Written By:
Mountain Tui - Date published:
1:45 pm, March 3rd, 2025 - 14 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, Media, media abuse, news, newspapers, uncategorized -
Tags: Centrist NZ, disinformation, James Grenon, Misinformation, NZME, overseas investment act
James “Jim“ Grenon, a Canadian private equity investor based in Auckland, dropped ~$10 million on Friday to acquire 9.321% of NZME.
Grenon owns one of the most expensive properties in New Zealand.
He has based himself here with his partner since 2012.
Grenon made headlines on numerous tax, law and finance websites around the world when he moved $68.2m to New Zealand while involved in court action with Canada’s tax agency.
It’s all very significant.
According to the Herald:
Grenon practised briefly as a lawyer before pursuing corporate and finance interests.
“The documents also revealed he gained significant wealth from the early stages of the oil and gas industry and had a penchant for in-depth study of tax law and, it would appear, for litigation.”
And
“There is no current intention to make a takeover bid.”
In 2023, Business Desk reported Grenon was a paid election promoter in New Zealand, linked to the NZ News Essentials website, which was a “site dedicated to attacking the then [Labour/Green Party] Government. and appeared to host anti-vaccine and Atlas Network affiliated articles.
That appears to be now rebranded as Centrist NZ, which appears to include interesting headlines mocking anti-Treaty Principles Bill witnesses, may exacerbate transgender concerns, and suggests New Zealand media may promote ‘state propaganda.’
Alternative website called Centrist NZ
Centrist NZ uses headlines which includes words such as “woke narratives” and suggests NZ media has been bought
Rupert Murdoch’s The Australian reported recently that “some wealthy Kiwis” – including an unnamed Canadian billionaire – were planning a bigger stake and even looking at privatisation of NZME, which also owns property portal OneRoof.
The Australian speculated new owners could help shape the editorial direction of the Herald.
It suggested that Nick Mowbray – the co-founder of the toy business Zuru – was a potential candidate, along with the unnamed Canadian billionaire.
And although Mowbray denied it, he praised NZ Herald as “the most fair of [the] NZ media mix.”
Billionaires running the country and pushing their ideologies?
Did you think that was only in the United States?
Interestingly, when I personally look at the policies of our current NZ First – ACT – National Coalition, I see their preferences come to the fore.
Reposted from Mountain Tui substack.
IMO that probably now explains the announced editorial shift.
Current management showing they're onboard etc. Will it still save them, time will tell.
Bargains to be had in the land of the wrong white clowns as they are in charge.
Big toy's war on Journalism….
.
Big Tech’s War on Journalism
It’s official. Jeff Bezos is at war for the oligarchy.
As you might know, the billionaire proprietor of Amazon sent an email Wednesday to the staff of the Washington Post, which he also owns, announcing “a change coming to our opinion pages.” Moving forward, he declared, “We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets.” And, he added, “viewpoints opposing these pillars will be left to be published by others.”
https://link.motherjones.com/public/38817894
CoC philosophy: he who have plenty of money and want to make plenty more off the backs of New Zealanders is always welcome here.
Tax minimisation – done!
Cheap power – done!
Planning consents: already taken care of.
Clean up after we f… off in a couple of years: don't worry about it!
We might see more ‘strategic advertising’ by the NZME stables.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/525042/nzme-to-review-advertising-policies-after-hobson-s-pledge-ad
I’m glad that Newsroom did not stay silent on the takeover of NZ media by vested interests.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/03/the-herald-gets-a-new-tone-and-a-wealthy-alt-media-investor/
An American led crusade against DEI and more worldwide, they no longer come as leader of the free world (democracy and capitalism resisting one party rule communism), or as provider of aid, but to impose their cultural order regime.
Before the 20th C the rule of men was a given (and there was no income tax or CGT/estate tax) …
https://devpolicy.org/the-roll-back-on-rights-is-gaining-momentum-20240718/
Good on Newsroom as NZME tells NZ what's been unofficial for decades. Tis the way these days to be open about your bias taking a leaf from the techbros MO.
So there you go NZ, granny is an extension of nact/NZF PR and will never ever be holding power to account unless these guys aren’t in.
How cheap was that on a global scale to be further influencing NZ’s MSM.
Mountain Tui. Yet another lifting of a rock, great article. re Nick Mowbray. I had read about him previously (another of your Links : )
His wiki page says Entrepeneur…
Quite a few meanings for that word. But anyway….I wonder at what stage he became this person? (re childrens school lunches from your link)
lol….so many Oliver Twists. We should hang our heads in shame. : )
Thanks for all you do.
Indeed, an ‘entrepreneur’ used to have positive connotations but now it often means ‘neoliberal stormtrooper’ with a definite negative vibe.
Yep. Also IMO, Developer in that vein.
Still waiting for my latest Kiwisaver statement, so can't check currently, but like many other Kiwis who are saving for retirement, I am with a fund investing mainly in the share market. So there os a very good chance that I, at indirectly, am a part owner pf NZME..
Maybe collectively we could, I dunno, maybe organize a mass sell off or boycott or something?
Oh. wait, the Govt sets, and can change the rules for Kiwisaver….Old Nat Bill English cut it twice….and Labour never reversed the cuts….
I feel as I did when I realised that my Kiwisaver fund also invests some of my money into the S&P 500. Check the list of those companies. Coca Cola? Won't drink. Unethical and bad for personal health and the environment.
Look at virtuous me using consumer power against them! You other suckers, keep downing the stuff. I need the profits to keep flowing for my old age.
So… It would be ok if he was considered left wing
!o0!
A leftwing billionaire is an oxymoron.
Discuss
Victor Billot's take on the whole sordid affair.