Great expectations?
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9:05 am, July 9th, 2009 - 10 comments
Categories: Media -
Tags: remember journalism?
Clare Trevett, I know it’s very exciting going on a free trip to the islands but could we have some actual reporting?
You spent half your report from Tonga talking about the king’s dogs and how funny Key and the Dictator of Tonga are. Might have been nice to hear something about the start of democratisation in the kingdom, the Nuku’alofa riots were less than three years ago of course. Hell, the fact that women in pants weren’t allowed near the King (something Clark never would have meekly accepted) might have led you to look at how New Zealand aid money is being used to empower women.
But no, it was ‘doggies!’ instead.
Today‘s report from Samoa is no better. All atomspherics, no content. I just don’t know what value you think it has. Unless you’re angling for a role as social events reporter in Sunday magazine. The sad thing is there are actual stories lurking underneath the ‘omg, Key helped make coconut oil, lolz’. “Mr Key was there to look at the difference New Zealand’s seasonal employment scheme had made to villages in rural Samoa, as well as a NZ Aid funded marine conservation and research reserve.”
There you go – stories! Tell us about the seasonal employment program – is it working for the Samoans? Is it working for New Zealand? Remember when Lockwood Smith made racist comments comparing Asians and Islanders who come over under the scheme? How’s the NZAID project going? Good use of taxpayer money? Is this the kind of project put at risk by folding NZAID back into MFAT?
Too much to ask for, I guess.
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- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
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Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
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- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
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In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
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The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
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Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
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People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the ENZ board
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...4 days ago
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Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...46 minutes ago
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You dont get a trip that is practically ‘sponsored’ by the Govt without giving a payback.
Im sure if Fairfax paid normal commercial fares by travelling on scheduled flights we might get something from their real pacific affairs reporter instead of a mid winter junket for Key ( next stop the gated condo in Hawaii).
The otherside of it is that the Editor may have asked for fluff,as the creditors are banging on the doors
TVNZ did a good job tho I can’t work out if the pisstake was deliberate or not :-http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2009/07/09/key-calls-pacific-islanders-children/
Talking of Fiji and Samoa Key says: ‘it’s hard to choose between children even if one of them is a bit wayward at the moment’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIt2dZhElW4
Not giving Bainimarama ammunition to paint himself as Fiji’s bastion against Aus/NZ neo-colonalism: FAIL
Not sounding like a 19th century British imperialist talking about the subject nations: FAIL
Howabout
“wow, pressing coconut oilz lolz, so much easier than running da country shiz!”
Or, If you support the National party by campaigning for them during the election you get a free trip to Samoa. Why are the rugby celebrities who told factory workers during the election ‘you shouldn’t work in the factory, you should own the factory by voting National’ holidaying in Samoa with the Prime Minister? I’d love to know how employment in that factory is right now. I guess owning the factory won’t be happening this year.
Has a journalist on this trip asked a single political question yet? I haven’t seen any reported. It’s a royal tour (with Key as the Duke of Edinburgh).
e.g. Michael Jones.
Fan’s question: “Ooh, Ice Man, gonna be an MP? Cool!”
Journalist’s question: “Michael, do you stand by your views on the so-called smacking debate, how will you vote in the referendum, and what would you do if you were in National’s caucus?”
“Hell, the fact that women in pants weren’t allowed near the King (something Clark never would have meekly accepted).”
Winne Laban was quoted in the paper today saying that we should respect the Tongan custom, which is the correct stance to take.
Eddie, what is your definition of dictatorship? I say that we’re not a dictator country. We do have a constitution (monarchy) and everything is done according to the constitution. The constitution was written by Methodist missionaries almost 150 years ago. Mugabe? That is what you call dictatorship. Baniaramma? That is dictatorship. Fiden Castro? That is dictatorship. Tonga? Not dictatorship.