On national’s smear tactics

Written By: - Date published: 9:34 pm, September 25th, 2013 - 100 comments
Categories: crosby textor, same old national, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

As Irish predicted, the Nats continued their desperate smear campaign today with the revelation that David Cunliffe doesn’t actually have a qualification he never actually claimed to have. Honestly, you couldn’t make this shit up.

The irony is that this latest desperate spin came at the same time as Mathew Hooton’s kamikaze smear was proved to be fraudulent by timesheets showing Cunliffe worked on the Fonterra merger (before it was called Fonterra).

Just on the Hooton interview I’d recommend that all readers post a complaint to Radio New Zealand about this. Their complaints form is here, the radio broadcasting standards are here (PDF), and the BSA guide to the complaint process is here. I’d suggest that standard five (accuracy) and standard six (fairness) are the best grounds for complaint. You’ll need to list the date, time, and name of the programme (Monday 23rd September, 11:06am, Nine to Noon).

To be fair, Katherine Ryan gave her best shot at an immediate remedy before Hooton shouted her down however as a broadcaster they have a responsibility to avoid these situations. Not having Hooton on air would be about the only way to do so for sure.

But back to the Nat’s dirty tricks machine. To his credit Felix Marwick asked the nats about whether they were doing opposition research on Cunliffe today. Their answer?

Acting Prime Minister Bill English denies National has any involvement in the checking up on the New Lynn MPs background.

That’s right. Labour has a new leader who is already polling high enough to knock the government out of play and they’re not really interested in figuring out who he is at all. Not even a quick google. Either National’s dark arts team have got lazy to the point of total negligence or English is lying through his teeth. I think we all know which is the most plausible scenario.

As an aside, John Key’s Chief Press Sec, Kevin Taylor, stepped back into a more strategic role a few months ago. The word at the time was his new role included acting as a liaison for Crosby Textor contractors. If that’s true, National should be asking for their money back.

100 comments on “On national’s smear tactics ”

  1. gobsmacked 1

    It’s worth noting the back-pedaling from Nat-hacks today. A sure sign they know they’ve screwed up.

    One was Hooton’s comments in the Stuff article, a noticeable climbdown from his “liar” rant on RNZ. The other was Farrar on Radio Live (approx 5.25 pm, audio should be on their website) when Mike Williams said Hooton should apologise, Duncan Garner said Hooton had gone too far, and Farrar was quick to distance himself. DPF is no mug, he knows when it’s not working for his team. And it clearly isn’t.

    • Tracey 1.1

      nah it’s part of DF’s stratey to paint himself as the voice of reason and moderation. Hooten goes off on one, and is therefore in the extreme position… in comes DF looking all reasonable and even-handed. Common tactic.

  2. Fairfax news can now report that David Cunliffe has had to confess to yet another ‘mistake’ about how he has been trying to present himself to the public of New Zealand.

    He was overheard, last Tuesday, to quip, in response to a question about his personal grooming, that he always get’s his hair styled at a local barber. Fairfax enquiries, however, have determined that no such hairstyling happens at ‘Joe’s Barber’s’.

    “Hair styling? No, not me”, said Joe looking confused. “I only do hair cuts“.

    When approached by a Fairfax reporter, political savant Matthew Hooton exclaimed that “This Cunliffe guy has a real cheek. Here we are again faced with yet another ‘mistake’ being put about to make him look better than he his. So, he wants us to think that his personal hair grooming is of a high quality does he?

    “And to think this man expects New Zealanders to elect someone as Prime Minister who has such a loose relation to the facts about his true self? Unbelievable!”

    Fairfax have contacted Roget’s Thesaurus to check out the validity of Cunliffe’s defence that “hairstyling means the same thing as haircutting today”.

    Fairfax is committed to reporting further on this breaking story once a response from the world famous compiler of a thesaurus is received.”

  3. chris73 3

    I think we all know which is the most plausible scenario.

    – You forget about the ABC club because thats where I’d put your money on

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 3.1

      Watchu talk’n bout Chris73? Eddie didn’t forget the ABCers? Bot Nat’s research team and strategists were mentioned. The are:

      Awfully
      Big
      Con-artists

    • miravox 3.2

      ABC? Not a chance in the world chris. This has NAct attack written all over it.

    • Hanswurst 3.3

      “You forget about the ABC club because thats where I’d put your money on”

      Typical NActoid, itching to gamble with other people’s hard-earned wealth.

      • chris73 3.3.1

        Damn straight

        But seriously are you lot all saying that somehow the ABCs have suddenly changed their minds about Cunliffe and are now right behind him?!?!?

        Sounds interesting because its kind of the same thing they said about being united behind Shearer and being united behind Goff…

        But I’m sure its different this time 🙂

        • Hanswurst 3.3.1.1

          Can you point to instances where members of the Labour caucus called Goff’s or Shearer’s CV into question?

        • miravox 3.3.1.2

          “But seriously are you lot all saying that somehow the ABCs have suddenly changed their minds about Cunliffe and are now right behind him?!?!?”

          No. I’m saying they’re keeping quiet. It’s in their interest to do so.

          If the polls go the way of this first one, then they may get united behind Cunliffe – because it then will be in their interests to do so as well.

        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 3.3.1.3

          @Chris73
          Nope, I’m saying that there are con-artists in NZ who will say anything to get NZers voting against their own interests.

          We need to stop buying into their framing.

  4. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 4

    Who pays for the textor-crosby bill?
    How much do they cost?

    • chris73 4.1

      Probably more then blue star but then they get better results 🙂

    • Well blue leopard I would presume that the huge amounts of money that Textor-Crosby spend on their anti Left campaigns is The Democratic Union via the Pacific Union. Just remember the senior party on the DU ,Is the Republic Party USA . You know the “Gone by Lunch Time “crowd. Also no doubt the financiers of the infamous Cossack adverts in Muldoon years .

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 4.2.1

        Thanks Pink Postman, I didn’t about them and am looking them up now.

        I think it must be the Democrat Union.

        (Not democratic, far from it. Demonic perhaps?)

  5. Rogue Trooper 5

    ffs.

  6. Wonder when Matthew Hooten’s conflicts of interest will come home to roost?

    How can he publicly and repeatedly attack the Opposition ICT spokesperson at the same time he advises the Coalition of Fair Internet Pricing. If Fran O’Sillivan has reported correctly today that Hooten is providing PR advice to the Coalition, then its an irreconcilable conflict of interest.

  7. amirite 7

    And another alarmist editorial piece from the National Herald, they’re calling Cunliffe ‘dangerous’:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11130101

    Is it just me, or has the Herald managed to put their foot into their mouth, right here:

    “The Reserve Bank is not expecting to bring about a fall in house prices next month. Its loan-to-value restriction is intended only to slow the rate at which prices have been rising, particularly in Auckland.

    When it announced the proposed restriction the Prime Minister made it known the Government wanted an exemption for first-home seekers. The bank was unmoved, pointing out that first-home buyers were about 30 per cent of low-deposit borrowers and they had to be included if the measure was to be effective.”

    But when Cunliffe plans to do the same, it’s bad news?

    • Colonial Viper 7.1

      I quite like the editorial actually. It makes it clear how skewed and biased Granny actually is, and also reminds people of how successive governments have fucked the housing market and that banks are in the middle of it.

    • Rogue Trooper 7.2

      ASB cancelled pre-approved finance to low deposit lenders under new LVR requirements.

  8. felix 8

    “Honestly, you couldn’t make this shit up.”

    Not honestly, no.

    • Tracey 8.1

      Or as Key so eloquently put it yesterday “it hasn’t seemed necessary to be honest”

      Now THAT’s a billboard right there.

      • Harriet 8.1.1

        I think you are not reading into what Key is really saying, that is :

        It is already well known that David misleads people.

        As DPF said over the same matter, “….David already has an impressive CV, there is no need for him to then ‘pad’ it.” –

        DPF is referring to the fact that David had said that he had done work for the Auckland City Mission – he had alright – doing something very small for someone who was doing something bigger for the Mission at that time.

        just sayin.

        • Tracey 8.1.1.1

          Hi Harriet

          Key was commenting on Nick Smith not David Cunliffe.

          Can you post all the links to wear DF critiques Key’s “misleading” statements.

          Wont raise taxes
          Will pay down debt from asset sale proceeds
          Labour locked us into the BMW’s
          Labour locked us into the financial guarantee scheme for SCF

          and many more.

          Still having a litany of misleading statements hasn’t harmed Key now has it?

        • Jenny Kirk 8.1.1.2

          Harriet – you really are dragging the chain…… its getting boring.

          Tracey – where did you see that Key quote please – where he said “it hasn’t seemed necessary to be honest”

            • Jenny Kirk 8.1.1.2.1.1

              Ah ! Ta, Tracey. This is the second time Key has used the word “honest” that I’ve noticed.
              The first time was when he was talking about NZ being an “honest broker” for the seat in the Security Council.
              If you repeat something sufficiently often – so political legend has it – then people start to believe it. Is this an attempt by Key to portray himself as “honest” ? ? ? Just wondering.

          • karol 8.1.1.2.2

            Yeah, agreed Jenny, really boring. Shows how little the righties have to challenge Cunliffe with.

            John Key, Steven Joyce, Nick Smith, etc too many dodgy cronyist deals – see BLip’s long list of lies and misinformation re-John Key.

  9. outofbed 9

    I just complained about Hooten using the above process it was really simple and straight forward took under a minute

  10. Tony Moder 10

    Hi there I cant believe the muck raking going on here ,its disgusting ,but also brings out of the shadows some of the dirty activity that is really behind this National govt ,it also smacks of extreme desperation their current slander and character assasination ,National are fair %&*^%*&^% themselves so go David Cunliffe and Labour just keep that pressure on ,keep that policy and take out this Govt .

    • Tracey 10.1

      Tony

      Still waiting for the avalanche of National supporters decrying the dirty tactics they claim their party doesnt indulge in. Not holding my breath. So far Chris73 has avoiding this by pretending labour is supplying the ammunition to Hooten

      • David H 10.1.1

        Tracey, I await the latest missive, in the sorry story writing for the Hootens horseshit column. NOT.

  11. Delia 11

    Katherine Ryan has just confirmed on National radio that David Cunliffe did work as he stated and they have seen the documents. They have apologised for the inaccuracy of the statements made last week.

  12. gobsmacked 12

    At 9.08 am on Radio NZ, Katherine Ryan has apologised on air for Hooton’s comments, citing the documentation received from Cunliffe’s office.

    No indication of Hooton apologising, or whether he will contine to appear on the programme.

  13. Te Reo Putake 13

    Ouch! Kathryn Ryan has just read out a fulsome apology for Hooton’s liar claim about Cunliffe, including a a summary of the work it’s now confirmed Cunliffe did on the formation of Fonterra. I guess we know who the real liar is now.

    edit, as noted by Delia and Gobsmacked above

    • Tracey 13.1

      Sadly it wont stop him putting out more…

      First the House in Herne Bay
      Second the Fonterra stuff
      Third the Harvard stuff

      And as long as the media give him oxygen this particular parasite will thrive. It is NOT journalism to regurgitate Hooten, or anyone else’s lies. It is their job to sift through the allegation, investigate and if found wanting dont print.

    • Ad 13.2

      Glorious. That will echo back on him for a while.

  14. marsman 14

    Andrea Vance’s ‘article’ on Cunliffe is a pathetic piece of drivel. She desperately wants to find something wrong even though she knows there is nothing there.
    Meanwhile the shrieking, malevolent parasite Mathew Hooton adamantly keeps spouting his tripe a la John Key.

  15. North 15

    Choice ! Nastiest girl in school Shouty Hooton is damaged. Badly damaged. Karmically, poetically so.

    Ball’s in your court RNZ………show us you respect your brand.

    Stand the poisonous little bitch down.

  16. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 16

    God I hate smear tactics. The only tricky thing is working out what is a smear and what is valid criticism.

    All that ridiculous H fee bullshit in 2008. (“This could be big!” “Batman”) What side of the line did that fall on, ya reckon?

    • Tracey 16.1

      Person said “Cunliffe is a liar over fonterra.” Proof shown he wasnt. Yup smear not valid criticism. It’s quite easy. Perhaps one pint which wafts over your head is that when Williams was raking over stuff to find dirt on Key it was regarded as smear, dirty tricks, personality politics and so on…which it was.

  17. North 17

    Ridiculous falls short of smear which falls short of the poisonous screech “Liar Liar Liar !”

    Routinely RNZ tolerates indeed solicits ridiculousness (listen in to The Panel at 4.00 pm any day), it also sits on its hands re smear.

    By broadcasting an apology it has however acknowledged the distinction between poison on the one hand and ridiculousness and smear on the other.

    Fail at recasting the issue there Gormless. And at batting off what is patent.

  18. Delia 18

    I have to say that in 40 years of following the NZ media, I have never seen a hatchet job like Vance did on Cunliffe. Trouble is, all that stuff kind of looks dirty to fair minded New Zealanders, it usually has the opposite affect. Andrea Vance should learn New Zealanders are known to back the underdog.

  19. Sable 19

    Looks like the dodgy mainstream media monkeys are up to their old tricks, pushing a right wing agenda at all costs.

  20. amirite 20

    And as predicted. Hooters continues with his bullshit, now on RadioLive.
    It’s sad to see the standards of the MSM falling to an all time low.

  21. Tracey 21

    Colonial and north

    words are powerful. If you knew someone would come back on it why not choose a different insult? Why choose that one. Just be honest you think calling hooten a girl is insulting cos theres nothing worse or more demeaning to you as a boy to be thought of
    as a girl…. unless hes a poofter?

    its not about word police or pc its about recognising the power of your words and what they can reveal.

    • karol 21.1

      Agreed, Tracey.

      It reinforces the message to women aiming to operate in the public sphere that they are second rate & don’t have the gravitas to gain respect.

      Those who claim such expressions are OK, maybe should try to imagine walking a mile in someone else’s shoes, instead of making knee jerk reactions to defend regressive language.

      • Colonial Viper 21.1.1

        I’d certainly never use that languaging myself as I don’t agree with it.

        But I’m also not going to tell other people how they should speak nor how I think they should mind their p’s and q’s.

      • North 21.1.2

        Karol – “It reinforces the message to women [aiming to operate in the public sphere] that they are second rate & don’t have the gravitas to gain respect.” Note the brackets, they’re mine.

        If the thinking I’m meant to be having even though to my certain knowledge I’m not having it is so damaging, surely it’s damaging to all women, not just those [aiming to operate in the public sphere] ?

        In that you choose thus to emphasise egregiousness in the thinking you allege in me I am dragged non-consensually and far too far into your (reflexive ?) issues.

        Don’t see the point of going there.

        • karol 21.1.2.1

          Agree, North. It does impact on all women.

          • North 21.1.2.1.1

            Well why didn’t you say so in the first place ? It’s disingenuous of you to suggest that I accept in the slightest degree your (assisted by me) updated complaint. Again, your issues, none of my business or concern.

            You’ve never known a nasty, catty, foully motivated, smirking at the mischief, bullying schoolgirl (person who is in fact female) ? You see how I might immediately be put in mind of Shouty Hooton ? Nastiest “person” or “school pupil” or “school boy” doesn’t do it.

            I quail at saying this because I’m not unmoved by your reaction but no, it’s not your province to require me to walk in linguistic mocassins of your making, made according to your personal imperatives and the suspicions in your fertile mind.

            • karol 21.1.2.1.1.1

              Well why didn’t you say so in the first place ?

              Really, North? You really are jumping to conclusions to say it is somehow about “my issues”, other than it’s about my issues with gender slurs.

              I was actually, in the first instinct was to type, “Politician”. Then I stopped myself, realising Hooton was not actually a politician, so I diverted to person in the public sphere. I had Hooton in mind, not specifically myself, so please don’t tell me what i was thinking. Exactly who has a fertile mind here?

              I do have a particular concern about the masculine culture of politics. And feel it undermines women in politics, and deters many women from going into politics. I have posted about it before, more than once – check through some of my past posts. That is the big issue for me. But not because I personally have any desire to be a politician, or directly involved in politics, although it does spill over into discussions here.

              But, you are correct that particular phrase would have an impact on all women. So I agreed. So?
              \
              You’ve been called on a sexist comment. For you to then turn aggressively on me for being one of the people who has been critical, just adds to it.

              My point stands. It’s from experience of how such phrases impact on women, hearing them all their lives.

              • Colonial Viper

                You’ve been called on a sexist comment.

                Do you often do this to friends of people that you socialise with? IE “call” them out on use of languaging and words you personally don’t like or have a negative reaction to? How about family members and in-laws? Strangers that you hear talking at the table next to yours in the cafe? A group of lads at the local pub? Your boss? Your workmates?

                • McFlock

                  Strangers can be a safety issue, boss can be a power issue (but it’s handy for a bigger cheque at PG time).

                  But the rest? Do you often stand by when your friends use as deprecation and insults words like “gay”, “girlie”, “fag”, or even more loaded terms? Are you conspicuously silent, or do you encourage such alienation with fake laughter and agreement? What if they used terms that alienated and belittled you, rather than people who belonged to other groups?

                  Fortunately, most of my friends aren’t neanderthal bigots, so they can insult people without accidentally belittling innocent parties.

                • karol

                  Yes. I have done, CV. I’m amazed that you are suggesting it’s something that shouldn’t ever be done.

                  I have said said something to relatives and workmates in various instances. I wouldn’t say something to strangers, unless it was very exceptionable circumstances.

                  If someone has said such a thing in front of me, I’d ask them why they think that’s an insult.

                  I did use to comment more on language in the family and among friends and colleagues in my younger days, especially racist language. Actually, in teaching, appropriate language was often a subject of training and/or in service training.

                  These days, I actually don’t hear such sexist terms at all much, but I don’t mix very much in particularly macho contexts. So it’s been quite a shock when I see some of the language used here. Mostly I metaphorically bite my tongue and say nothing – but at times I have been silently offended. But why should any woman have to keep doing that all the time, while some guys continue to mark this forum as a masculine dominated space?

                  Are some guys not able to take such things being pointed out to them from time to time without responding with more aggression?

                  Usually, I hold back. But I imagine it puts quite a few women off getting involved in such political forums because there’s a masculine style of verbal biff here at times, and also the casual use of sexist language at times.

                  On this occasion, Tracey made a point, and as it met with total non-acceptance, I stated that I agreed with her and gave a bit of an explanation.

                  I notice Annette King recently had something to say about an insult she thought had been directed at her in the House – kind of mixed agism & sexism. Good on her.

                  Sometimes if you say nothing, how can one expect anything to change?

                  • Colonial Viper

                    Yes. I have done, CV. I’m amazed that you are suggesting it’s something that shouldn’t ever be done.

                    Did I say that it shouldn’t ever be done? Of course I did not, you did.

                    Sometimes if you say nothing, how can one expect anything to change?

                    Is it working for you? If you think it is, keep going.

                    Are some guys not able to take such things being pointed out to them from time to time without responding with more aggression?

                    Who are you to judge how someone else should, or should not respond to your comments? Is it only your reactions to their comments which are legitimate and acceptable here?

                    • karol

                      Well it certainly seems being critical of sexist comments is not acceptable to some guys here, and will just dismiss us as “language police”.

                      Of course, I should just STFU, or expect aggressive responses.

                      Is it only your reactions to their comments which are legitimate and acceptable here?

                      Well, the message I’m getting is the reverse – criticisms of sexist language, according to some, are not accepted.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      seems being critical of sexist comments is not acceptable to some guys here, and will just dismiss us as “language police”.

                      But you’re not seeking acceptance of your criticism. You’re seeking an opportunity to make a point, regardless of whether there is likely to be acceptance or not. And if an eventual lack of acceptance seems to be overly aggressive (or overly “masculine”) to you, well, that’s just another opportunity to make a further point of criticism.

                      Of course, I should just STFU, or expect aggressive responses.

                      Well, perhaps it’s the problem guys who are the ones who should just STFU. Maybe until they can grow up enough to conform to the languaging standards that you set and police.

                  • North

                    “So it’s been quite a shock when I see some of the language used here.”

                    What ? That vile four letter word “[school]girl” ?

                    I don’t have pearls to clutch sorry.

                  • Not Another Sheep

                    Fair and just call Karol, it is a sexist comment made. Perhaps made unwittingly to start with? But it is a sexist comment that piiisses me off, one of a fair few phrases that are uttered as if still acceptable. E.g. a comment the other day on Holly Walker inferring she wasn’t up to a job portfolio with the added “ sidelined by maternity”. WTF?

                    Reminds me of….
                    “Key defends ‘gay’ red jumper comment.” (RNZ)
                    Once Key had people call him out on his ‘thought-less-ness’, he then made it justifiable as just an innocuous, throw away comment ….like everyone else says. He appeared to own responsibility but…. negated his apology with flicking blame on “young people”. (2nd group then insulted and disparaged by Key.)
                    “He told press today “gay” was “just a slang term” used by young people and found in the Oxford dictionary.”If someone was offended by it then I apologise ..
                    *[ but not really]* …” but it’s not exactly like a term you don’t hear everywhere” says Key. Key then said that he was simply giving Mackay a “hard time” because his jumper was red and “our colour is blue you know”.
                    Finishing with “I voted for gay marriage, I’m hardly homophobic. I led the charge on it.” (TV1 Nov 2012).

                    North, even ten years or more ago we ‘called out’ kids who said “girl’s blouse” or “that’s gay”. We haven’t progressed very far if Key was right in his justification.
                    And as for….“You’ve never known a nasty, catty, foully motivated, smirking at the mischief, bullying schoolgirl (person who is in fact female) ? You see how I might immediately be put in mind of Shouty Hooton ?”…. That’s digging a bigger hole!

                    And yes I have dealt with a fair few- nasty, catty, foully motivated, smirking at the mischief, bullying school BOYS too. The worst ones I still remember their horrible little faces and names all these years later and a few of them were in an all boys school ! One BOY in particular had a Dad on the Interview Committee, of the same ilk who asked only the female candidates for Principal “ And what will you do for child care?”. ‘Called out’ on it he then weaselled himself into a bigger hole and said, “Well, we all know women go and get pregnant and it interferes with the children’s learning here.” !!!
                    Yes, I called him out in a very public way and place and instead of the offensive comments being apologised for; the bigshot Dad turned on others…….familiar??

                    [Eddie: you had your email address in the name field of this comment but I’ve fixed it. Please be more careful with your personal details, we don’t like to encourage stalker trolls]

                  • Rogue Trooper

                    personally, I value the nurture of ideas undertaken that Result in your posts karol. I read your bias , yet hey, clearly we all have them. 😉

                    personally, I watch my language (Book of James) unless I’m intentionally being mischievous. 😀

            • ghostrider888 21.1.2.1.1.2

              😀

              • North

                I started by saying that I’m unrepentant. That remains with nothing more for me to say but this (you’re free to filibuster as it suits): the utra-touchy busybody be they male or female will righteously employ this rationale –

                “Sometimes if you say nothing, how can one expect anything to change ?”

                Unrepentant and feeling more and more justified in being so. Don’t flog me for what you say I’m thinking when whatever I’m thinking at all is not the point at all. When the point is your special buzz which you’re trying to template on me.

                And becoming more and more shrill by every confirming minute.

                Shouty would love this you reckon ?

                • North

                  One more thing my friends – I’m trying this business of walking in another’s mocassins and damn, I’ve ended up (or feel like I have) in Shane Jones’.

                  Gimme a break. They are not a good fit. Honestly.

  22. finbar 22

    Check out Keys C.V.A graveyard of humans exploited usury.

  23. North 23

    If you knew me Tracey you’d laugh like a drain. At the got-it-all-wrong spectacle of you hanging your thinking in my brain and with mild stridency ticking me off for the state of my (?) thinking.

    Oh about that “drain” business above. I have absolutely no interest in marginalising drains.

  24. Rhinocrates 24

    The formal complaint process is simple. Here is the content of my complaint:

    Guest Matthew Hooton’s behaviour was unacceptable.

    He was shouting and bullying, making unfair, libellous and inaccurate remarks, despite being cautioned to stop.

    Radio NZ has accepted that Hooton’s remarks about David Cunliffe were false and inaccurate.

    He was also apparently or even obviously trying to harass and intimidate the host, Kathryn Ryan by ignoring her and shouting over her.

    Unfortunately I believe that Radio NZ has compounded her embarrassment by requiring her to read out an apology on the 9 to Noon slot of the 26th of September on behalf of Radio NZ.

    This, I believe, was utterly inappropriate. Ms Ryan acted professionally and was the target of abuse and harassment by Hooton. Radio NZ should not have added to her embarrassment by forcing her to issue an apology as if she were responsible when in fact she was also victimised.

    One person is responsible and that is Matthew Hooton. He is the one who should apologise on air to David Cunliffe, Kathryn Ryan and the public of New Zealand, both for his false statements and his harassment of her on air.

    This is not the first time he has behaved in such a manner, despite warnings and I believe that he should no longer be invited to comment on Radio NZ

    For anyone else wanting to make a complaint, I suggest Good Taste and Decency as a point of complaint for his bullying of Ms Ryan.

  25. finbar 25

    We have the rabid elequent Smith, on the ropes again,a place he almost teer!s when he is cornered by the truth, that he attemps to flinch off.No Hooton,smear is this man accused of,just factual truth.Lets get Mr Smith on the canvas as he bounces of the ropes of his mis truth.

  26. tracey 26

    If you knew me Tracey you’d laugh like a drain.

    you wrote something on a public forum. I challenged it. you defended yourself. I cant know you other than by the words you use here.

  27. irascible 27

    Hooton, Woodlouse Slater, Vance and The Herald are busy using the Bellman distractor yet again in desperate attempts to discredit Cunliffe in the face of the UK Press perceptively describing Key as a “galloping colonial clot.”

  28. Vagabundo 28

    I’m assuming a bunch of you have seen this, but Garner tweeted that a UMR poll has put Labour and National virtually neck-and-neck. According to him, the poll said:
    National – 39%
    Labour – 36%
    Green – 14%
    NZF – 5.1%

    https://twitter.com/Garner_Live/status/383427592579076096

    No idea what the sample size was and I haven’t seen it published anywhere outside of the findings uttered by Garner on Twitter, so take it for what you will. I guess this means the National spin machine will spin into overdrive within the next couple of weeks.

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  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

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