TVNZ 7 and Victoria’s politics department have teamed up to produce four long-form pre-election interviews beginning next month. A series of one-hour programmes, ‘Election 08: Leaders on 7,’ will be filmed at Parliament before a small audience.
A selected number of students have been invited to participate in the audience.
TVNZ General Manager of Digital Services Eric Kearley says the series is intended to bring viewers a more in-depth, one-on-one experience with politicians. There will be no advertising breaks and it is hoped the longform approach will “get beyond the headlines and sound bites and get an insight into what really drives our political leaders.”
Victoria University Political Science professor, Nigel Roberts said that the University was “thrilled” to be involved in the partnership with TVNZ 7 because informing New Zealand voters was an important part of the democratic process.