28, 2023 · 4m

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has headache to deal with after his Government's first Cabinet meeting.

Winston Peters called a $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund provided during Covid a "bribe".

He told reporters to "tell the public what they had to sign to get the money".

Media commentator Vaughan Davis told Tim Dower that Luxon handled the situation poorly.

He says avoiding the comment didn't help the PM, and it left Peters squarely in the spotlight.

Funding applicants were asked —when appropriate— to produce content supporting our public interest.

NZME's funding agreement included…