Comments on: Great expectations?

By: Musings on fluff at The Standard

Musings on fluff at The Standard — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:01:33 +0000

[...] Trevett wrote me a very cordial email in response to my criticism of her reports from Key’s trip around the Islands. I want to say from the start this reply is [...]

By: Falafulu Fisi

Falafulu Fisi — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:02:58 +0000

Eddie, what is your definition of dictatorship? I say that we’re not a dictator country. We do have a constitution (monarchy) and everything is done according to the constitution. The constitution was written by Methodist missionaries almost 150 years ago. Mugabe? That is what you call dictatorship. Baniaramma? That is dictatorship. Fiden Castro? That is dictatorship. Tonga? Not dictatorship.

By: Trevett, Watkins, simultaneously jump shark at The Standard

Trevett, Watkins, simultaneously jump shark at The Standard — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:41:06 +0000

[...] Eddie pleaded for some real reporting from the journos accompanying Key on his tour of the [...]

By: Nick C

Nick C — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:35:34 +0000

“Hell, the fact that women in pants weren’t allowed near the King (something Clark never would have meekly accepted).”

Winne Laban was quoted in the paper today saying that we should respect the Tongan custom, which is the correct stance to take.

By: gobsmacked

gobsmacked — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:20:10 +0000

Has a journalist on this trip asked a single political question yet? I haven’t seen any reported. It’s a royal tour (with Key as the Duke of Edinburgh).

e.g. Michael Jones.

Fan’s question: “Ooh, Ice Man, gonna be an MP? Cool!”

Journalist’s question: “Michael, do you stand by your views on the so-called smacking debate, how will you vote in the referendum, and what would you do if you were in National’s caucus?”

By: godard

godard — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:53:33 +0000

Or, If you support the National party by campaigning for them during the election you get a free trip to Samoa. Why are the rugby celebrities who told factory workers during the election ‘you shouldn’t work in the factory, you should own the factory by voting National’ holidaying in Samoa with the Prime Minister? I’d love to know how employment in that factory is right now. I guess owning the factory won’t be happening this year.

By: Jasper

Jasper — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:07:26 +0000

Howabout

“wow, pressing coconut oilz lolz, so much easier than running da country shiz!”

By: Frack-checker

Frack-checker — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:26:05 +0000

Talking of Fiji and Samoa Key says: ‘it’s hard to choose between children even if one of them is a bit wayward at the moment’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIt2dZhElW4

Not giving Bainimarama ammunition to paint himself as Fiji’s bastion against Aus/NZ neo-colonalism: FAIL

Not sounding like a 19th century British imperialist talking about the subject nations: FAIL

By: Trevor Mallard

Trevor Mallard — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:13:05 +0000

TVNZ did a good job tho I can’t work out if the pisstake was deliberate or not :-http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2009/07/09/key-calls-pacific-islanders-children/

By: ghostwhowalks

ghostwhowalks — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:45:16 +0000

You dont get a trip that is practically ‘sponsored’ by the Govt without giving a payback.

Im sure if Fairfax paid normal commercial fares by travelling on scheduled flights we might get something from their real pacific affairs reporter instead of a mid winter junket for Key ( next stop the gated condo in Hawaii).

The otherside of it is that the Editor may have asked for fluff,as the creditors are banging on the doors