New Zealand Ministry Defends Funding for Documentary on Fijian Politician Amid Election

The Ministry of Pacific Peoples in New Zealand has defended its decision to provide $200,000 in funding for a documentary that premiered shortly before Fiji's election, focusing on a Fijian cabinet minister embroiled in scandal.

The documentary, titled "Algorithm of Shame: In the Village, Everybody Knows," was funded through the Moana Reo Media Fund, administered by the Pacific Media Network. The film tackles the pervasive impacts of social media, particularly online shaming, within tightly-knit communities. It highlights the stories of two individuals: Rhonda, a trans woman who lost a friend to online abuse, and Lynda Tabuya, a Fijian politician.

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The decision to fund the documentary makers $200,000 was made independently of the Ministry through an established funding process, which means editorial content of funded projects was not influenced by the New Zealand Government in any way and cannot be seen as electoral interference.

Lynda Tabuya, formerly the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, was moved to the back benches after a leaked video of her dancing naked went viral on Christmas Eve 2024. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka dismissed her from her ministerial post on Boxing Day. The leak was later described by Fijian Police as an invasion of privacy, and Tabuya stated her phone was stolen and hacked. Following an investigation that identified two suspects, Rabuka reinstated Tabuya to the Cabinet in August as Minister of Information.

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The documentary focuses on the broader social impacts of online harm, cyberbullying and digital shaming, which are issues affecting communities globally.

In response to questions about potential electoral interference, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Pacific Peoples asserted that the funding decision was made independently through an established process. "The decision to fund the documentary makers $200,000 was made independently of the Ministry through an established funding process, which means editorial content of funded projects was not influenced by the New Zealand Government in any way and cannot be seen as electoral interference," the spokesperson stated. The ministry emphasized that the documentary addresses broader global issues of online harm and digital shaming.

Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the documentary's independent production and selection process, stating, "The Government does not influence the editorial content of funded projects. This is not a New Zealand Government commentary on Fijian political matters." Pacific Peoples Minister Paul Goldsmith noted that the Moana Reo Media Fund was established under the previous Labour Government.

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The Government does not influence the editorial content of funded projects. This is not a New Zealand Government commentary on Fijian political matters.