Ray Columbus - December Ramblings

The Minister of Rock ‘n Roll has left the building. Yes Helen Clark was re-elected to Parliament but her party Labour was not. After nine years we have a new government, National’s John Key has swept into power with a new coalition, a new look and a promise of a more business-like approach to Governing the Nation.

Helen, we must thank, particularly for what she’s achieved as Minister of Arts, Heritage and Culture (I always add in ‘Music’ there, I know it’s hidden in the ‘arts’ or the ‘culture’ words, but it’s more complete. For me, Helen was the first PM since Keith Holyoake (of all the P.M’s I personally entreated to help the N.Z Music scene) I make that Nine altogether …correct me if I’m wrong. She, through NZONAIR, New Zealand Music Commission and voluntary minimum quotas on Radio, got the Kiwi Music business going. She has left it in a very healthy state, how it will fare now is up to the Record Industry and the musicians, songwriters et al. NZONAIR has no guarantee that it will survive under the new regime, nor the Music Commission (associate minister of A, H&C Judith Tizard…is gone from parliament altogether…) the Commission was her baby…she’s not even in the house to lobby for it!

So I’m hoping that this National Government will keep the long train running and leave things be, I know it’s predecessors haven’t but John Key is not like any other National Prime Minister….So it’s up to a new voice of the NZ Music people to lobby and not the Industry people…the Multi-national record Companies and RIANZ… they have obvious vested interest (to their overseas owned principals)…and I know that THEY never did diddley squat to get the current healthy scene where it is. NO it’s up to the individuals who have a passion for what they’re doing to lobby Government. That’s how we did it before. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens. WATCH THIS SPACE.

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