Death throes of journalism at TV3

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, November 16th, 2015 - 56 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, journalism - Tags: , , ,

So it continues, Spinoff has the story:

Lawyers Called in as the 3D Investigative Team Resists Shutdown Plan

The recently-announced proposal not to renew TV3’s flagship current affairs show 3D is now subject to fierce resistance from the show’s journalists, who have assembled a legal team to work on a challenge to the way employment process was conducted.

The Spinoff can reveal that 3D‘s journalists have called on lawyers, forensic accountants and employment experts to help build a case that proper processes weren’t followed, and are in a dialogue with the channel’s Human Resources department. “If Weldon thinks he can take on a room full of investigative journalists and they’re just going to roll over, he’s very much mistaken,” says a source privy to the situation.
….
The nature of 3D‘s approach indicates that the era of passive resistance through social media or appeals to the public might be coming to an end, replaced by one on which the employment implications will be the new battleground.

I wish the 3D team well in their fight, and of course wish the same to all journalists who have lost their jobs or are under pressure in the various media purges that are going on. I also wish that there had been more examination in said media of the social, economic and political trends that inexorably led to this attack on democracy and critical thought. I hope it’s not too late.

56 comments on “Death throes of journalism at TV3 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. BM 1
    16 November 2015 at 12:35 pm

    Current affairs shows are no longer commercially viable therefore their time is up.

    Time to except that.

    • Tracey 1.1
      16 November 2015 at 12:41 pm

      Did you enjoy the post I wrote for you?

      • BM 1.1.1
        16 November 2015 at 12:54 pm

        I had a bit of a browse through it.

        Bit long winded to be honest and no mention was made of my good looks and charm, which disappointed me a bit.

        • Tracey 1.1.1.1
          16 November 2015 at 1:02 pm

          It was ALL about you BM… You may well be its poster child

          You only really needed the first few pages but I am sorry that was too much for you.

    • Mike the Savage One 1.2
      16 November 2015 at 12:46 pm

      I neither “except” nor accept it, as it would force me to basically say ‘Sieg Heil’ to the status quo, or consider the worst as I cherish information and discussion. What purpose is there to live in a society where business and business friendly, endlessly biased, commercially focused interests dictate to us what is supposed to be useful, important and worthy.

      I may as well be dead, rather than live like a brain amputated zombie.

      • McFlock 1.2.1
        16 November 2015 at 12:50 pm

        I had a bit of a chuckle at BM’s comment.

        It certainly is time for an exception to the death of TV journalism.

        Many a true word said in the great kiwi monovowel…

    • Kaplan 1.3
      16 November 2015 at 12:51 pm

      BM. You make a good case for having well funded publicly owned media. Well done.

      • BM 1.3.1
        16 November 2015 at 12:57 pm

        It’s probably the best place for them, I don’t think a privately owned company should be forced to lose money.

        Still have to have people watching them though, otherwise it’s a terrible waste of tax payer dollars.

        • Tracey 1.3.1.1
          16 November 2015 at 1:05 pm

          Do you think that a privately owned company should get debt relief from taxpayers? And if you don’t, why would you vote for a government that does that?

          • BM 1.3.1.1.1
            16 November 2015 at 1:12 pm

            You mean this.?

            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10711051

            Reading that I think we got quite a good return ,11.2 per cent interest, so yes I would vote for a government that does that.

            • Tracey 1.3.1.1.1.1
              16 November 2015 at 1:17 pm

              So you do see a place for the state to be involved with propping up private enterprise, cos without that intervention and your criteria of commercial viability, this business would have failed, right? So why not give more money to prop up news/current affairs which serves a democratic purpose?

              You were against asset sales that generate good returns for the government, right? Oh wait, no, you voted to sell those.

              • BM …
                16 November 2015 at 1:21 pm

                So you think the taxpayer should step in and pay for or subsidize the current affairs shows on TV3 ?, bit risky to be honest.

                Regarding your comment on asset sales.

                High lights include

                Thus the Crown has received $4308 million from the partial sale of these companies yet its dividend income has fallen by only $45.8 million. This is a remarkably positive outcome for taxpayers.

                http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/09/the_huge_benefits_of_the_asset_sales.html

                • Tracey …
                  16 November 2015 at 1:25 pm

                  Yes, and in fact TV3 takes money from the taxpayer for its documentaries already

                  Now, answer my questions above?

                  “So you do see a place for the state to be involved with propping up private enterprise, cos without that intervention and your criteria of commercial viability, this business would have failed, right? So why not give more money to prop up news/current affairs which serves a democratic purpose?

                  You were against asset sales that generate good returns for the government, right? Oh wait, no, you voted to sell those.”

                  “State-owned Genesis Energy paid out a $114 million dividend to the Government in the year ended June, nearly $10 million more than its reported profit of $104.5 million.”

                  sale price about 750m = 7 years of dividends…

                  Mediaworks owed 43m

    • savenz 1.4
      16 November 2015 at 1:00 pm

      @BM minus 100

      Good luck to the journos in their fight. Media works canning 2 entire sets of journos within the year. Sounds like a firm that believes in zero hour contracts and zero employment rights.

    • Reality 1.5
      16 November 2015 at 1:15 pm

      So how come funding has been available for those rubbishy and embarrassing programmes like “dine with me” etc etc which were presumed to be commercially viable and worth producing? What a waste of money and resources.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.6
      16 November 2015 at 2:46 pm

      Commercial viability isn’t the best measure of their purpose in a democratic society. Getting rid of them on such a score is tantamount to an attack said democracy.

      You agreeing with it is you agreeing that democracy must come to an end because it’s not commercially viable.

  2. Mike the Savage One 2
    16 November 2015 at 12:36 pm

    Well, if the involvement of legal experts and so forth may force TV3 to review a decision on employment law grounds, then this will by no means be the end of such “media” trying to off-load investigative journalism in order to replace it with more commercial advertiser compliant “infotainment” and “reality tv” shows.

    Money talks, and money dictates, when it is done by employers and big and not so big business, which certainly now includes most mainstream media in this country (like most of the world).

    The only way to fight this trend is for people to make more use of political and other blogs, to offer more resources to informative blogs, and to make more use of such and other alternative channels for sharing information and offering discussions. So far though most blogs live off people mostly commenting on “news” they already get from the MSM, and some humble voluntary contributions by individuals, which are then presented and actively discussed. Too few offer their own OIA and other self gathered information here.

    Or the more traditional alternative, which may work alongside the just mentioned, would be to bring back well resourced, robust and independently managed public broadcasting and community media networks, that inform rather than just entertain and dumb down, as most media now seems to be doing. Take the commercial dependence out, and many problems will be solved. The only last bastion of relatively balanced public broadcasting is now Radio NZ, but even that is increasingly under threat. Then there are of course still Scoop and a few smaller players in the media landscape, but their reach may not be that great.

    I am afraid the efforts by 3D journalists and support staff are simply a last ditch, desperate effort, to save a humble remnant of useful media. Our present government is simply not interested in giving such program makers much air and space, so do not raise your hopes too high.

    • gsays 2.1
      16 November 2015 at 7:37 pm

      hi mike,
      “would be to bring back well resourced, robust and independently managed public broadcasting and community media networks, that inform rather than just entertain and dumb down,”
      apart from the well resourced, this sounds like access/community radio.

    • Raf 2.2
      17 November 2015 at 12:14 am

      The report says the journalists “have assembled a legal team to work on a challenge to the way employment process was conducted,” – i.e. their goal is simply to force TV3 to obey employment law, rather than to make a “last ditch effort” to save “a humble remnant of useful media”.
      TV3’s attempt to boot them all out in a week (on the basis the journalists themselves didn’t come up with any viable programme options! the cheek of it) is definitely on the wrong side of the law. They are due far more notice and consultation, and a considerable payout.
      Whatever we think of TV3 (nada, me) we should support the journalists in their struggle here.

  3. Al66 3
    16 November 2015 at 12:40 pm

    Boycott TV3 – easy!

    Nothing to see there any longer.

    • alwyn 3.1
      16 November 2015 at 2:04 pm

      You infidel, you!
      TV3 shows “The Blacklist”.
      How could you possibly ignore James Spader at his best?

      • tracey 3.1.1
        16 November 2015 at 2:17 pm

        He was at his best in boston legal. In any event that is wat dvds are for

        • alwyn 3.1.1.1
          16 November 2015 at 3:08 pm

          Tracey
          You are probably correct about Boston Legal. “At his best” may be pushing it.
          How about “How could you possibly ignore the great James Spader”?

      • Lanthanide 3.1.2
        16 November 2015 at 2:24 pm

        TV3 shows The Blacklist with ads, several days after it is available from various internet sources.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.3
        16 November 2015 at 2:49 pm

        That would be, IMO, another good reason to boycott TV3 – if I watched TV at all.

        • alwyn 3.1.3.1
          16 November 2015 at 3:09 pm

          You have no taste Sir.
          Refusing to watch James Spader?
          No taste at all.
          On the other hand I find it very hard to think of anything else on TV3 that I would consider watching.

      • Ffloyd 3.1.4
        16 November 2015 at 4:20 pm

        Dammit alwyn!! We switched tv3 off at the death of Campbell Live and have never watched it since. NOW you remind me about The Backlist. My most favourite programme ever. That’s!! what I gave up for CL. I have read it has gone in a completely different direction. BUT staying strong and not reviving TV3 in our household. Tears in eyes.

      • Paul 3.1.5
        16 November 2015 at 4:59 pm

        18 minutes TV for 12 minutes of advertisements
        No thanks.

        • alwyn 3.1.5.1
          16 November 2015 at 5:37 pm

          Paul.
          You are clearly not a fan.
          It is of course an hour long (or to be precise 55 minutes) program.
          I haven’t actually timed it but I suspect they run 40 minutes program to 15 minutes ads.
          Try watching the whole thing some time.
          Actually I just commented on this as a little throw-away item. I never expected to see such strong views on the matter.

          Ffloyd.
          Your determination to stick to your principles must be admired. Pitied, but admired.

          • Ffloyd 3.1.5.1.1
            16 November 2015 at 10:54 pm

            Actually it wasn’t principles really, but more that we didn’t miss anything about it. Had even forgotten about Paddy G until I read something about him recently. However, having being reminded about Backlist still going will look out for alternative ways of viewing.

  4. Tracey 4
    16 November 2015 at 12:42 pm

    John Campbell’s former producer at tv3 is now working with him at RNZ…

    Interesting to see that JC has gone to Chrismas Island…. something only Kelvin Davis was prepared to do…

  5. NZSage 5
    16 November 2015 at 12:43 pm

    I though John Campbell’s piece on RNZ this morning re the Christmas Island concentration camp was an excellent example of professional journalism. See: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/289753/shut-down-detention-centre,-say-christmas-islanders

    I wonder how long it will be before RNZ get their funding cut?

  6. Stephen 6
    16 November 2015 at 12:51 pm

    I’m wondering about the whole TV3 news/current affairs thing. Since the demise of CL, we haven’t tuned into 3 at all. Maybe the ratings for all shows have dropped, and the management are trying to stop the worst of the financial hemorrhaging.

  7. adrian 7
    16 November 2015 at 1:50 pm

    Investigate Weldon, there’s more skeletons in that cupboard than in a fair sized cemetery.

  8. Ad 8
    16 November 2015 at 2:04 pm

    The Standard, Scoop, Kiwiblog, TDB and TransportBlog get more and more important each day compared to TV news.
    The right balance of facts, emotion, interactivity, and high quality writing will win.

    Even TVNZ is going to start surviving more and more on its great catalogue of downloads.

    • Ergo Robertina 8.1
      16 November 2015 at 7:51 pm

      By growing importance you mean reader numbers.
      That’s great, but outcomes still matter more than eyeballs.
      Think Teina Pora, the Fox Glacier air crash (the official report was reviewed and changed after the 3D story), bullying in the fire service – it’s a long way from your banal ”right balance” complaisance.
      These good solid stories and investigations are important, and we’re entering dangerous territory if we allow the market to decide this one.
      Partisans often miss (or don’t care about) stories outside their field of interest, which is why they usually make dreadful media commentators.
      The right response is to call for an overhaul of the significant amount taxpayers are spending on public broadcasting and rethink the whole approach.
      As for high quality writing – I’d settle for readable and crisp, and you’re lucky if you get that on a blog.

  9. Steve Withers 9
    16 November 2015 at 2:10 pm

    National doesn’t want any serious current affairs on TV prior the next round of local body and national elections.

    They have TVNZ completely terrified by yanking the funding noose….and Key’s buddy at TV3 is throttling the news department for any purpose other than reading happy-happy, joy-joy press fodder from the Beehive.

    • Karen 9.1
      16 November 2015 at 2:33 pm

      It isn’t just Key’s buddy Weldon trying to get rid of media that could potentially expose the ineptitude of the National government. Julie Christie has a close relationship with a number of National Party cabinet ministers, particularly Gerry Brownlie.

      • tracey 9.1.1
        16 November 2015 at 2:36 pm

        Yup… hence the flag panel gig…

        And note phil heatleys new plumb post… and tau henare…

    • tc 9.2
      16 November 2015 at 7:54 pm

      TVNZ isn’t terrified it happily plays along as its stacked with Nat friendly sorts who aside from the on air spruiking gift sky archive content, blow money on failed digital ventures, sell land to casinos at mates rates and just generally roll over like the lapdog they are.

  10. Tc 10
    16 November 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Exactly as designed by the reworked nz on air formula which discriminates against anything thats not targeted at the masses i.e high rating.

    More fine work from the nact installed chair and members to promote the dumbing down

  11. Smilin 11
    16 November 2015 at 11:58 pm

    when the few in power decide for the many its that right we give by vote for them to act but if they act to control rather than improve or provide for the people then you dont have democracy you have some form of totalitarianism

  12. G C 12
    17 November 2015 at 11:35 am

    Who watches television anymore? Let this show (3D) go-by-the-wayside. Have they covered important issues that have NOT been covered better elsewhere – I think not. I wouldn’t watch the ‘6pm News’ expecting to come away with a cohesive world view.

    As for 3D, it’s much the same I imagine – tragically executed emotionalism and drawn out facts, wraped poorly in a shoddy world-view. shows get cancelled all the time, they shouldn’t try to sue/legal-it-up.

    Don’t complain when you lose your job – when you chose the dying platform of television. Also I laughed when I read they think they’re ‘investigative journalists’ – more like soon-to-be x employees of TV3, who can follow a laid out trail of breadcrumbs. They should be drug tested, not watched~!!!

    • Ross 12.1
      17 November 2015 at 2:22 pm

      Well, they did great work on the Teina Pora case whose conviction was quashed by the Privy Council soon after. It was apparent from 3D’s examination of the case that Pora was possibly innocent and had been treated badly by the criminal justice system.

      However, 3D let themselves badly down by seemingly backing David Bain and suggesting he was innocent because of a photo of Robin Bain’s thumb! That was just nuts. 3D should have been scrapped on the basis of that story alone.

  13. veutoviper 13
    17 November 2015 at 11:52 am

    This is definitely NOT the death of ‘journalism’, but another arm/brand of Mediaworks also appears to be in its death throes.

    https://t.co/RuObOUtkbf

    Short, so here it is in full.

    Mediaworks are not denying suggestions that they have lost the last of the full-time members of the editorial team at Scout, their recently-launched gossip website edited by former New Zealand Herald “gossip queen” Rachel Glucina.

    Sources close to Scout say that Glucina is now the only editorial staff member left in the website’s newsroom. Gone by Christmas?

    It is believed about 11 staff members have left since the site launched in September, with Glucina now being assisted instead by a few freelancers who work remotely.

    After a rapid exit by its news editor Francis Cook just four days after the launch, other staff members began leaving the site.

    One source said the common thread behind the staff turnover was friction between Glucina and her staff members.

    MediaWorks head of communications Charlotte McLauchlan said MediaWorks had no comment to make about Scout losing the last of its staff.

    Glucina has not responded to requests for comment.

  14. Murray 14
    18 November 2015 at 11:23 am

    BM Current affairs programs programs are no longer commercially viable therefore their time is up.
    Perhaps if they were genuine current affairs programs rather than national parties promos masquerading as current affairs programs they would be more viable.

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  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    7 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    7 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 week ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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