Gould on protecting freedom of the press

Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, January 24th, 2012 - 46 comments
Categories: accountability, democracy under attack, Media - Tags:

The high point of John Key’s popularity came about 3 weeks before the election. Then the tea tapes meant a spectacle that was meant to be a show of his power became a media storm with him at the centre.

National lost 5% in those last few weeks of the campaign – Key went from being able to govern alone comfortably to having a one seat majority for his rightwing policies, including asset sales.

Key blamed the media. Bryan Gould looks at the war he has been waging against the press ever since.

..New Zealand enjoys, of course, an enviable record, in international terms, in matters of freedom of expression. It would be ridiculous to claim that a New Zealand government might pose a direct threat – through censorship or the abuse of executive power – to our press and broadcast media and their freedom to publish what they wish.

But threats to press freedom can come in much more insidious forms – and two recent instances make the point clearly.

Many will recall the extraordinary episode of the Prime Minister’s conversation over a cup of tea with John Banks during the election campaign. The Prime Minister was clearly very keen that the contents of that conversation should not be made public.

When it became clear that a record of that conversation was in the hands of the media, and that they saw no legal problem in publishing it, the Prime Minister’s reaction was very instructive.

He did not go to court to seek an injunction and assert his right to privacy. Instead, he laid a complaint with the police and asked them to investigate what he maintained might be a criminal offence.

The police were quick to comply.

They not only initiated an investigation but also warned the media that they, too, could be criminally liable if they published the recording. This warning was sufficient to frighten the media into silence.

Two months later, we are still waiting for the outcome of the police investigation. No criminal offence, it seems, has yet been established. The only legal outcome so far is that the Attorney-General, acting for the Government, has declared his intention to seek substantial costs from the cameraman who had the temerity to try to establish if he had committed no offence.

The police investigation, while so far inconclusive on the issue of criminality, has nevertheless been successful in another respect; it has fully met the Prime Minister’s requirements by keeping the conversation secret till beyond – well beyond – the election.

The message is clear. The police will support threats issued by the executive to deter the media from publishing material that as far as we know was lawfully obtained and that was of substantial public interest.

And just to make sure, the Attorney-General’s threat to the cameraman is a warning to others that they cross the executive at their peril.

Some of the same features are shown by the issue that became public last week. New Zealand On Air has expressed concern that a programme on child poverty it had funded was broadcast in the days leading up to the election.

It has announced that it may seek legal advice on obtaining a law change that would give it the power to delay until after an election a broadcast that might embarrass politicians.

What is worrying about this episode is that an expression of concern from the Prime Minister (in this case, through his electorate chairman who is a board member of NZ On Air) about a perfectly lawful broadcast was enough to induce the body that has a public duty to fund such programmes to seek to limit the freedom of the broadcasters.

Again, it is not any direct threat or interference that is of concern; rather, it is the threat that the executive is ready to act against anything that displeases the Prime Minister.

Who can doubt that broadcasters will in future make sure their programmes do not attract prime ministerial displeasure and risk losing the necessary funding? And others in the media will also learn the lesson – if they want to get on, they must stay on the right side of the Prime Minister. To make these points is not to attack the Prime Minister. He is doing what many politicians in government around the world would do if they could get away with it. It is, rather, a clarion call to journalists and to the public to stand up for press freedom and the independence of the media…

Unfortunately, Key has a long history of attacking journalists, going right back to the reporter who broke his “we would love to see wages drop” quote. Back then, however, he was the PM in waiting taking on a small-town journo and the big media players decided to side with him and refused to run the story. Now, Key is past his apex and taking on the biggest media outlets in the country. Not a smart move.

46 comments on “Gould on protecting freedom of the press ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Bunji 1
    24 January 2012 at 8:32 am

    And now Key’s man McIlrea, not content with controlling the purse strings for documentaries is hoping to be Censor-in-Chief…

    Will that finally be so blatant as to get the NBR’s crony-watch back in business? There’s never been political appointees to the chair of NZOnAir (just the board…).

  2. Gosman 2
    24 January 2012 at 8:41 am

    Yet many lefties would have us believe the MSM is in the pockets of the right and do their bidding. How are these two, seemingly contradictory, positions reconciled?

    • mickysavage 2.1
      24 January 2012 at 8:44 am

      Easy.  The media is appalling.  Key is insisting that they be even worse.

      • Gosman 2.1.1
        24 January 2012 at 9:06 am

        Bollocks. You don’t get away with it that easily mickeysavage. You are all going on about how good John Key is as a media manipulator, in fact that is pretty much all you think he has got as a political operator. So why, if the media really does dance to National’s tune, wouldn’t the National party simply have a word in the air of Media Works bigwigs about the scheduling of the documentary rather than make official complaints via NZOA? Why wouldn’t they simply pull strings with the NZ Herald senior management, (who are obviously all pro-National according to many of you lot), instead of going to the police? Much, much cleaner than what actually happened.

        • Lanthanide 2.1.1.1
          24 January 2012 at 9:34 am

          His actions have certainly instilled doubt in your mind about his control over the media, haven’t they? Despite the fact that he still got exactly the outcome he wanted…

          • Gosman 2.1.1.1.1
            24 January 2012 at 9:44 am

            Ahhhh! So it is part of some complex plan to make it look like National needs to intimidate the media to get what they want to hide the fact that they actually could just get the same result with a nod and a wink to those they are buddy buds with. A classic double bluff play.

            Now you have solved this one you can go and play with Travellerev in open mike and discuss why an orange proves that September the 11th was an inside job.

            • Lanthanide 2.1.1.1.1.1
              24 January 2012 at 11:07 am

              “Ahhhh! So it is part of some complex plan to make it look like National needs to intimidate the media to get what they want to hide the fact that they actually could just get the same result with a nod and a wink to those they are buddy buds with. A classic double bluff play.”

              No, it’s just controlling the media through any means necessary. Trust you to leap to conspiracy theories.

              It’s the outcome that matters, not the way in which the outcome was achieved.

              • Gosman …
                24 January 2012 at 11:28 am

                You don’t control the media by getting them offside with you especially if you can manage the same thing via sweet talking them or by using your contacts. All you do by threatening them is make them more likely in future to give you negative press. I believe there was even a post on that very topic on this site when it was stating that John Key’s long honeymoon with the press may finally be over.

            • McFlock 2.1.1.1.1.2
              24 January 2012 at 11:42 am

              Gos,
               
              It’s very simple, really. Media are corporate business in NZ. So they like tory politicians, and (to greater or lesser degrees) have an innate bias in that directiction. Even the ones who don’t consciously play favourites look at things from the perspective of corporate and upper middle class priviledge.
               
              In the last few months, Key has spoiled it. By trying to knobble the media to an extent that it begins to impact their revenue and make them look like dicks (collectively as an industry, individually as a company and even personally), he is biting the hand that feeds him. Some in the media are beginning to bite back. That’s what we call “how do you fuck that up?!”.
               
              Personally, I think it is akin to what the imperial Japanese army called “victory disease”. Key and his coterie assumed that their success in the polls was a deserved product of brilliance, rather than largely a gift from the media and the previous Labour govt (if Labour had left the country in the state that the nats left it for labour, the beehive would have a “mortgagee sale” sign in front of it). 
               
              They thought they were invulnerable. It’ll get worse for them before it gets better. The question is how much of the house they’ll burn down around them. But after a while the bickering will cool down and they’ll regain their happy relationship.

              • Populuxe1 …
                24 January 2012 at 4:39 pm

                I think almost right. It would be more accurate to say that the people who make the decisions about what gets published – the editors, as chosen by the owners, and the owners themselves – are upper middle class or billionaires and think in terms of upper middle class or billionaire privilege. It would be unfair to cast aspersions on the poor lowly reporters, who even if they break a story, may not see it published. That was one of the reasons for the great explosion of current affairs blogs in the first place – disgruntled, frustrated journos.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  24 January 2012 at 7:04 pm

                  Yeah its the owners and editors who are the major problem, not the journalists (in the main).

                  Any journalist who gets blacklisted by stepping out of established editorial line – will never get a job with APN, Fairfax, Mediaworks, TVNZ or National Radio again.

                  So you’re left with writing for the school newsletter.

                  • jbc …
                    25 January 2012 at 1:39 am

                    Journalists are 99% crappy spin artists trying to construct hype where it is not due. Mr Gould included. They would not have a job if they simply told it as it happens.

                    The few direct encounters with journalists I’ve had the misfortune of making led me to that conclusion. You only need to pick up the next Herald to figure it out for yourself.

                    Out of 5 or so encounters since 1996 I have noticed the printed article bears little resemblance to the interview, and the facts (numbers, statistics, etc) are likely to be wrong. This even when the journo is quoting from a factually correct news release.

                    In the last encounter with the Herald I was selectively quoted to suit the journalist’s own idea for his article – along with several other victims. This was all in line with a constructed theme that had been running in the media at the time. When the journalist was later interviewed on radio he admitted that the views he portrayed were not representative of most people – they were anomalous. The patsy interviewer did not ask the obvious question: why did the journalist constructed a series of over-hyped headlines based on a falsehood?.

                    Journalists struggle to tell us straight with something as cut and dried as a car accident. It’s a competitive industry with most outlets falling over themselves trying to spice up ordinariness to make it appealing to their mostly ADHD readers.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      25 January 2012 at 5:03 pm

                      “The few direct encounters with journalists I’ve had the misfortune of making ”

                      So you’re an expert then?

                    • jbc …
                      25 January 2012 at 5:19 pm

                      Between my own experiences, those of others, and the shoddy crap that poses for news every day I do have some confidence in my conclusions, yes.

                      I see the same ‘making news out of nothing’ regularly when the media decides to jump on a theme and out-do each other in hyperbole.

                      Doesn’t everyone see that?

                      I’ve lost count of the number of times I have read an article in an NZ paper where the body of the report does not substantiate the claims made in the opening paragraph. It is almost par for the course.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      25 January 2012 at 5:27 pm

                      Bryan Gould is on the money mate. Further he’s not an MSM journalist.

                      And don’t deflect from who has the power in this industry – the editors and the owners. Journos are just hired labour.

  3. shorts 3
    24 January 2012 at 8:57 am

    the media can never be free when profit trumps everything else as the worlds big media companies have shown over and over and over again

    its about time, we, the public caught up and realised they’ve been duped and can never trust the media without fact checking themselves from a variety of sources (including that very same media) and then to determine their own opinion on what is actually factual and what is opinionated poppycock

    I wonder if the herald has a shark story today

    • Gosman 3.1
      24 January 2012 at 9:08 am

      So all media should be non-profit?

      Having the BBC as a a largely non-profit media organisation hasn’t stopped it being accused of media bias.

      • shorts 3.1.1
        24 January 2012 at 9:20 am

        if thats what it takes for a fair and unbiased media then yes

        unfortunately this wouldn’t be enough for the media to not be corrupt, unfair, biased and very firmly cheerleaders for the side of the fence they sit

        as citizens and humans we deserve better than the current market driven profit model has produced

        and the non profits too as the BBC has shown in the past 10+ years, as you say 

        wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to trust the media – something I was taught to do by both my parents and my educators (me = middle aged) 

        • Gosman 3.1.1.1
          24 January 2012 at 9:25 am

          Good to see you acknowledge that even a not for profit media doesn’t automatically remove bias.

          The point is people will see bias in media whatever happens. It is just the nature of the beast.

          • shorts 3.1.1.1.1
            24 January 2012 at 9:36 am

            most people don’t pick up on bias and blindly accept what they are feed

            again this is universal, its not a one side trumps the other affair

             

          • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.1.2
            24 January 2012 at 1:53 pm

            Good to see you acknowledge that even a not for profit media doesn’t automatically remove bias.

            The way to remove bias is regulation. Have it so that the media can’t propagate lies or misinformation and bias tends to go away. National won’t like that though as nearly everything they say is either lies or misinformation.

            • Blue 3.1.1.1.2.1
              24 January 2012 at 2:01 pm

              Come on Bastard, neither will the left, the hysterical tears were flowing every time Goff fucked up during the election campaign and it was, shock horror, reported. You cannot regulate our own perception of bias and truth in politics onto others because it suits you. Its just fucking lame and undemocratic to want it and expect it. Otherwise we will have North Korea style reporting, even Fiji style, but without the unintentional humour.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                24 January 2012 at 3:57 pm

                Goff fucking up is human, John Key saying that people are lining up for free food because of their bad choices is John Key spreading lies and misinformation and should have been reported as such. Instead it was reported as gospel.

                • Gosman …
                  24 January 2012 at 4:21 pm

                  Ummmmm… it was reported factually as in ‘The PM stated the following’. To try and argue that it is beholden on the media to determine the accuracy of people’s opinions, (which is what John Key is expressing here), and then to include them in a report is rather disturbing. I am reminded of Zanu-PF demanding any reporting of the ongoing land invasions in that country post 2000 needed to be couched in terms of ‘righting historical injustices’ and were keen on setting up essentially what you are calling for here, a media standards agency.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    24 January 2012 at 5:32 pm

                    If the media don’t report the facts then people are misinformed. So, yes, it was beholden of the media to investigate John Key’s claim especially when the person making such bold and unsubstantiated claims happens to be the PM.

      • Matthew Whitehead 3.1.2
        24 January 2012 at 1:30 pm

        Like much of government media, BBC is vulnerable to supporting the status quo, and not rocking the boat in case they upset their funders.

        Have you ever listened to Democracy Now? You can have member-supported media that is only accountable to its audience, which reduces bias to the institutional ethic of the media outlet.

  4. ianmac 4
    24 January 2012 at 9:02 am

    “But threats to press freedom can come in much more insidious forms – and two recent instances make the point clearly.”
    That is the essence of the mode of operations of the Key machinations.

  5. randal 5
    24 January 2012 at 9:44 am

    what about the piss weak leader in yesterdays dompost about noise from appliances in the weekends.
    now who has a vested interest in selling noisy and basically useless goods to nincompoops?
    think how much worse it is when the whole system of patronage and social control is at stake then you will see the msm at their best.

  6. Uturn 6
    24 January 2012 at 10:39 am

    The “media” can combat Key’s clumsy blunderings in the blink of an eye, but as shorts states above, they are too self interested. If one outlet took a stand for freedom of press (and why shouldn’t they have the obligation to stand up for themselves?) the others would do their best to profit from it and the loss of face would be unbearable to them. And why would they take a stand? Drama is their product. Anyone arguing for the poor oppressed Press are arguing for the retention of the ruling classes favourite whore.

    Who here saw an article last week on the news about psychopaths in the workplace where the nation was tucked up in bed by soundbites from a company director assuring us that no companies had psychopaths on their boards. No one had even asked if boards of directors were psychopathic. And besides, they said, doesn’t it sound like the vague description of psychopathy offered describes everyone? Why, it would be ridiculous to even try to do identify anything anywhere. Oh gosh thank god for that.

    Then last night, the outcome of a trial yet to happen was decided by claims of the defendent living a “lavish lifestyle”. I guess that makes John Key a criminal too. And just this morning, a Herald story used here was so shallow in it’s research that it became lies of omission.

    There is nothing in the media that isn’t about maintaining or forwarding the interests of the status quo.

  7. stever 7
    24 January 2012 at 10:59 am

    Here’s an example of where a journalist doing their job would have said, to John Banks’ claim to have forgotten giving a reference to Mr Dotcom, “Surely your office keeps copies of letters you write? Can you ask and let me know whether you sent a copy if you can’t remember?”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10780709

    That’s just such an obvious thing to ask if you’re genuinely curious and want hold the powerful to account. (Why else be a journalist???).

    • Fortran 7.1
      24 January 2012 at 2:31 pm

      Steve
      A journalist is a person who works for money
      In order to “earn” that money they must sell advertising.
      So facts do not really matter whether they are left or right wing biased or pure crap as usual..
      Sell – otherwise you do not have a job.

  8. randal 8
    24 January 2012 at 11:25 am

    anyway the goal is to keep the nashnil party appointees out of the mix and letting them get their grubby little fingers on the programming.
    they have a nastly habit of beleiveing that they and only they know what is good for everybody else.

    • Gosman 8.1
      24 January 2012 at 11:30 am

      “they have a nastly habit of beleiveing that they and only they know what is good for everybody else.”

      That actully reads like a lot of lefty people on here. Of course I am sure the people on here saying it think that because it is ‘true’ it is okay though.

  9. Maggie May 9
    24 January 2012 at 12:26 pm

    Yes now John Key and the men in grey are back they will start making use of all those law changes made under urgency to suppress our freedoms through all forms of media so they are able to carry on with their plans to sell our country with as little opposition as possible.

    Did David Shearer say he would march to stop asset sales, I hope so because I will march as well.

    We saw how they overcame the problem of it being illegal to use a megaphone at marches at the Wall St gatherings, with success in creating great camaraderie, could be an interesting year. I wonder how long before we start seeing the new riot gear appearing to intimidate us, because Our Dear Leader has been displeased.

  10. Anne 10
    24 January 2012 at 1:45 pm

    To make these points is not to attack the Prime Minister… It is, rather, a clarion call to journalists and to the public to stand up for press freedom and the independence of the media.

    The threat is always there, and it is particularly acute in the case of this Prime Minister – not because he is especially unprincipled or autocratic, but because his very popularity might encourage him to think he can get away with more than he should.

    I think that sums up the reason why John Key thinks he can attack (Gould is being diplomatic) the media and get away with it. Bluntly put, he’s suffering from a badly bloated head. Long may it remain so… because it will eventually bring him down with an almighty crash.

  11. Eduardo Kawak 11
    24 January 2012 at 5:44 pm

    I love the internet. Many more sides to a story on here than in any brown-nosing, corporatised media outlet. Everybody knows the PM abused his power to stifle the teapot tapes and that now one of his lackeys is suggesting a law change to NZ On Air. But how do we know – unfortunately it’s those brown-nosing, corporatised media outlets that broke both stories.

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1
      24 January 2012 at 6:11 pm

      Not sure if Scoop classifies as being a “brown-nosing, corporatised media outlet” yet.

    • Jum 11.2
      24 January 2012 at 6:17 pm

      Eduardo Kawak,

      Considering the poor job the media have done from 2004 onwards to research Key properly, and his financial background, it’s about bloody time they were a bit more objective in watching a leader’s behaviour and how he has controlled both media and government to achieve an end that will end in tears for most New Zealanders.

      No instead it was a sickening love-in. I’ve never been so disgusted with the way Key was raised to god status in the media, all the while attacking first Clark, then Goff.

      I suggest you read the newspapers back a couple of decades Eduardo Kawak and realise that when media is privately owned it does the bidding of its owner and the journalists are equally owned. Some of them like it…

  12. Jum 12
    24 January 2012 at 6:13 pm

    one of the comments: …Key Jong Il’… very appropriate – LOL. Wait for the secret police and the helicopters and the disappearances from blogsights of regular posters…

    Once I would have said I was kidding youse…

  13. Eduardo Kawak 13
    24 January 2012 at 7:46 pm

    Too true about Scoop. That’s why I love the internet.

  14. Eduardo Kawak 14
    24 January 2012 at 7:52 pm

    The dumbing down of NZ mainstream media is unfortunate as it the fact that it is primarily owned by foreign entities. But I don’t believe that democracy is at stake here, just quality journalism, which will still be an issue even after JK has left the building for Hawaii.

  15. ChrisH 15
    24 January 2012 at 9:35 pm

    Here’s a stunningly good Dim Post blog (especially the comments actually) on the suppression of “For the Public Good” back in 1990: http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/bleg-2/ . Le plus ca change in the Banana Dominion.

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    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    23 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
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