Mike Hosking should not be TVNZ’s frontman

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, June 19th, 2016 - 128 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, Media, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

 

Mike Hosking greed is good2

Liz Gunn has explained why.  Very clearly …

I remember when I worked with him , he maintained as his mantra, with his now usual level of inordinate pride, the intended-to-be sardonic saying of Gordon Gecko in the original ” Wall St ” movie – namely , that “Greed Is Good”. He often repeated it off air, with that faux air of Great Authority . We all thought he was joking at first, but he was serious.

I started to feel nauseous as I heard it repeated on many days, and as I saw the results of such a perspective in his approach to interviewees, and in his manipulative media pronouncements -now foisted on viewers each evening at peak time, and always aimed at endorsing Neo Liberal ideology. He has maintained that dire stance throughout his career, admiring those who exhibit the most greed and reviling those who struggle under the weight and demands of the greedy few.

When I left TVNZ, I left with the most profound pity for such a dessicated human , so bereft of empathy or compassion for his fellow Kiwis, especially those who are facing difficulty or, God forbid, failure.

The year I did Breakfast with him, he went out of his way to undermine me in every way he could find. My goal became a very simple one…to get in early and sit quietly in that darkened studio and say a quiet resolution – a whispered prayer -asking for help so that I would never react and never never sink to his level. That I would maintain my own dignity and never let the hurts show in any overt reaction to his many attempts to humiliate and belittle.

It was a year of teeth-gritting, white knuckle survival. A quiet triumph. Every day. Over the passive and overt bullying.

I have never spoken of it in public until now, when it is relevant here, to the issue of the sort of man whom TVNZ have placed in such a position of influence.

I used to wonder if he would ever find that point where his lust for money or power could be satiated? If he would ever find authentic, not trumped-up happiness, on that heavy path of the pursuit of “still-more money”? And I wondered too what had shaped a man so lacking in human kindness?

I hope he can one day turn this around. He always wanted to be Paul Holmes but he never could emulate the real Paul. In spite of Paul’s self-admitted human fallibilities, Paul genuinely cared for people when he saw them suffering. He had a huge heart for Kiwis. Paul himself knew suffering.

I wonder if Mike has ever allowed himself to feel that vulnerability? Do those who won’t open to their own pain, risk becoming in-suffer-able?

I do not think he is a healthy touchstone for NZ broadcasting. I hope with time and perhaps some of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, himself, he can find a more real place, a more human face, a more caring heart for his fellow Kiwis. Until then, I wish for a far more empathetic nightly host to take his place at 7 pm. I endorse this petition.

Liz Gunn

Well said Liz.  If you want to sign the petition the link is here.

128 comments on “Mike Hosking should not be TVNZ’s frontman ”

  1. Colonial Viper 1

    If you want Hoskings to be fired, you’ll have to force the issue with TVNZ. How are you going to do that without some kind of pretty vindictive campaign. I doubt a carefully worded internet petition is going to help.

    • Paul 1.1

      Best solution.
      Don’t watch his show.

    • Halfcrown 1.2

      Personally I don’t have a problem with this bit of shit, the same way I don’t have problems with Garner Gower or Henry as I don’t watch them or turn off as soon as these ill informed right wing pricks come on the television.

      • Mary 1.2.1

        Turning off the television or changing channels when the likes of Hosking comes on is not the point. That being that his biased and cruel views are being foisted regularly on state-run television which to maintain its integrity should be far more impartial.

        • Rosie 1.2.1.1

          +1 Mary. It doesn’t matter whether you or I or many people commenting here don’t watch him. A very poor standard has been set by the state broadcaster, which is completely unacceptable.

          • Graham Townsend 1.2.1.1.1

            Mary, Rosie – totally agree with you. Hosking’s sardonic, flippant, self-congratulatory persona is destructive to NZ, because it buttresses those who share his retrograde, selfish and ignorant word-view.

    • weka 1.3

      Depends how many people sign.

    • Rocco Siffredi 1.4

      Perhaps a suitable hashtag would do the job, or maybe a cutting facebook post?

    • Gabby 1.5

      A pretty vindictive campaign sounds like just the ticket. Ideas?

    • AmaKiwi 1.6

      Hoskings might not get fired but he’s not going to get a raise and won’t get any more plum broadcasting slots.

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmH5A6QsqRY

      I could have mentioned the Vichy govt… but this will suffice.

  2. mac1 2

    The ‘explained why’ link takes me to Change.org opinions, not to any link to the opinions of Liz Gunn.

    [Now fixed – MS]

    I personally find Hoskings insufferably opinionated. I just don’t watch TV1 as a consequence. Why suffer? I have better things to do, better ways of being informed than spending viewing time with him.

    • Paul 2.1

      I don’t watch any programmes Hosking is on.
      Like mac1 , I have better things to do and better ways of being informed than spending viewing time with him.

      This show is a lot more interesting.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb_88xG-zgg

      • Kiwiri 2.1.1

        Yeah, that particular show gave me a lot more to think about and to change my views more than any local tv or video piece has done in many years. Recently started watching Waatea’s Political Wrap of the Week and have been looking forward to it live or streaming it on a Saturday.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2

        Interesting pieces of information in there. Apparently we have the most resources per capita of any country.

        So, why are we doing anything with those resources?

      • reason 2.1.3

        Hosking has always struck me as a Dummy …… possibly because Key sits beside him with his hand up mikes arse ……… they then do this ventriloquist trick where Hosking performs fellatio on the pm while appearing to speak into a microphone. ……

        Its a vulgar one trick act though and I wouldn’t want to see it again ……

        Humans who can actually think logically know that greed is bad and brings out the very worst in people and society.

        Fairness is what normal humans recognize as being good and it brings out the best in us.

        I usually go ‘eeww yuck’ if someone brings up the subject of Hosking in conversation and point out the inappropriateness of state television showing that kind of thing in prime time.

        Paying An expensive marionette for a cheap trick is not journalism.

      • Mosa 2.1.4

        Way too go Paul it’s a great format they just need help with funding.

  3. Colonial Viper 3

    Hoskings will use this petition at his next performance review as evidence of his relevance and pull with the wider community.

    • North 3.1

      Brilliant from Liz Gunn.

    • AmaKiwi 3.2

      CV, that won’t fly.

      The petition does NOT say he is interesting or amusing. It says TVNZ loses viewers (i.e., revenue) because this jerk is so repulsive to us.

      No way Hoskings can conjure up a positive spin on this petition.

      At very least Hoskings won’t get any raises or promotions if thousands sign that they hate his guts.

  4. Greg 4

    Hosking is just a TV presenter, he has no expertise outside his opinion on his worship of John Key, he would also love Al Capone. If people stopped listening to him, he will just fade away into obscurity. Any divorce will cost him most of his wealth.

    • AmaKiwi 4.1

      @ Greg

      “Hosking is just a TV presenter.” I don’t want to argue semantics with you, but as I understand it a “presenter” reads news items written by others.

      I say “Hoskings is a commentator” and agree with you “he has no expertise outside his opinion on his worship of John Key”

      Hoskings has as much expertise as the guys draped over the bar stools on either side of me. They can’t agree on whether the current PM is “that woman from Mt. Albert” or Donald Trump. As long as they keep buying I’m not going to challenge their realities.

  5. johno 5

    Bring back Campbell Live!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Dialey 5.1

      Campbell Live is back, just tune into Radio NZ every week day 5.00pm – 6.30pm, it’s called Checkpoint

      • srylands 5.1.1

        The only part of checkpoint worth watching is world watch. Campbell has turned a once good radio programme into an audio version of Campbell Live.

  6. Jenny 6

    Accompanying whichever mainstream news channel you watch to catch up with current events.

    Paul Henry, Mike Hosking, ensure that their right wing selfish views are rammed down people’s throats every night of the week.

  7. Dv 7

    Hosking is NOT a newcaster he is a purveyor of crap.
    In some respects it is useful as it gives an insight into the mind set of current arrogant ignorance.

    Best way to deal with him is ignore the ignorance

  8. Lucy 8

    Actually think Hosking is dangerous in a Fox News way. The views he and Paul Henry purvey give validity to a nasty section of society. The rich love them as do the disenfranchised, the spin that hard work makes you rich gives poor people hope and keeps them from questioning the premise. I signed the petition as I don’t want my money to be spent on a spokesman for any organisation that pays.

  9. Nick 9

    Isn’t Liz Gunn his wife?

    • Ross 9.1

      What, a wife can’t criticise her husband? 🙂

      No, his wife is Kate Hawkesby. They met I think on TV’s breakfast show and every show they did was as if they were on a date! Nauseating is an under-statement. They fawned over one another, all the while saying that their respective marriages were rock solid.

    • Astro 9.2

      Seriously? You need to get out more.

  10. jcuknz 10

    He is not part of my life as I gave TV away when it was necessary to change ones set
    … thanks TV you are not missed.

  11. Justme 11

    It is likely that Mike Hosking has become the mouth-piece of the John Key government.
    Fortunate as it is I do not get TVNZ on my telly and therefore whatever stupid things Mike Hosking says and does doesn’t affect me.
    However this guy does seem to have control and probably with the endorsement of John Key.
    Hosking has told Pora to move on. It’s kind of rich(excuse the intended pun here)of him(Hosking)saying such a thing. He hasn’t spent more than 20 years in a prison.
    And so we do see a lack of accountability by Mike Hosking for all the rubbish he says in the media. But when it is time for him to meet his Maker and be held to account for his actions then he may think and react differently.
    A man who is ruled by money, like Hosking is(and also John Key), is not a man but a slave to greed.

  12. Ross 12

    Some of Hosking’s haters appear to have joined the bandwagon only fairly recently. That surprises me.

    I mean, it’s been apparent for quite some time that he’s an arsehole. Four years ago he publicly criticised an older woman for having the temerity to accidentally damage the grill on his beloved Maserati car. He referred to her as a moron. Thankfully no one got hurt otherwise it might have gotten uglier. Road rage perhaps?

    His wife Kate Hawkesbay seems to share her hubby’s mentality.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10818146

  13. save nz 13

    Wow – congratulations on Liz Gunn for being so honest and actually speaking out against Hoskings bully boy antics, and against him advocating dangerous and uncaring garbage ideology every night!

    Very courageous and joining a growing list of TV presenters, journalists and others who are speaking out against what is very wrong in this country and the handful of presenters like Hoskings propping up a 1% greed mentality.

    • RedLogix 13.1

      Yes … we all have work colleagues who we don’t like, or cause problems … but working with a full blown, uncontrolled shithead like Hosking must have been awful. Debilitating awful, and my respect to her for surviving it with her dignity intact.

      The political question is … who in TVNZ management is protecting Hosking? Or is the entire organisation so degenerate that Hosking fits right in?

      • tc 13.1.1

        Nobody, methinks it comes via the SOE minister.

        The org is rather degenerate and hollowed out of journalistic integrity along with any serious capability to create quality NZ content. Which is what a state broadcaster should be doing.

        Just look at the current CEO to see what faraway places this govt sees TVNZ flying to.

  14. weka 14

    Incredible and brave statement by Gunn, good for her (might want to fix the link if possible)

    I wish the petition a had also focussed on journalistic integrity and TVNZ’s responsibilities as a public broadcaster.

  15. Richardrawshark 15

    Signed.

    FTH!

  16. Ross 16

    Oh and I remember Liz Gunn on TV. She came across as a genuine, gorgeous person. In other words, everything that Hosking isn’t.

    It must have been a nightmare working with him and explains why she quit suddenly.

  17. Takere 17

    Oh no I’m Not! I’m not greedy or am I a bigot or a racist. I have brown friends, sun-tanned mostly but Maori looking who like me aren’t racist at all. So my cuzzies and I consider ourselves to be normal, you know the majority so we’re sweet az with it. Yes we earn more than most of you people who just can’t get out of deficit thinking!? That’s a poor peoples problem. You have to project your worth, your wealth, affirmations really work. It’ll materialise right in front of you, seriously it does for me. If you believe in yourself then you’ll be rich like me and Kate and the kids and their grandad. It’s that easy, really it is. Ask successfully rich, good looking people how it was for them to become like us and they’ll tell you it doesn’t come easy. Most of them would say that they lived in struggle street in Takapuna long before they made it to Herne Bay at least until the inheritance money kicked in. So, this comment by this wahine, Lizzy Gunne seems to be rather disingenuous. She forgets that she got lucky when she came onto my show. I really pushed the boat out to get her on the couch with me because the higher ups didn’t think she was good enough? But I insisted it should be her because I knew if they went with their first choice, we’d end up with a prima-donna type presenter who’d be more of a distraction to the many fans of mine, who, quite frankly would switch off. F..k that Paul Henry dickshit! Haha! He’s a looser. TV3 can have him. Gotta go and pick up my Ferrari. Its getting “Detailed” so I’ve got to check the ash-tray and coin tray (Haha, coin tray) for a stray hundie Kate threw at me when we were arguing over who’s going to tell the bloody cleaner that they need to wear the uniform provided for her when she’s doing the house work because we have standards to up hold. Bloody neighbours and their expectations!

    • Anne 17.1

      Most of them would say that they lived in struggle street in Takapuna long before they made it to Herne Bay at least until the inheritance money kicked in.

      Very nice. 🙂

    • Olwyn 17.2

      You have to project your worth, your wealth, affirmations really work. It’ll materialise right in front of you, seriously it does for me. If you believe in yourself then you’ll be rich like me…

      Yup. The idea of public service in politics and vocation in journalism seems to have lately been displaced by some sort of shabby positive thinking cult. To look squarely at homelessness etc. is to let negative thoughts get in the way of positive self-affirmation, so it is to be avoided. And where someone like the queen of England has clothes and cars intended to uphold the standards associated with the public role of a monarch, these people have clothes and cars to affirm their private status as winners.

  18. mauī 18

    In my opinion when you have someone with so much power, so divorced from reality given a platform, it really says something about society, that most people have no idea what is really going on. Reality is going to rudely awaken society sooner or later.

    • Draco T Bastard 18.1

      +1

      Seems to be the end point of all Western Civilisations over the last 5000 years. The rich get control and reality takes a back seat to their desires. The society inevitably collapses because of such hubris.

      • Rae 18.1.1

        And it seems in these times of so much awareness of history, we are just going to let it happen all over again.
        A few years ago, I didn’t think I would see it myself, now I am not so sure.

  19. Jack Ramaka 19

    What I object to is this moron is getting paid with good hard earned tax payers money to prattle shit about his boyfriend John Key and the Natzi Regime?

    • srylands 19.1

      Can you explain how he is paid with taxpayer money?

      • red-blooded 19.1.1

        I guess Jack is assuming that TVNZ (the publicly-owned company) actually pays Hosking. And yes, I know that they create their own profits and presumably pay their employees from that revenue, but any money not paid out to Hosking at al is returned to the public, as we have provided the infrastructure that allows TVNZ to operate. It might be indirect, but I think we can see an employee of a state owned enterprise as an employee of the taxpayer.

        • srylands 19.1.1.1

          Don’t you think that Hosking is employed by TVNZ because the commercial revenue he generates exceeds his remuneration? That’s how commercial TV works.

          You can’t expect to agree with every broadcasting personality. Let it go. I would rather RNZ had not employed John Campbell. Because he is a twit and a communist I can’t listen to the radio on my commute. But some people like him so I will listen to something else. I don’t get all bitter about it.

          If Hosking didn’t have an audience he wouldn’t be paid. Don’t like him then don’t watch him.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1.1.1.1

            The revenue “he” generates is in fact a team effort. I wouldn’t expect a delusional leech like you to understand that.

            • RedLogix 19.1.1.1.1.1

              I was thinking that being a self-made successful winner-man, srylands should start up his own TV station, employ Hosking and make an absolute killing.

              I mean … what a wasted greed opportunity.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                S Rylands and the National Party: a sophist in the employment of incompetence and fear.

          • Ross 19.1.1.1.2

            Campbell is neither a twit nor a communist but I can see how you might feel inadequate compared to someone with his abilities.

          • Puddleglum 19.1.1.1.3

            If Hosking didn’t have an audience he wouldn’t be paid. Don’t like him then don’t watch him.

            Yes, this is certainly the most concerning aspect of Mike Hoskings’ situation. That so many New Zealanders seem to feel so at ease with the kinds of values and attitudes Mike Hosking expresses both on and – according to Liz Gunn – off camera raises questions about the general moral perceptiveness of the population. (Or at least it raises questions as to whether or not such people believe that general moral considerations should take precedence over values such as ‘entertainment’ or the spectacle of hearing someone publicly say something outrageous.)

            The poorly thought through, inconsistent, anti-PC rhetoric he so often indulges in is clearly popular yet also clearly vacuous.

            For example, ‘Greed is good’?

            I don’t think any serious thinker has ever endorsed that sentiment. (Perhaps some amateur re-thinking of Adam Smith’s analysis of self-interest and market economies might lead some slipshod thinking in that direction – but I doubt that Hosking has spent much time (mis)analysing Smith’s ideas in that way.)

            I’m also surprised to hear that John Campbell believes that property should be held in common. Evidence?

          • red-blooded 19.1.1.1.4

            I’ve got a couple of comments for you, srylands:
            1) I doubt whether it’s possible for TVNZ to really know how much commercial revenue is generated by Hosking and Hosking alone, sitting there in what has always been a prime spot and with an (awful, brain-dulling) change of focus and format along with changes of presenters. Even if it is possible, though, that doesn’t change the argument about having some balance on our state-owned TV channels. I don’t even need a voice for the left, as such; it would just be good not to have random right-wing rants going unchallenged as presented as some kind of insight or wisdom at the end of each show.
            2) “Don’t like him, don’t watch him” – (I”ve been kind enough to add the requisite comma). That would be fine if the main concern was what people on this site like to watch on TV. The bigger issue, though, is that we have overtly biased rubbish being presented to the wider public as wisdom and/or political insight and savvy. When there’s no attempt (ever) to find a countering voice, that’s worrying. It shapes the thinking of the wider public, and gives people only one viewpoint.
            3) That’s the same viewpoint (in the same voice) that’s pushed out through lots of other media, day after day. I had that same issue when it was Paul Holmes who was king of the airwaves; there shouldn’t be any one person in that position, and if it’s happening in the private sector then the public stations should provide an alternative. That’s a big part of the reason why we have public TV and radio.
            4) John Campbell a communist? Are you kidding me? The man is a dewy-eyed liberal. I’m glad he’s back on air because he’s a good broadcaster, but he’s certainly not a communist (and neither am I).

            Hosking and Henry are both toxic.

            • Jackjet 19.1.1.1.4.1

              Typical left wing. All for free speech until it differs from their viewpoint. Hoskins calls a spade a spade and the left hate it. And what about rnz?? Full left wing wowsers. I choose not to listen to it rather than get bitter and twisted.

          • save nz 19.1.1.1.5

            Any monkey can probably be on TV1 and still get high ratings after the 1 news.

            How about put on John Campbell instead on TV1 and see the ratings soar.

            It’s crap saying Hoskings is responsible for TV1 success.

            Put him on channel 4 at 10pm on Thursdays, and see how many supporters Hoskings gets then!

            But seriously the TV ratings are a joke, you can take them seriously when they only survey 600 people out of a 4.5 mill population. It shows how dumb marketing people are, that they take TV ratings that seriously when they spend their advertising accounts based on lotto probabilities.

          • Johan 19.1.1.1.6

            To srylands: I can just see you checking under your bed each night for the commies;-))) You must patrol your property in a camouflaged outfit just in case, what a moron.

          • mikes 19.1.1.1.7

            Hey Srylands what about that $1,000 bet??? Or do you just talk a lot and never back it up with action???

  20. Open mike 20

    I don’t watch any programme including Mike Hosking; same goes for listening.

  21. Reality 21

    Can’t watch Hosking. His sneering, lip-curling, supercilious face spouting his self-opinionated “I am always right” mantra is more than I can take. I can even tolerate Paul Henry before him. PH can sometimes be funny at least.

    How honest and brave of Liz Gunn to speak out on what it was like working with Hosking.

    As for telling Mr Pora to move on – his father-in-law did not do that without claiming a massive pay out for a very brief tenure at whichever TV channel it was at the time. Obviously MH’s view is that Mr Pora is not one of the “deserving” ones.

    • Ross 21.1

      I’m surprised Hosking doesn’t support Pora. Hosking is a big fan of David Bain’s claim for compo, notwithstanding that there’s considerable evidence Bain murdered his family.

      Hosking just can’t get a break. 🙂

      But you’re right, John Hawkesby was paid $6.5 million for 24 days’ work and didn’t have to spend a day in prison to collect. Pora’s compo of $2.52 million for 21 years at Her Majesty’s pleasure is an insult.

  22. Richardrawshark 22

    Can’t we export his special talents to Fox or something, we need a good oversea’s posting for Mike, something his vanity would go for, we should post clips of him at his best to some famous right wing foreign news agencies and hope they lure him away with the only thing that will, more money and fame.

  23. Gerald 23

    Recently I went on to youtube and watched a number of past interviews with NZ politicians. The interviewers were informed, polite and pressed for answers. Today, with one or two exceptions, we have uniformed bad mannered and narcissistic “interviewers”; todays situation cannot be accidental. So do as I do and turn the box off.

    • Incognito 23.1

      Indeed, but news ‘readers’ and weather ‘presenters’ nowadays don’t’ just “read” or “present”, do they? They have (be)come to play a bigger part of it (participants) and it’s now almost (?) part of their job description to give ‘interviews’ to woman’s magazines and appear in other media (e.g. Twitter, blogs, newspapers, etc.).

      The so-called “anchors” have become the faces of competing channels and, as such, are the flag-bearers of these commercial enterprises.

      To a degree this has spilled over into the written media as well; often we encounter the exact same ‘celebrities’ and ‘TV personalities’ writing ‘opinion pieces’ in the NZ Herald, for example.

      But it goes much further than that; in politics the focus also seems to have shifted to the politicians and away from the politics. Case in point: John Key and KDS and the way John Key (the person) and #TeamKey front the National Party.

      In the US we have celebrity judges who have their own show on TV known as TV court judges (e.g. Judge Judy). Here in NZ members of judiciary also have featured more prominently in the ‘news’ in recent years.

      However, in this time of instant gratification, hedonistic consumption, self-promotion and selfishness, emphasis on personal development & responsibility and ego worship, vacuous & superficial narcissism, and empty & hollow rhetoric and misleading mass manipulation (propaganda), to name just a few related & connected traits, there are still a few ‘atavisms’ or ‘relics’ around. For example, many so-called editorials are still anonymous.

      Interestingly, in the unfolding story of Paula Bennett’s ‘leak’ this was said:

      John Gillespie, TVNZ’s Head of News and Current Affairs, said TVNZ had already confirmed a One News journalist was approached with information. “We’re not naming the journalist because they’re not the story here.”

      This is ironic because Rebecca Wright was or became very much part of the story. I wonder whether Mr Gillespie would have said a similar thing if it had involved Mike Hosking, for example – I doubt it somehow.

      In short, Mike Hosking and others like him are a sign of the times.

  24. Mosa 24

    I don’t invite any mainstream current affairs shows like Horrible Hosking Horrible Henery, Ghastly Garner , Greasing Gower into my home or any other device, that goes for ZB and other blatant right wing outlets.
    Well done Liz Gunn for speaking out , that took guts !
    I will watch Waatea Fifth Estate knowing i am getting a realistic format that is not controlled by faceless people under corporate and this government’s influence and that talks about real bread and butter issues.
    Campbell live was killed because Key or his ministers would not front knowing he would ask them tough questions and want answers and it was making them look bad and they had no control over its content.
    Just look what’s replaced it !
    I have signed as a protest but realistically their audience share is so high TVNZ will be looking at advertising revenue and not concerned about Hosking and Amy Adams won’t move against a prime time govt propaganda friend like Horrible Hosking who dominates morning and again at night spewing vitriol and nasty anti left crap.
    My wife used to work for TRN(Radio Network) and whenever Key made an appearance they weren’t allowed out of their offices for the duration of his visit and DPS guys were posted everywhere compared to Clark it was complete overkill and at least you could use the toilet when she was visiting.

    • whispering kate 24.1

      Mosa, The PM is a paranoid weakling over his safety – I wrote in another post a couple of days ago about how he has an armed detail following him around within the Parliament inner sanctum. Considering to get into the building to do a tour of the place is worse than LAX airport, hats, bags, jewellery, belts all had to go through a camera and then a wand was waved over us as well, it was crazy stuff really over the top security and then bags etc are taken off you and returned at the tour’s end – Canberra’s Parliamentry complex is much more casual and my partner commented as such to the detail at the gates going in. So why on earth would the PM need armed details guarding him within the parliament complex beggars belief.

      I can well understand why the Radio network went into lockdown when he visited, doesn’t surprise me at all. He has a detail which lives on his property – total over the top self-importance methinks.

      • lprent 24.1.1

        Helen had a detail as well. However Helen also made sure that the security details were always unobtrusive.

        • weka 24.1.1.1

          Hi Lynn, when you have a moment, can you please have a look at why all my comments are going to moderation? cheers.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 24.1.1.2

          Representatives are lightning rods whether they will it or not. It goes with the territory. The more they increase “security” the greater the lengths the violent will go.

          Personally I’d rather MPs take society (mental healthcare, for example) seriously or face the consequences.

  25. Melanie 25

    #Respect to Liz Gunn.
    She confirmed everything I believed about Mike Hosking as true when her Facebook post came through my feed last night.

  26. Philj 26

    Amazing. Thankyou for the information Liz. Yet somehow, I was not surprised. It doesn’t reflect well on the standards of our National broadcaster which promotes and rewards such a person. TVNZ needs a major review, revamp and restructure. I don’t watch anymore, why would I? If you want to be entertained or informed there are much better options available.

  27. Byd0nz 27

    The corporate media machine dont want humanists fronting its misinformation spreader, no no no. But the likes of people mentioned in other posts, all have something in common with a lot of you, that is, they keep voting for crapitalism instead of to smash the dirty rotten system you support.

  28. Ad 28

    Hosking’s divisiveness rates well, so he stays.

    Pull up u tubes on how to prepare for a successful interview with O’Reilly. Vilifying the media is a stupid mistake of losers.
    Prepare better for interviews, with meticulous planning, and win the people.

  29. Herodotus 29

    To me the most effective means of challenging someone or an idea is with comedy. I am sure many here are familiar with Mr. Wells work.If not here are a few links 🙂
    http://www.hauraki.co.nz/listen/radio-hauraki-audio-vault/jeremy-wells-like-mike-hosking-rant-john-campbell/
    http://www.watchme.co.nz/entertainment/like-mike/summer-holidays/
    http://watchme.co.nz/entertainment/like-mike/

  30. Mrs Brillo 30

    I do not find Hosking divisive. Not in our household, anyway – because none of us watch the Toxic Tit. Nor ever will.

    In fact, TVNZ has so few programmes that engage us that we just tape the one or two that do (You Can’t Get the Staff, for me; Mastermind for Mr Brillo) and watch them SANS ADS at our leisure. Often at 7pm.

    So put that in your advertisers’ pipe and smoke it, TVNZ.

    • Mosa 30.1

      Thank God for modern technology
      It was only two tv channels not that long ago.

    • seeker 30.2

      “Toxic Tit”. Excellent description Mrs. Brillo@1.16pm. Even snappier than Toxic Twit, and far more reflective of his ‘toxicity’.

      Mikey T.T. Hosking……..a stunted human. What a sad ‘life state’ to achieve. Is there any hope that he may recover from his severe G.G. condition in this life time?

  31. NZJester 31

    I hardly watch TV these days as there is so much scripted so-called reality TV. You just have to go on the internet to find out the truth behind a lot of these reality shows and how fake they are. Pawn Stars, for instance, is filmed on a set that has been made to match the inside of their real shop with vetted objects and experts lined up before the shoot to come appraise the objects. Even if the items are fake the people walk away with money in their pockets for being on the show.
    Auction Hunters with Allen Haff and Clinton ‘Ton’ Jones is known to have put items into the units for them to find. Their German handyman in a few episodes of the shows was played by a well known YouTuber Flula Borg that has now also appeared in a couple of big movies in 2015. “Pitch Perfect 2” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”
    A lot of what Mike Hosking says seems scripted by the National party dirty tricks men.
    I imagine they have to limit how often he can see the PM as the humping he does of John Keys leg must get a bit irritating for him after a while!

  32. Observer Toke 32

    . The Face of Radio National New Zealand

    . If you happen to be visiting NZ you will find Mike Hosking presenting himself and his shallow philosophy of greed, nil compassion. and shameful dismissiveness.

    If you mute the TV but watch his body language you will be distressed by his constant facial distortions – as would be typical of disturbed patients. Also his uncontrolled uncool “flirting” with the Female presenting alongside him is disturbing and abnormal.

    He never provides a single thought of a solution to any issue. Which is unfortunate.

    However if Radio National New Zealand (the so called premium TV and News source for this country) wishes to have such a man representing them, you will probably sense that RNZ is the lowest quality of current affairs TV available here or anywhere in the world.

    If Mike Hosking is ill (and therefore requiring careful care) I can understand his difficulties. If he is just an abysmally shallow mantra driven, unintelligent fool then i feel he should be relieved of his strange role. He is not funny.

    • seeker 32.1

      @Observer Toke@2.18pm

      I don’t think Hosking is on RNZ, he is on Newstalk run by NZME.
      Many unedifying or lightweight people work on this radio station including Larry Williams, Rachel Smalley, Leighton Smith, Kerry McIvor and most infamously Tony Veirch.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newstalk_ZB

      • Observer Toke 32.1.1

        .
        .@ Seeker. Apologies, I meant to say he appeared on TV 1. Thanks for listing those who wallow around in the shallows.

        You need an intellect to swim in deeper waters.

  33. infused 33

    Liz is a baby. Talk about holding a grudge.

    • Observer Toke 33.1

      .
      .@infused

      .Nice to meet you. You should not be ashamed of being confused. Obviously you were there every time the twitchy distorted disapproving face and Liz appeared on camera.

      I know you would never lie on this blog, which is designed for grown ups. Not for tunnel eyed autistics, repeating the same mantras endlessly. Which you do for the Tory establishment.

      Would you take me along to Ms Boag’s place one night please? I will bring a Tory Baby with me – okay? And you can change its’ shitty napkin.

      Good to meet you.

    • reason 33.2

      Liz sounds like a decent and intelligent women ….

      Infused shows yet again he is ugly right wing troll who lies a lot…

    • One Anonymous Bloke 33.3

      Seldom in the history of wingnut commentary has a wingnut revealed so much of themselves in so few words.

      Let’s talk about it*

      *not you, Infused.

  34. Don't worry. Be happy 34

    Watched Hoskings by accident a few weeks ago. His fly was undone. The sort of thing tv crew are paid to ensure does not go to air. I suspected at the time that someone on the team think he’s a tosspot and let that slide.

    • Richardrawshark 34.1

      I thought that, i’m old my eyes are going bad, then I thought I was seeing double, I’m sure the pathetic fool has fancy pants with like two or more zips in a look at my spectacular package narcissistic kind of way.

      I wonder if his expensive jeans are made in some sweat shop somewhere ?

    • Philj 34.2

      Hope you are recovering from your nasty accident. You will have to be more careful when switching on your television set. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Watching television can be injurious to your health and should come with a health warning. lol

  35. Stuart Munro 35

    TVNZ is merging with Mediaworks anyway though isn’t it? The whole thing will have to be scrapped – not just Hosking.

  36. wahinetoa 36

    respect to Liz Gunn for her honesty and to voice what the people also have noted of this narcissist commentator – we place these journalists behind a desk and then think they are experts on current events. They are not.

    As a journalist his job was simply to allow the voices of the real experts, the people to be heard – but instead he gives his opinions on issues he has not experience on and has no insight on at all – and that is the mark of true arrogance.

    He speaks of how people are victims of their own doing and it is not the culture of the country or the influence of Government. The Govt influence us from before we are born till after we are dead, they are the initiators of the overall culture of this country as a whole through law and policy instructing the norms of which we are to live –

    He is hired not to be insightful or to be informative but to be the Don Trump of tv – and he does this role well by spouting controversial and rich vs poor /pakeha vs maori / right wing vs left wing propaganda so that the public respond – after all any publicity good or bad was always considered to be a positive – so we need to vote by turning off the tv about paul hoskings and show we are not gullible and we will not give a shit about some upstart snob

    • Observer Toke 36.1

      .
      . @Wahinetoa

      . As I say, Hosking might be in need of acute care. In which case it is wrong of the torys to put him out for ridicule daily.

      However Lady toa, what you have written goes beyond just the incredibly rude and untalented Hosking. You have written the script for good Current Affairs – free from wealth; free from bias; free from stupid ego.

      Thanks for contributing to this important topic. Also thanks for not rating Liz Gunn as an infant.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 36.2

      Agree in all respects except one: it’s important to be aware of Hosking and others’ hate speech, in order to better defend citizens* against them.

      *and residents

  37. Little Kiwi 37

    Check out Like Mike on watch me. Jeremy Wells does the best voice impression. The show started because he wanted to get ratings like Mike. I watch Like Mike more often than I watch Mike on TV and think he should do a daily skit. People are veering away from mainstream media because it’s so tainted with bias and like watching paint dry.

    http://www.watchme.co.nz/entertainment/like-mike/foreign-trusts/

    • Repateet 37.1

      I don’t watch TV at 7.00pm during the week. When Hosking comes on radio Sport in the mornings to do his daily spout there I turn the radio to another station.

  38. newsense 38

    Surely he is a symptom of the destruction of the media as a check on power, rather than a cause? A popular symptom, with a lot of momentum, but a symptom nonetheless?
    Making a partisan campaign to get rid of him will only make the polarisation of broadcasting worse surely? Though the campaign to get rid of Campbell was fairly effective!

  39. Observer Toke 39

    . @Seeker
    . Thanks for the link to Hosking roasting.
    . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newstalk_ZB

    . Perhaps my sadness over Hosking, is not his lack of compassion and his inability to put himself in the shoes of the people he insults, but that he has missed the greatest major event in his lifetime. He could have used TV for noble purpose. He chooses not to.

    He does not realise, let alone discuss the fact that more and more of the world’s wealth belongs to fewer and fewer persons. So he blames the many while he praises the wealthy few. So sick.

    He is dumb. His yellow car looks surprisingly slummy. Yellow is the colour of cowards, isn’t it?

  40. Paul 40

    Hosking is merely a symptom of New Zealand’s disease.
    Neo-liberalism creates people like Hosking.
    To solve the problem, change the system.

    • Colonial Viper 40.1

      Manwhile we run petitions to get rid of Hosking, not petitions to get rid of TVNZ’s commercial focus.

      That’s how myopic the Left has grown.

      • Kiwiri 40.1.1

        not myopic for the neo-liberal Left, though 😛

      • Observer Toke 40.1.2

        .To Colonial Viper

        . I think you have a good policy CV. Establish a quality TV Station and Radio News that has no commercial input; no political bias; and a goal to be the premium TV and News service in New Zealand. I think New Zealanders would welcome it.

        . I also think that petitioning seriously for the removal of any employee within any public media is a democratic right, to be resolved by appropriate Counsel.

        It does not cut across your good policy of setting up a baggage free, informative, entertaining, Flagship Service. It would also carry major sporting and artistic events.

        Parliament would also define “Freedom of the Press” to encompass the truth that there is no freedom to report in a biased manner. Let Truth talk for itself.

        • Colonial Viper 40.1.2.1

          . I think you have a good policy CV. Establish a quality TV Station and Radio News that has no commercial input; no political bias; and a goal to be the premium TV and News service in New Zealand. I think New Zealanders would welcome it.

          Of course, it’s hardly a groundbreaking idea; in the days before the rule of commercialism and the free market, we had this thing called ‘public broadcasting.’

      • Incognito 40.1.3

        The petition was started by a guy by the name of Dan Wayman, Wellington, New Zealand, six days ago!

        Please explain how this corroborates your claim that the left has a (grown) myopic view.

        I assume you did read the motivation for the petition and that supporters of it “expect that TVNZ act as a responsible and mature public broadcaster”. [my bold]

  41. M. Gray 41

    He will never be the man Paul Holmes was . Paul loved our country and NZ people , he was kind , caring and genuine. Paul was not perfect and neither are any of us but he was not like Hoskings who is judgemental, one sided, bias and downright nasty.
    Also how come he is allow to voice is own one eyed opinion and others don’t appear to be able to do this on channel one

  42. Mike Bond 42

    Why is there so much negativity towards a TV presenter? If you don’t like the show, don’t watch it! Seven Sharp has the highest ratings ever, so do you seriously think a petition is going to have any effect? Some people have to much time on their hands for crap! For the record, I never watch the show because of Hosking, but I do see that the ratings are very high and that was part of the reason John Campbell got the sack. But the again I never enjoyed Campbell Live either!

    • RedLogix 42.1

      You need to keep in mind that popular does not necessarily = ‘good idea’. In fact history is littered with popular ideas and movements that turned out to be absolute cluster fucks.

      Nor does the opposite hold true either, un-popular does not necessarily = ‘good idea’ either. History is littered with fringe crack-pots who wasted their lives in well deserved obscurity.

      Yet it is a logical truth that all good ideas have their genesis in obscurity; all new truth emerges from the mind of one person. While at the same time the vilest propaganda and lies are accepted as unquestioned reality in the minds of millions.

      So then it is worth asking … how as a society do we determine what is good or bad? My opinion is that Hosking is bad. And I believe if we let his state sponsored, social engineering experiment run long enough, we will eventually discover the objective evidence he is bad.

      It is not too hard to make a reasoned prediction; Hosking is a mouthpiece for a neo-liberal ideology that is failing everywhere. Any reason why you think it will not just bring more failure to New Zealand Mike?

      • Mike Bond 42.1.1

        I can then say Patrick Gower is anti National and should therefor also be banned! The problem in this country is that we allow reporters/journalists etc. get away with biased, unsubstantiated and slanders comments. Many times these comments can be detrimental to us as a country but there are no consequences and they all get away with it. Little had to apologise fro taking someone on based on a news paper article that turns out to be incorrect! I can imagine the confusion amongst the younger up and coming kids as they reach a voting age. They are bombarded with garbage from both sides based on hearsay and facts are never an issue. I can see why we have the missing millions that I am sure stay away from voting and politics because it has become such a circus!

      • Incognito 42.1.2

        Yet it is a logical truth that all good ideas have their genesis in obscurity; all new truth emerges from the mind of one person.

        This comment truly fascinates me!

        My thoughts on this are exactly the opposite: all (good) ideas have their genesis in the open, right under our noses and in front of our very eyes. It is just that the initial seed is often too small to detect, has to undergo morphogenesis to take its ultimate shape & form, and its development may be too slow to detect as well. In addition, ideas evolve and transform into new ideas.

        I also have a different view on the second aspect: when ideas have been germinating for long enough (?) often they ‘sprout up’ at the same time in more than one place or mind. This is a little alike Jung’s idea of synchronicity and our inter-connectedness with and through the collective unconscious. Arguably, this is the mind of one ‘person’ but possibly not what you meant.

  43. “Why is there so much negativity towards a TV presenter?”
    Good question, Mike. Why do you think Hosking is so disliked?
    Have you any inkling at all?

    • Mike Bond 43.1

      Mike Hosking is a prized prat! An arrogant fool and nothing else! That is why I do not watch his show! End of! Does it upset me? No! He is not worth getting upset about! He is not worth drawing petitions up as ratings unfortunately says he will only benefit from any petition! Why do you think John Campbell was chopped? Ratings and nothing more!

  44. Nigel Cameron 44

    Mike Hosking is so stupid he thinks he’s a genius . He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. I saw him in public a few months back, severe hunchback, like a deformity, very small and weak looking. Just get more side on standing photos of him out there and he’ll be fired pretty quick. In the infantile word of TV it’s a bad image that will snuff out a career faster than mere lack of intellect or normal human empathy etc.. There should be no state funded TV , just another example of snouts in the public purse. Why should our taxes fund this imbecile’s ludicrous salary. Seize the Maserati as a state asset.

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    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
    4 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?
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
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    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
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    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
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    11 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
    13 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
    14 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
    1 day 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
    6 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 ...
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    6 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 ...
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    6 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, ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    7 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
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • 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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    1 week ago
  • 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
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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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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