Gower and the 3 News ratings slump

Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, August 20th, 2015 - 68 comments
Categories: accountability, journalism, spin - Tags: , ,

Last month John Drinnan at The Herald wrote:

TV3 ratings slide: ‘These are challenging times’

TV3 news and current affairs director Mark Jennings is putting a brave face on a ratings slide for 3 News against One News, saying “these are challenging times for us”.

Nielsen TAM ratings show a big slide since January last year, when the two news shows were nearly level-pegging. Today, TVNZ says the gap between them is the widest it has been for 10 years.

On Tuesday, One News attracted 42.1 per cent of the 25-54-year-old audience and 3 News had 14.8 per cent, says TVNZ. …

So what’s going wrong?

Jennings is correct that the slide at 3 News is partly the result of a poor 5.30pm lead-in to the news. But in my opinion, a dramatic fall over many months is caused by more than that. The shift to TVNZ is also about more people recognising a dual-personality element at TV3, which does break news stories but sometimes embarks on tabloid coverage and personalised rants.

“Tabloid coverage and personalised rants” is a polite way of saying “Patrick Gower”, in short Drinnan is suggesting that Gower is driving viewers away from 3 News. I was reminded of this by an exchange on Twitter yesterday:

https://twitter.com/MatthewHootonNZ/status/633722153930747904

The discussion that follows under each of those tweets is interesting, and highly critical of Gower choosing to give the Nats an easy ride on a major scandal (Gower has not so far denied this). Seems like Hosking is not the only journalist attracting attention for his obvious pro-National bias.

68 comments on “Gower and the 3 News ratings slump ”

  1. roy cartland 1

    Is Gower really pro-Nat or is he just pro-scandal? I know the latter works in Nat’s favour, but it’s not exactly the same. Fool vs knave dichotomy.

    • Kate Lang 1.1

      Gower is a Nat slathering, (part of the nether body)-licking tory. He also leers at the slightest judder by any other party, but gleams in the presence of his Nat deities. I turned off him beginning of last year, and have been happy to see less of him lately. That comes with keeping off TV3.

    • Tracey 1.2

      explains why he went big on the worm farm blunder last night, trying to seem less pro national.

    • Richard Christie 1.3

      He is overtly pro National.

      When not being egregiously silent, Gower has largely given Key and National an easy ride on scandals and lies that he would crucify Labour or Greens for, had they been involved in such dishonesty.

      He even runs with National Textor memes, Key says “tricky” Cunliffe ; Gower says “tricky” Cunliffe.

      He’s Bugs Bunny on meth.

  2. http://pantograph-punch.com/asking-the-right-questions-patrick-gower/

    wherein Gower says no time for truth so be entertainer. Some nice Gower quotes:

    you can’t do “sophisticated and complicated issues” on TV

    “the reality is that I’m not biased. I’m just not, I know I’m not. I don’t report in a biased way

    “If you ran around trying to disprove everyone you wouldn’t have time to do your job.”

    • dukeofurl 2.1

      paddy famous last words:

      “I often say that the press gallery is more political than Parliament itself.”

      “What in your eyes is the role of political journalism?

      It’s not about our agendas or anyone else’s agendas; it’s really just to be here for the voters.

      Thats was only one year ago, seems like when it comes to trade is IS ABOUT OUR agenda, oh… and hes become McCullys ‘bichon’ as well.

      http://pantograph-punch.com/asking-the-right-questions-patrick-gower/

  3. Hami Shearlie 3

    Not biased, really Paddy? So what would you call your behaviour towards David Cunliffe when you were at the Labour Party Conference on the day when members were going to be voting to have a say in selecting the leader?

  4. Peter 4

    …. like many others I have turned-off regular viewing of TV3 News since the demise of Campbell Live

    • Enough is Enough 4.1

      I think the demise of both the Home and Away lead in, and the Campbell Live lead out, is the key reason for the slump.

      However Gower is a Tory numpty so I don’t mind anyone putting the boot into him as well.

      • dukeofurl 4.1.1

        Gower is obviously a long time drinking buddy of McCully is my guess.

        Gower says ( privately) hes going soft on McCully because he believes in trade?

        Corruption , cronyism, government waste, these are the corn which political reporters make bread.

        Is there a long pattern of Gower looking the other way when scandal erupts around McCully directly.

    • Saarbo 4.2

      Me to, because TV3 told us (Jennings) they were not interested in serious current affairs so therefore why would I invest my time to watch a “news” that was presumably full of crap. And as for Story…absolute shit.

      Ive switched to TV1 news.

  5. les 5

    ‘he told me he believes in trade so doesn’t think it is in NZ’s interest to follow story too aggressively’….this is not his brief!His personal assessment of what is in NZ’s interests is totally irrelevant to reporting issues.

  6. infused 6

    Well I watch at 5:30. Sums it all up in 5-10mins.

    Gower will rip on anyone he can get an easy free shot.

    Story isn’t half bad though.

    • les 6.1

      yes but you are ‘infused’ with establishment propaganda and probably have no understanding of what ..’objective’ means.

      • infused 6.1.1

        yeah of course not.

        you are very objective, when it suits your cause.

        it’s like every election where one sides screams the other side is paying the media. back and forth we go.

        • Colonial Rawshark 6.1.1.1

          only one side has the money to pay the media, and only one side has cut sweetheart financing deals with corporate media

    • Stuart Munro 6.2

      The cooking show was better – often as a study in pathology but still. He said/she said is a joke format.

    • Skinny 6.3

      I agree me old mate Paddy G is not afraid of giving anyone a crack. Key has taken many a hit from Gower.
      Let’s not forget Gower set a solid platform smashing National in the Northland ‘Buy’ Election from the get go and it went pear shaped from there.

      I like Paddy and find him a decent guy and have never had a problem working together. If you can’t handle him interviewing you than ya need further media training.

  7. J.K.F.U 7

    The slump is down to piss poor reporting, what a B.S excuse for an interview was that with Paul Henry and Don Key, News Worthy? Not so news worthy!! cant stand the way they sit down in those stupid chairs especially the guy who leans back like its a talk show or something??? Its a little thing but it erks me everytime I accidentally flick past that channel in that time.
    For me it is definitely not 3 News.

    • dukeofurl 7.1

      That show is in big trouble too- you hit the nail on the head, exactly my thoughts.
      Poor autocue reading skills doesnt make compelling viewing and they may as well be propped up with pillows in a double bed ?

      TV3 from that bozo at breakfast to late night news type shows are poorly formatted and have low production values.
      Get the experts in and listen to their advice, the days of do it your self have long gone.

  8. Mike the Savage One 8

    Being a regular TV news watcher, and active follower of political and other reporting in the mainstream media, I am not the slightest bit surprised about the slump in viewers for TV3 news.

    I do not think though that Gower is that strong a “National supporter”, although his general reporting and commenting over time does indicate, he is softer on the Prime Minister and the National led government, than on Labour and especially their leader(s).

    Gower is just one of those modern day “hitting headline” reporters, who “report” like an effective “PowerPoint” presentation. He does also whip up at times marginal “news”, into something he tries to make sound and appear “sensational”. But like with any adrenalin focused reporting, it loses its effect over time, especially when it is used on events and incidents, that do deserve analytical and comprehensive reporting. He just seems too often to make a “d*ck” of himself, I feel.

    As for TV3, their presenters are like from a glossy mag’s front page, but mellow, at times a bit too emotive, it seems, and simply too boring for someone who cherishes basic facts and objective news reporting. I think though that is not just the presenters’ fault, the producers want to appeal to the above middle age middle class viewers, who do not wish to have their dinnertime too much upset with the real news in the world.

    TVNZ on the other hand have some similar problems, but overall appear more balanced, and do tend to cover broader news, besides of the usual crime, weather and sports diet, we get too much of. There is still some tiny remnant of the public broadcaster and attempts for “balanced” reporting that I detect there. And I value the TVNZ One News on Sunday, now being the only more comprehensive news on that weekend day, while TV3 rush through a tiny array of at times more trivial news then, prior to sports and their new current affairs show, which is with 30 minutes too short for me to bother with.

    So for international news, it is BBC and Al Jazeera for me, and various media and other sources online, and for NZ this is increasingly also the case. The commercialisation of the MSM seems to get worse, and most is un-watchable in my view, given the ever annoying ads. No wonder Netflix and others are doing so well now.

    • lprent 8.1

      That is my view as well. He operates on short-form slogans that are sound bites. Less powerpoint (which would involve having better graphics), and more twitter in his case.

      The problem is that it invariably winds up as just being a personal rant. There are better twitter writers on politics.

    • dukeofurl 8.2

      TVNZ seem to spend more money on their news That to me shows and why I generally keep an eye on it.
      Does TV3 still use Tova O’Brien and that other guy that went missing while his father was in strife?

      Interestingly google images for TV3 political reporters seems to mostly be Paddy and no one else

      • Mike the Savage One 8.2.1

        “Does TV3 still use Tova O’Brien and that other guy that went missing while his father was in strife?”

        Yep, sorry to say so, they are part of the “furniture” now, I fear.

        Tova is a real amateur in my view, she is a wannabe reporter, struggling to really ask hard questions with substance, and also not that good on keeping focus. She seems to love trivial bits, and like Gower, to dress these up as “news”, which should in serious media not even be bothered with.

        Young Mr Sabin is also very “keen”, on some stories, but he does also continue to make some smart arsed comments, pushing the trivial, before anything that deserves to be looked at.

        If these are the best they can deliver, TV3 can be assured of sinking ratings in the medium to longer term.

        Garner is in my view also disappointing, but not surprising, on ‘Story’. But then again, was he not Gower’s mentor of sorts?

        • Naturesong 8.2.1.1

          And yet TV3 does have a world class journalist sitting on the sidelines.

          He reads the news at 6pm most nights

          • dukeofurl 8.2.1.1.1

            I presume he is involved in writing the stories. I have a feeling he’ll be back to writing full time soon enough

          • Lou 8.2.1.1.2

            Wow, thanks, Naturesong. You just reminded me why I persist with TV3 News! I have a great respect for Mike McRoberts and for his wife. Both top-quality journalists, imo.

    • Hanswurst 8.3

      He just seems too often to make a “d*ck” of himself, I feel.

      People like and relate to that, though. Look at how popular John Key is.

  9. cogito 9

    When it comes to media kissing Key’s a*se, this piece made me throw up.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/71284637/kids-need-to-know-the-value-of-work–john-key

    Especially the last sentence:
    “It was all about “treating other people the way you want to be treated,” he [Key] said.”

  10. maui 10

    Not sure why if you’re a young person you would slide back to tory inspired tv1. The political and world news propaganda probably goes over most peoples heads though.

  11. Clemgeopin 11

    John Key’s cheeks must be huge to accommodate the jowls of so many of these disgraceful Nat stooges masquerading as so called ‘journalists’!

  12. Gerald Breeze 12

    I have ceased watching the TV3 news due to the removal of “Campbell Live” The lead in didn’t figure at all.

  13. Stephen Dickson 13

    It seems more and more news reporting is in fact opinion pieces.
    It’s not like there is no news but it’s not being reported like that.

    So to the Web I go, still watch a bit of news but it’s more like comedy hour.

  14. Sabine 14

    why would anyone watch any “News Programme” in NZ? They have never done news, nor will they do news. Gosh, that would mean informing the public about the happenings that affect their country and the world and that can’t be.
    SO more cooking, more rugby, more made up personal opinion and other assorted rubbish.

    Still not watching TV. In fact i think my TV has not worked in over two years now.

    • lprent 14.1

      After I moved back into my apartment in 2012 after a few years away, the aerial wasn’t working. Never got it fixed. I never noticed it dropping anything out of my life.

      I have fast fibre with 1000Gb per month and no shaping, netflix, quickflix, and pipes throughout the world.

      About the only thing I do on local for is the odd current affairs program, via the web. Incidentally, I wouldn’t mind paying someone to provide a no advert channel of NZ current affairs collated from the free to air channels. I’d even write the applet for my Sony bluray.

      Lyn occasionally says that she’d like to see the adverts for professional reasons (she makes docos and other film pieces). But I think that should be easy enough to get from on-demand. It isn’t like we are constrained on the amount of data.

  15. Colonial Viper 15

    If only TV3 had a great show like Campbell Live to pull in the punters around news time.

    • dukeofurl 15.1

      Apparently it only appealed to over 45 demographic so was dead meat to media buyers.

      The reason Ive stopped watching their news is its done on the cheap and filled with long overseas fillers unrelated to NZ.
      Even Campbells show was under resourced which helped quicken its decline.

      • Colonial Rawshark 15.1.1

        over 45’s…are the people with the money and the property in this country…

  16. Tracey 16

    IF Gower did say that to Hooton he should be sacked immediately.

    what he believes or thinks or supports is not his job.

    Presumably he is not a Union member

    “41. JOURNALIST CODE OF ETHICS

    Respect for truth and the public’s right to information are overriding principles for all journalists. In pursuance of these principles, journalists commit themselves to ethical and professional standards. All members of the Union engaged in gathering, transmitting, disseminating and commenting on news and information shall observe the following Code of Ethics in their professional activities:

    (a) They shall report and interpret the news with scrupulous honesty by striving to disclose all essential facts and by not suppressing relevant, available facts or distorting by wrong or improper emphasis.

    (b) They shall not place unnecessary emphasis on gender, race, sexual preference, religious belief, marital status or physical or mental disability.

    (c) In all circumstances they shall respect all confidences received in the course of their occupation.

    (d) They shall not allow personal interests to influence them in their professional duties.

    • dukeofurl 16.1

      Its not for the employer to discipline its employees over a ‘code of ethics’ supposedly drawn up by a union.

      Its the journalists union ( with EPMU now I think) to do so and disclose its findings.

      Good luck with that, if its ever been done at all ?

      Its all window dressing dressing Tracey, surely you knew that .

    • Colonial Viper 16.2

      Reading Gower’s supposed statement, it appears that he thinks it in the national interest that he NOT do his job as a journalist. How can one argue with that?

      • dukeofurl 16.2.1

        Go ahead and lodge a complaint based on the detailed advice on EPMU website…..

        Do they even have a formal body which meets to decide such things ?

      • NZJester 16.2.2

        It is in the National interest just not in the national interest that he NOT do his job!

      • weka 16.2.3

        “Reading Gower’s supposed statement, it appears that he thinks it in the national interest that he NOT do his job as a journalist. How can one argue with that?”

        At least we are all on the same page now with what he actually does for a living.

    • Lou 16.3

      Don’t forget it was Hooton who said Paddy had said that. Hmmmm, do we trust Hooters to have reported faithfully what Paddy said? I’m not so sure about that. Wonder why Hooters is p’d off with Gower?

      • Matthew Hooton 16.3.1

        Why do you think I am pissed off with Gower? It’s not personal. I just tweeted what he said to me.

  17. Tricledrown 17

    It’s not about then news with Gower.
    It’s about Gower anything to make himself more important than the news.
    Narcissistic egomaniac.
    Thats whats happened to journalism.

  18. Detrie 18

    I think the problem with Gower is not a pro-national bias. He just doesn’t have the basic interviewing, personality and people skills to do the job he is employed to do. And the fact TV3 management want this and similar current affairs to be an ‘entertainment’ slot doesn’t help. Their late night news coverage is even more amateurish.

    • David H 18.1

      Watching Gower on Tv is like watching a puppet with half the strings cut. And that Ego, almost a case of Screw the story, it’s all about me! and lets not forget his despicable behaviour with Cunliffe at the Conference, that was inexcusable, and the last time I watched TV 3 apart from The Nation. And after last week that’s also going to go as well.

  19. rhinocrates 19

    Hosking, Henry and Gower aren’t journalists, they’re Key’s selection of flavoured condoms.

  20. tc 20

    Just desserts for axing the only current affairs show willing to stick it to this abhorrent gov’t.

    Gowers sneering tone and [r0b: re looks deleted] are a complete turn off to most I talk to which is crucial in TV as looks and tone count for alot. Sad but true just look at the pretty looking muppets with mics across at TVNZ.

    He’s a crap journo, has poor delivery, [r0b: re looks deleted] so must be doing something right. That something would be bias towards the gov’t.

  21. Markm 21

    I would have said Gower is very anti National, but from the comments on here he seems to upset everyone equally.
    The point is , if he was pro National the ratings would logically jump as National have the majority of support , so logically National supporters would follow him.

    As they don’t it seems Gower is just very unlikeable no matter what parties you support

    • Colonial Rawshark 21.1

      I would have said Gower is very anti National,

      In what way is Gower very anti-National? Do you believe that he has been supportive of Andrew Little and Labour this year?

      The point is , if he was pro National the ratings would logically jump as National have the majority of support , so logically National supporters would follow him.

      Unless people expect Gower to be a reporter, not a cheerleader.

  22. Chooky 22

    this is very good NEWS…I want to see TV3 ratings go through the floor

  23. Paul 23

    Please keep highlighting how biased our media is.
    Once people realise they’re being lied to, Key is history.

  24. millsy 24

    People who I know, that dont keep up to date with politics, news etc as those on here do have commented that there is a bias toward National in the media.

  25. Pistol Paul 25

    Bit rich that O’Sullivan makes that comment about another journalist considering her oh too close relationship with Groser as she runs his lines on a daily basis. As for Hooton, anyone want a bet he’s being paid somehow by someone to oppose McCully on this?

    I work in trade in Norh America and both Hooton and O’Sullivan have zero cred as commentators among those of us actually doing the deals. McCully is rated well above Groser who many question his true worth. O’Sullivan would be far better paying closer attention to that issue but won’t due to her personal conflicts.

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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