Kia kaha Mihingarangi Forbes

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, June 5th, 2015 - 29 comments
Categories: broadcasting, journalism, Media, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, tv - Tags: , ,

Mihirangi ForbesAotearoa is heading towards banana republic status.  Because every last capable progressive journalist we have is being dealt to.

Last week we experienced the demise of Campbell Live, a doyen of left wing journalists who survived  amongst corporate media because he was damned good.  Apparently his show posed commercial problems to the network.  But funnily enough ever since the threat to Campbell Live was announced the show’s viewing statistics were off the chart and then ever since the show has stopped viewer numbers have essentially halved.  Good luck with the corporate model Mediaworks.

The other progressive oasis in our main stream television was Mihingarangi Forbes on Maori Television.  I regarded her show as a must watch.  Looking through the Standard’s records I see that I have posted twice about her shows, once when she completely and gently destroyed then ACT leader jamie Whyte, and once when she reported on a Maori Party fundraiser that occurred at that most National of institutions, the Northern Club.  Anyone who holds a fundraiser there should never be allowed to be a progressive politician.

Even Shane Jones, he who was a Politician in a left wing party but accepted a cushy appointment from a right wing party, thought that this was a decision unbecoming for Iwi.

Amongst the many stories she reported on, Mihingarangi Forbes ran reports on how the Kōhanga Reo movement had squandered public money.  Her earlier reports were extremely important.  The Herald has suggested that a further program on the issue has been halted by management interference.

The Herald has been told Forbes’ resignation came after the Native Affairs team were told they were not to run a story on Te Kohanga Reo National Trust, planned for Monday.

It was a return to the current affairs show’s most controversial stories for which it had won praise and criticism.

The Native Affairs team’s investigation into management and spending at the Kohangareo trust was considered by Maoridom’s old guard as a disrespectful way to probe an establishment organisation led by matriarch Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi.

But there were also those who championed the team for having the courage to raise questions about powerful establishment figures.

Kia kaha Mihingarangi.  For the sake of our democracy I hope there is a media outlet where you and John Campbell and a few others can continue to work your trade.

29 comments on “Kia kaha Mihingarangi Forbes ”

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  1. Chooky 1
    5 June 2015 at 8:37 am

    Great Post…there is now enough of the best in New Zealand journalism out there to start another tv station

  2. Tc 2
    5 June 2015 at 8:54 am

    Across the ditch turnbull is playing catchup with the nact by killing off community tv currently.

  3. AsleepWhileWalking 3
    5 June 2015 at 8:55 am

    She is one of the best and made me flick over to Maori TV a few times. I wonder what she meant by management interference and to what extent it was/is taking place?

  4. Lanthanide 4
    5 June 2015 at 9:11 am

    “Anyone who holds a fundraiser there should never be allowed to be a progressive politician.”

    What a stupid statement to make.

    It’s actually meaningless, because it’s not like there’s some Register Of Progressive Politicians that people have to add their name to.

    • greywarshark 4.1
      5 June 2015 at 9:29 am

      That’s a ‘stupid’ quibble Lanthanide. The left won’t be able to form a cohesive group of intelligent and thoughtful citizens making changes in a progressive way respecting all others, if there is pointless criticism over unimportant points. If people don’t direct their attention outwards and then think of better ways to operate, all we get is sterile squabbling. Those who want better outcomes for all need to nurture each other and quietly, not sharply or viciously, argue on amending important statements and approaches.

      • greywarshark 4.1.1
        5 June 2015 at 11:59 am

        Further to my comment above. I looked up nihilism and the google meaning was quite meaningful.
        Nihilism – historical meaning
        the doctrine of an extreme Russian revolutionary party circa 1900 which found nothing to approve of in the established social order.

    • Tracey 4.2
      5 June 2015 at 10:51 am

      Know much about the Northern Club Lanth?

  5. Kiwiri 5
    5 June 2015 at 9:12 am

    One of the great things about Mihi is that members of my extended family who are staunch Nats supporters watch her and talk about her show.

  6. Clemgeopin 6
    5 June 2015 at 9:28 am

    Something rotten is happening in the land of the long white cloud. It is getting dirty, dark and grey.

    The pro-wealthy, pro-corporate, pro-government right wing vultures, seen and unseen, are now in charge, taking over the media, the dissemination of information, the controlling of public awareness, questioning voices, exposure of wrongs and essential accountability.

    Journalism and all journalists, the fourth pillar of democracy, need to wake up, take courageous notice and fight back the dark forces stealthily destroying our basic values and the very essence of our democratic society!

    New Zealand deserves better.

  7. vto 7
    5 June 2015 at 9:56 am

    I agree she has been great and always turned to watch it when could. Her style was cool – she would ever so calmly ask slicing and dicing questions and never fluster or bluster.

    Well done her.

    More please.

    • Gangnam Style 7.1
      5 June 2015 at 11:49 am

      +100! She has been amazing to watch, esp her calm style. I watched Native Affairs mostly when she is on. She is a great debate mediator as well.

  9. Old Mickey 9
    5 June 2015 at 10:44 am

    She is an excellent journo, I wonder is she will end up as Nat Radio with JC or on the new TV3 show replacing JC ? Could see her at TVNZ given her dislike of management interference.

  10. Enough is Enough 10
    5 June 2015 at 11:28 am

    What is a “progressive” journalist Greg?

    • Colonial Rawshark 10.1
      5 June 2015 at 12:34 pm

      I’d settle for some serious journalists willing to hold the power elite to account.

      • Old Mickey 10.1.1
        5 June 2015 at 1:17 pm

        Or just a journo who can question and seek to do more than once over lightly, or a journo who doesn’t believe every word without doing any checking….

        • Colonial Rawshark 10.1.1.1
          5 June 2015 at 1:34 pm

          It’s not much to ask is it – journos who are not simply stenographers for the people in charge

    • tc 10.2
      5 June 2015 at 2:47 pm

      Isn’t it a new Term for what was an actual journalist in days since gone.

      Y’ know when they used to check facts, have a memory, hold those in elected office to account and generally be objective.

      You could say in todays corporate MSM that’s progressive because currently they are all owned shills, sockpuppets and copy/paste jockeys working to an agenda not the facts.

  11. Colonial Rawshark 11
    5 June 2015 at 12:16 pm

    Some prominent names and personalities who have been sidelined out of the MSM need to get together and collaboratively launch a major fundraising project for independent media in NZ.

    Target would be to raise $5M to $10M (for starters) in order to permanently change the landscape of independent media in NZ.

    • adam 11.1
      5 June 2015 at 1:03 pm

      I think it’s very ironic – since the so call worshippers of free market (national incorporated), started interfering in private TV stations – all the journalist who think for themselves – have been shafted.

      Mockery of the unseen hand? Or are people getting – that this is how real free markets work – manipulation by the rich, for the rich.

      • Colonial Rawshark 11.1.1
        5 June 2015 at 1:35 pm

        Absolutely – implementing free market capitalism usually requires full scale military invasions, political coups or assassinations. No intervention at all eh

  12. SMILIN 12
    5 June 2015 at 1:54 pm

    Is it because we drive on the side of the road we do and our cars are right hand drive that we have this state that seems to be in conflict over what is actually what we believe is Democracy ?
    Just a question for thought
    Does anyone in this govt know what freedom and responsibility means in a democracy or are they just blinded by capitalism as an alternative to having a conscience which I believe is in the rear of the brain so lets have a look at the skulls of the Nact party

  13. SMILIN 13
    5 June 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Sadly I got it wrong its in the front which is a pity because that where Nacts bs comes from

  14. Sirenia 14
    5 June 2015 at 4:51 pm

    She’s going to be the Maori affairs reporter for Radio NZ. Just announced. Would have been Carol Hirschfield grabbing her.

  15. Ad 15
    5 June 2015 at 5:29 pm

    Mickey:

    An update: She has been snapped up by National Radio.

  16. Sable 16
    6 June 2015 at 6:11 pm

    With the growth in smart (Internet connected) TV’s its not too much of a stretch to consider an on line television service offering news and current affairs in a similar format to traditional TV. Could do very well.

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