New Zealand's Labour Party ruled "no-deal on the possibility of free-to-air All Blacks' tests" or other major national sporting events, according to Stacey Kirk of STUFF. NZ First leader Winston Peters earlier this year said that a law change to provide free-to-air rugby "would be the price of NZ First's support in forming a government," though it is one National is "believed to have also refused to bend on." Labour moved to "scotch any anticipation the policy might be written into the final agreement" following comments from NZ First sports and recreation spokesperson Clayton Mitchell that it was "still on the table." A spokesperson for Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern confirmed it was not in the agreement. NZ First hierarchy spoke to Mitchell about the interview he gave to Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch. However, most of the on-air discussion "actually centred on a private member's bill Mitchell had drawn in the last Parliamentary term." Both National and Labour voted against his Broadcasting Amendment Bill, which would have ensured rugby league, int'l rugby, netball and Olympic Games "can be watched by all New Zealanders" (STUFF, 10/22).
