Right-wing PR man Matthew Hooton told RadioLIVE Drive there is a “despicable smear campaign underway” against the National Party leader.
“Aid and abetted by an extreme left-wing, anti-National Party journalist called Tova O’Brien, who is a disgrace to the profession and a disgrace to Newshub, and is running a personal campaign to get rid of Simon Bridges.”
Well that’s a lesson which cuts both ways does it not?
Still NZ could well do with better conservatives; a more intelligent and effective right wing would force the left to lift it’s game in response. Because all too often what we’re getting is this kind of weak, polarising pap from both sides.
Well that’s a lesson which cuts both ways does it not?
Not really.
I find that those on the Left tend to listen and then use logic and evidence to refute or back up while the Hootons of the world simply declare everybody else wrong despite the evidence.
What I think is so funny: this is the man who was implicated in Hager’s book “The Hollow Men” and who spent a year of his life running a “despicable smear campaign” against David Cunliffe and, to a slightly lesser extent, Andrew Little when he was the leader of the Labour Party.
“Perhaps she’s, (Tova) just doing her job as a political journo”… Rare I know …
“Newshub’s political editor Tova O’Brien described Judith Collins as “defiant” and also “irresponsible.”
She’s right. Surveys have shown online misinformation is a significant worry for many New Zealanders. And people in public office should not knowingly promote lies for political advantage.”
I’m more interested in the teachers strike,- after 34 years of B.S neo liberal successive govts, this is a long time coming. Its time the unions stopped being such sniveling puppets and got in there and got active.
There shouldn’t even be such thing as a ‘low wage economy’ in NZ.
But a message to the PSA and any other unions thinking of striking, – WHY were you so quiet all during the odious John Key govt ??? And why strike now of all times when we have a Labour govt ???, – when you should have been constantly opposing all the anti union measures under that particular ugly anti worker govt ???
I wondered that, too. When I was teaching in the UK I went out on strike loads of times against Thatcher’s education reforms – not that it stopped the reforms, but it did show teachers were strongly opposed to them.
WHY were you so quiet all during the odious John Key govt ??? And why strike now of all times when we have a Labour govt???
Yes. I asked the same question over the nurses and now the teachers.
Remember the authoritarian attitude towards teachers – the belief they knew better than the teachers? The insults. Remember Anne Tolley reading a children’s story to a group of teachers and the general demeaning of them by the previous government?
Why did they sit there with hardly a murmur (apart from National Standards) and once Labour is elected it’s all on.
The question has not been satisfactorily answered.
Edit: I expect Ad is right but why not come out… be honest and say so.
He would have. I’d say that every state school would have been sold quick smart.
I’m reasonably certain that’s what all the school closures in Christchurch were about. Schools, like dairies, are monopolies and so the less of them there are the higher profit can be made through enforced higher rolls.
And that’s precisely where union solidarity has been absent for decades – if Key had threatened that? ,… all hell should of been breaking loose with unions from all sectors going out in sympathy.
They can pick one off, – but more than half a dozen in key area’s? – National would have bought not just a fight but a war. And what small price is temporary inconvenience when it sets the stage for generations to come – as it has already to the neo liberals advantage?
And what good are employment laws when they only work in one direction for the benefit of those who already have all the advantages.
And if certain corporate’s threaten to go offshore,- well,- many already have. And all that cheap imported foreign labour would have nowhere to go. Further putting pressure on a govt.
There was never a time in history when those in authority would relinquish that easily,- conversely , – there was never a time when anything was ever gained by not having grass roots solidarity. Not one single movement.
And we are the people and the politicians are OUR elected representatives. Nothing more.
However , its not about union bashing , but rather wanting them to be a little more assertive in general. And it was noticeable many were very quiet during Keys govt when they should have been kicking back furiously. Barring a few excellent exceptions such as Unite union, there seemed to be little significant activity while family’s were living at or under the breadline.
That isn’t to say a bash or two isn’t warranted my cranky arachnid.
I thought the negotiators for nzno were to close to the DHBs.
To sign the accord for an extra 500 nurses was wrong in two ways.
The timing was while nurses were considering an offer.
It is still about 1000 nurses short.
Signing the accord seriously undermined the union members.
If they had of gone on strike in the Nat years it would have been Labour’s fault . Striking now so soon after the 9 years of national neglect makes it nationals fault.
Just an uneducated guess.
Nope … the punters in punterland are nowhere near as stupid as commonly supposed around here. They can quite readily get to the correct answer … gutless. Labour being a much softer target than National.
Anne Tolley and particularly Hekia Parata, with Steven ‘the Billion Dollar Man’ Joyce in the background, kept teachers in the trenches ducking for cover, fearing for their lives, not knowing when & where the next hail of bullets and mortar rounds would come from. That’s why.
I have a theory that certain within the PSA and other unions to this day have embedded neo liberal moles in their number. That they take their cues from the far right crowd.
Because when we look back at the rolling over of unions after Ruth Richardsons ECA, – particularly the public sector unions in vetoing a general strike put forward by the private sector unions… it seems clear that certain union bosses stood to gain by siding with the neo liberals.
Another idea is that those same ‘ moles’ could use this as a tactical ploy to undermine Labour.
I expect to see some heavy union activity whenever National ever do get back in. If not,- they should be called to account for their flaccid indolence in allowing huge numbers of workers to struggle needlessly for decades.
I was there. It was puzzling how the Union bosses tried to talk down a general strike at meetings.
Saying “wait until it (The employment contracts act) was in, then we would see”.
In Australia the Government backed down after the Union movement made it clear general strikes would be the result.
Several were rewarded, National party style, with directorships and “consulting” positions. Later. Clearing up the mystery.
nationals party nathan guy introduced legislation for animal transfer indentification but did the old nudge nudge wink wink trick and look what happened. a bio security nightmare because even though the nationals introduced this legislation they had no intention of enforcing it.
thats the nationals party way. MATE.
It wasn’t Nathan Guy who introduced it…he’s merely dragged the chain.
It was when Jim Anderson was agriculture minister… Just goes to show how much Olympic standard chain dragging went on
So soon just after you've goneMy senses sharpenBut it always takes so damn longBefore I feel how much my eyes have darkenedFear hangs in a plane of gun smokeDrifting in our roomSo easy to disturb, with a thought, with a whisperWith a careless memorySongwriters: Andy Taylor / John Taylor / ...
Can we trust the Trump cabinet to act in the public interest?Nine of Trump’s closest advisers are billionaires. Their total net worth is in excess of $US375b (providing there is not a share-market crash). In contrast, the total net worth of Trump’s first Cabinet was about $6b. (Joe Biden’s Cabinet ...
Welcome back to our weekly roundup. We hope you had a good break (if you had one). Here’s a few of the stories that caught our attention over the last few weeks. This holiday period on Greater Auckland Since our last roundup we’ve: Taken a look back at ...
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partnerSometimes I feel like my only friendIs the city I live in, The City of AngelsLonely as I am together we crySong: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Flea, John Frusciante.A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area. ...
Open access notablesLarge emissions of CO2 and CH4 due to active-layer warming in Arctic tundra, Torn et al., Nature Communications:Climate warming may accelerate decomposition of Arctic soil carbon, but few controlled experiments have manipulated the entire active layer. To determine surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon dioxide and ...
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This is a re-post from the Climate BrinkGlobal surface temperatures have risen around 1.3C since the preindustrial (1850-1900) period as a result of human activity.1 However, this aggregate number masks a lot of underlying factors that contribute to global surface temperature changes over time.These include CO2, which is the primary ...
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2024 was a tough year for working Kiwis. But together we’ve been able to fight back for a just and fair New Zealand and in 2025 we need to keep standing up for what’s right and having our voices heard. That starts with our Mood of the Workforce Survey. It’s your ...
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..I/We wish to make the following comments:I oppose the Treaty Principles Bill."5. Act binds the CrownThis Act binds the Crown."How does this Act "bind the Crown" when Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which the Act refers to, has been violated by the Crown on numerous occassions, resulting in massive loss of ...
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Ooh, baby (ooh, baby)It's making me crazy (it's making me crazy)Every time I look around (look around)Every time I look around (every time I look around)Every time I look aroundIt's in my faceSongwriters: Alan Leo Jansson / Paul Lawrence L. Fuemana.Today, I’ll be talking about rich, middle-aged men who’ve made ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 29, 2024 thru Sat, January 4, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
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While we may not always have quality political leadership, a couple of recently published autobiographies indicate sometimes we strike it lucky. When ranking our prime ministers, retired professor of history Erik Olssen commented that ‘neither Holland nor Nash was especially effective as prime minister – even his private secretary thought ...
Baby, be the class clownI'll be the beauty queen in tearsIt's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fearLet's go down to the tennis court and talk it up like, yeah (yeah)Songwriters: Joel Little / Ella Yelich O ...
Open access notables Why Misinformation Must Not Be Ignored, Ecker et al., American Psychologist:Recent academic debate has seen the emergence of the claim that misinformation is not a significant societal problem. We argue that the arguments used to support this minimizing position are flawed, particularly if interpreted (e.g., by policymakers or the public) as suggesting ...
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Leave your office, run past your funeralLeave your home, car, leave your pulpitJoin us in the streets where weJoin us in the streets where weDon't belong, don't belongHere under the starsThrowing light…Song: Jeffery BuckleyToday, I’ll discuss the standout politicians of the last 12 months. Each party will receive three awards, ...
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Heavy disclaimer: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics is a popular trope that’s used in a wide range of stories and my thoughts on it do not apply to all cases. I’m most familiar with it through the lens of male-focused fanfic, typically m/m but sometimes also featuring m/f and that’s the situation I’m ...
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A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 22, 2024 thru Sat, December 28, 2024. This week's roundup is the second one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, ...
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I can see very wellThere's a boat on the reef with a broken backAnd I can see it very wellThere's a joke and I know it very wellIt's one of those that I told you long agoTake my word I'm a madman, don't you knowSongwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton JohnIt ...
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Don't you cry tonightI still love you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightDon't you cry tonightThere's a heaven above you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightSong: Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so”, said possibly the greatest philosopher ever to walk this earth, Douglas Adams.We have entered the ...
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Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...
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The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill. ...
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It was a mild, cloudy morning in May 1974 when Oliver Sutherland and his wife, Ulla Sköld, were confronted, on their doorstep, by one of the country’s top cops.The couple were key members of the group Auckland Committee on Racism and Discrimination (Acord), which had been pushing the government to ...
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Asia Pacific Report A Palestine solidarity advocate today appealed to New Zealanders to shed their feelings of powerlessness over the Gaza genocide and “take action” in support of an effective global strategy of boycott, divestment and sanctions. “Many of us have become addicted to ‘doom scrolling’ — reading or watching ...
A former lawyer for President-elect Donald Trump was found to have violated a court agreement after he suggested on a podcast in November two election workers were quadruple counting ballots and using a computer hard drive to fix the machines. ...
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Summer reissue: On learning an underappreciated but vitally important skill. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It has been almost a decade since I ...
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A big thanks to all who turned out to march/protest and/or support the teachers.
Someone seemingly giving support to the teachers gave me a chuckle today.
“Radical action takes time.”
The ultimate political statement.
https://www.radiolive.co.nz/home/on-demand/drive/2018/08/national-supporter-says-a–smear-campaign–is-underway-to-rid-si.html
Oh how sad. Do these people have not the slightest shred of self-awareness?
They simply believe that whatever they do is right and what everybody else does that opposes their own beliefs is wrong.
Well that’s a lesson which cuts both ways does it not?
Still NZ could well do with better conservatives; a more intelligent and effective right wing would force the left to lift it’s game in response. Because all too often what we’re getting is this kind of weak, polarising pap from both sides.
We had a “better” right wing in the late 80s. Best not repeat the mistake.
Not really.
I find that those on the Left tend to listen and then use logic and evidence to refute or back up while the Hootons of the world simply declare everybody else wrong despite the evidence.
Pathetic!!!
What I think is so funny: this is the man who was implicated in Hager’s book “The Hollow Men” and who spent a year of his life running a “despicable smear campaign” against David Cunliffe and, to a slightly lesser extent, Andrew Little when he was the leader of the Labour Party.
I think Matthew is just jealous that somebody else is running a smear campaign that might even be better than his own
The best thing for Matthew to do now is to show who’s the Master of All Smear Campaigns in NZ. After all, his reputation depends on it …
Oh. I thought O’Brien was right wing – and on the side of a possible replacement leader for Nats.
Yes Carolyn – I had much the same impression. But this is Hooton whose accuracy we are questioning! How wrong can somebody be??
She’s never come across to me as an “extreme left wing, anti National Party journalist”. Perhaps she’s just doing her job as a political journo.
Someone can correct me if I heard it wrong, but on the Mon. RNZ political segment I heard him say something to the effect:
Quote: Jacinda Ardern is just a feather-weight. The only thing she’s managed to do with any success is have a baby: unquote.
Could have been the previous week’s edition.
I wonder what his wife would think of such a statement?
Well O’Brien has did an anti-Cunliffe, pro-Key piece according to Macskasy on TDB
and an anti-Ardern piece according to Bradbury, TDB.
O’Brien may have been the journo who first broke the story about Nats cabinet clubs.
If that’s truly the case, many people will be wishing Tova the best of luck!
where is that Jason fella hes got form for this sort of thing
You took the words right out of my mouth!
Shouldn’t Hootie Blowhard have inserted a token allegedly in there?
“Perhaps she’s, (Tova) just doing her job as a political journo”… Rare I know …
“Newshub’s political editor Tova O’Brien described Judith Collins as “defiant” and also “irresponsible.”
She’s right. Surveys have shown online misinformation is a significant worry for many New Zealanders. And people in public office should not knowingly promote lies for political advantage.”
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018657355/echoes-of-the-past-in-collins-fake-news-row
Hooton wants to be careful – the minister of broadcasting is probably looking for a safe pair of hands for any number of projects.
Hooton is not taking this well.
I’m more interested in the teachers strike,- after 34 years of B.S neo liberal successive govts, this is a long time coming. Its time the unions stopped being such sniveling puppets and got in there and got active.
There shouldn’t even be such thing as a ‘low wage economy’ in NZ.
But a message to the PSA and any other unions thinking of striking, – WHY were you so quiet all during the odious John Key govt ??? And why strike now of all times when we have a Labour govt ???, – when you should have been constantly opposing all the anti union measures under that particular ugly anti worker govt ???
Why ?!!?
I wondered that, too. When I was teaching in the UK I went out on strike loads of times against Thatcher’s education reforms – not that it stopped the reforms, but it did show teachers were strongly opposed to them.
Mind you, in the UK, it was Blair’s government that effectively privatised secondary schools.
After my time there. And yes, Blair was a Tory in Labour ranks.
Gutless, that’s why…
Because they weren’t going to get anything.
So you don’t fight?
WHY were you so quiet all during the odious John Key govt ??? And why strike now of all times when we have a Labour govt???
Yes. I asked the same question over the nurses and now the teachers.
Remember the authoritarian attitude towards teachers – the belief they knew better than the teachers? The insults. Remember Anne Tolley reading a children’s story to a group of teachers and the general demeaning of them by the previous government?
Why did they sit there with hardly a murmur (apart from National Standards) and once Labour is elected it’s all on.
The question has not been satisfactorily answered.
Edit: I expect Ad is right but why not come out… be honest and say so.
Agreed.
One would have to assume they were scared Key would come after the teachers’ unions.
He would have. I’d say that every state school would have been sold quick smart.
I’m reasonably certain that’s what all the school closures in Christchurch were about. Schools, like dairies, are monopolies and so the less of them there are the higher profit can be made through enforced higher rolls.
And that’s precisely where union solidarity has been absent for decades – if Key had threatened that? ,… all hell should of been breaking loose with unions from all sectors going out in sympathy.
They can pick one off, – but more than half a dozen in key area’s? – National would have bought not just a fight but a war. And what small price is temporary inconvenience when it sets the stage for generations to come – as it has already to the neo liberals advantage?
And what good are employment laws when they only work in one direction for the benefit of those who already have all the advantages.
And if certain corporate’s threaten to go offshore,- well,- many already have. And all that cheap imported foreign labour would have nowhere to go. Further putting pressure on a govt.
There was never a time in history when those in authority would relinquish that easily,- conversely , – there was never a time when anything was ever gained by not having grass roots solidarity. Not one single movement.
And we are the people and the politicians are OUR elected representatives. Nothing more.
hi anne, in regards to the nurse and teacher strikes.
the nurses had been negotiating for two and a half years when they settled.
the teachers too, began negotiating before the election.
therefore there wasn’t a decision to strike ‘now that labour is in power.’
Is that so. OK , well fair enough.
However , its not about union bashing , but rather wanting them to be a little more assertive in general. And it was noticeable many were very quiet during Keys govt when they should have been kicking back furiously. Barring a few excellent exceptions such as Unite union, there seemed to be little significant activity while family’s were living at or under the breadline.
That isn’t to say a bash or two isn’t warranted my cranky arachnid.
I thought the negotiators for nzno were to close to the DHBs.
To sign the accord for an extra 500 nurses was wrong in two ways.
The timing was while nurses were considering an offer.
It is still about 1000 nurses short.
Signing the accord seriously undermined the union members.
Goodo, then .
And not so goodo in other ways.
Agree, WK.
Wondering if media have asked the union reps, and what their reply is.
Made a sign and held it high at both the Motueka and Nelson protests.. “Another national (logo) disaster”
Excellent . And it IS a National disgrace.
They had the opportunity to rectify the situation except they turned round and shat on unions and workers. For almost a decade.
That should never be forgotten.
Why now? “WHY were you so quiet all during the odious John Key govt ???”
And why? I too question that! ..
interesting spin here on life as people know it … if you haven’t already seen it … But sadly doesn’t illuminate on the Q…
https://boonman.wordpress.com/2018/08/12/why-am-i-striking/
If they had of gone on strike in the Nat years it would have been Labour’s fault . Striking now so soon after the 9 years of national neglect makes it nationals fault.
Just an uneducated guess.
Quite a good hypothesis.
Nope … the punters in punterland are nowhere near as stupid as commonly supposed around here. They can quite readily get to the correct answer … gutless. Labour being a much softer target than National.
Yes.
Anne Tolley and particularly Hekia Parata, with Steven ‘the Billion Dollar Man’ Joyce in the background, kept teachers in the trenches ducking for cover, fearing for their lives, not knowing when & where the next hail of bullets and mortar rounds would come from. That’s why.
I have a theory that certain within the PSA and other unions to this day have embedded neo liberal moles in their number. That they take their cues from the far right crowd.
Because when we look back at the rolling over of unions after Ruth Richardsons ECA, – particularly the public sector unions in vetoing a general strike put forward by the private sector unions… it seems clear that certain union bosses stood to gain by siding with the neo liberals.
Another idea is that those same ‘ moles’ could use this as a tactical ploy to undermine Labour.
I expect to see some heavy union activity whenever National ever do get back in. If not,- they should be called to account for their flaccid indolence in allowing huge numbers of workers to struggle needlessly for decades.
I was there. It was puzzling how the Union bosses tried to talk down a general strike at meetings.
Saying “wait until it (The employment contracts act) was in, then we would see”.
In Australia the Government backed down after the Union movement made it clear general strikes would be the result.
Several were rewarded, National party style, with directorships and “consulting” positions. Later. Clearing up the mystery.
You can only have a few rich people if everyone else is on a low wage.
nationals party nathan guy introduced legislation for animal transfer indentification but did the old nudge nudge wink wink trick and look what happened. a bio security nightmare because even though the nationals introduced this legislation they had no intention of enforcing it.
thats the nationals party way. MATE.
It wasn’t Nathan Guy who introduced it…he’s merely dragged the chain.
It was when Jim Anderson was agriculture minister… Just goes to show how much Olympic standard chain dragging went on
Jim Anderton?
http://www.nait.co.nz/assets/Scheme-background/NAIT-implementation-and-discussion-document.pdf
A sane read on Brexit:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-15/so-is-brexit-actually-going-to-happen-or-what/10025052
Yes, it’s the first half decent article I’ve seen for a long time.
This is what happens when neo-reactionary conservatives such as Milo, Peterson and Southern get airtime:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/08/us-school-closes-after-parents-threaten-transgender-student.html
Big brave people, threatening a 12 year old.
This bloody bigoted outfit… how the heck would they get on in foreign cultures with the Gospel… Jeepers…
Little boy with dreadlocks banned from attending private Christian school
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12108087
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/mxt2_yAXxeRda7rQBb1rR66CrAw=/620×1050/smart/filters:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-syd-prod-nzme.s3.amazonaws.com/public/YQTDAHDROVDWDIYDB3LY52W4BQ.jpg
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I think Cap’n Jack is rather incensed,….
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJI1wus_vWTCLkmuc96VhGJqoYfwyrrpqyYictx2PZAYw0VAVU