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Media bias

Written By: - Date published: 10:41 am, January 31st, 2014 - 168 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, labour, newspapers, spin - Tags: , , ,

Media bias has been a topic of conversation for lefties this week.  TV3 has shown, shall we say, questionable judgment, Karol has set out the divergence of treatment shown by the Herald to National’s and Labour’s state of the Nation speeches and the media in general have jumped on National’s framing of issues.  Sam Durbin at Recess Monkey documents recent events well in this post.

He concludes as follows:

Now I’m not going to defend some of the poor communications from Labour, particularly around the Facebook stuff, and they certainly have provided the avenue for attack through some carelessness in crafting. Let me be frank – Labour absolutely must get its act together immediately.

But the fact remains that key members of the media have been shirking their responsibilities to report in an unbiased fashion. The claims that Cunliffe has mislead New Zealand are a John Key media line that they are running for him, without even questioning that they could perhaps have got it wrong. Gower’s story that really started it all off is nothing more than a delusional flight of fancy, accusing Cunliffe and Labour of deliberately doing something terrible, and then chewing them out on every platform he can stick his face, voice, and words onto. Perhaps he’s the malicious one here? Did he deliberately forget to read the section labelled QUESTIONS in the material?

Bad press comes in a number of forms.  It can occur through the use of framing of issues offered by your opponent, the repetition of statements as fact when they are not, and down to something as simple as the choice of photographs for articles.

A comment from Olwyn yesterday rasied the issue of the choice of photographs by the New Zealand Herald.  Because the photos of David Cunliffe that they have used recently make him look, well, a bit naff.

Exhibit A is this photo from Monday’s state of the nation speech which has been used in at least two articles.

Growly CunliffeIt makes David look somewhat grumpy whereas I was there and he looked really happy all afternoon.  In fact this is my impression of him from that day:

LEC CUnliffe January 27 2014 speech-4

Exhibit B is this photo:

3001CUNLIFFE1_300x200

Exhibit C

2801CUNNLIFFE_460x230

You would think that with all of the Herald’s resources they would have slightly better photos of David.

It is not that hard to get really awful photos of someone.  With the benefit of a digital camera multiple shots can be taken quickly.  You just set it to take photos continuously and no doubt one of them will look really bad.

As an example of this following is a photo I took of John Key.  It was by far the worst one that I took so of course I released it.

John Key smirk

This behaviour can be expected of me.  After all I am a partisan hack that thinks that Key and National are causing irreparable damage to my country and that they need to be removed from office.

But the Herald is part of the main stream media and is meant to report on the news, not distort it.  It is not meant to take political positions, just inform the population what is happening.

Of course the alternative is to bypass the media and talk to people face to face to engage them in politics.  This may represent the best chance that Labour and the Greens have of succeeding this year.

168 comments on “Media bias ”

  1. MaxFletcher 1

    Exhibit B isn’t all that bad

    • Lanthanide 1.1

      Agreed.

      C isn’t great, however by itself without the influence of A I think it would be acceptable.

    • Richard Christie 1.2

      It’s an appalling photograph from a technical standpoint. Bad lighting, contrast etc.
      Any decent editor would recognise this, and the decision to use it reinforces the article’s argument.

    • dave 1.3

      the herald offered six weeks free papers i told them to f -off why would i want read there lies boycott MSM

      • TightyRighty 1.3.1

        you might learn some grammar if you read a bit more?

        • red blooded 1.3.1.1

          Well, you may be tight, but you’re certainly not right about correct standards of written English. For starters, there is nothing grammatically wrong with dave’s comment. It lacks standard punctuation and there’s a misused word (based on a confusion between “their” and “there”), but the flow of meaning is perfectly fine and the syntax is reasonable.

          Perhaps you should look a bit more closely at your own errors:
          1) You have punctuated a statement as a question. If you wanted it to be read as a hypothetical you needed a conjunction like “perhaps” then the question mark could be justified.
          2) How about starting a sentence with a capital letter? (Especially a sentence criticising someone else’s writing mechanics.)

          I wouldn’t usually comment on these technicalities, but your choice to do so opens you up to a bit of targeted feedback.

          • Tim 1.3.1.1.1

            …. as Soimun Brudjiss woud say …. “there are some ‘learnings’ in that for Tighty Righty”

    • swordfish 1.4

      Unflattering Photographs of Cunliffe:

      Yep, the Dom Post did the same thing to Cunliffe during Labour’s leadership Primaries. Consistently used a highly unflattering shot of Cunliffe – not only did he look highly confused but the shot was also quite distorted, like an extreme close-up taken with an ultra-wide-angled (or fisheye) lens. Very odd indeed. As you say, Mickey, these sorts of photos are not just chosen by accident.

      It’s always intriguing to see just how utterly brazen the MSM can be in its partisanship. Bless their little cotton socks.

  2. BM 2

    That’s how the media operates.

    They’ve been like it for years, Key spent most of last year defending himself from media stories and exaggeration.

    It’s Cunliffes turn now, be interesting to see how he handles it because I get the feeling the media can smell blood and where there’s blood there’s stories.

    Good opportunity to see how Cunliffe operates under pressure, see if he’s got the goods or not.

    • Whatever next? 2.1

      It is the ” shark ” like behaviour of the media that is being questioned, not how DC responds to it

      • TightyRighty 2.1.1

        you mean how they pick up on discrepancies between whats said and what is actually the truth? yeah, what a pack of dicks for not just publishing labours press release as labour wanted it published.

        • KJT 2.1.1.1

          Grammar? TR!

        • well I never 2.1.1.2

          like they do for National you mean TR?

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1.1.2.1

            National never release detail and are challenged to provide any when asked. The offending reporter or network (cf. the National Party’s de-facto boycott of National Radio) is then cut off from all access to ministers and are told they will have to go through Matthew Hooton.

  3. I saw that first photo of Cunliffe and couldn’t really believe that they’d used it. Your photo of key is a classic – nice one.

    Seems the phoney war is over and the gnats and their supporters have started seriously toward their objective – make or break time now because not too many more chances before voting day, whenever it is.

    • Sosoo 3.1

      They’re not even trying to hide it anymore. It’s pretty obvious that most of the media people (who are after all “rich pricks”) would prefer a John Key led government. To that end they will avoid any serious political discussion unless it is to the detriment of the opposition, and will spend most of their time trolling and talking about things like Metiria Turei’s clothes.

      It’s also pretty obvious that they can and will get their way. It’s why I stopped thinking freedom of the press was worth anything a while back.

      • TightyRighty 3.1.1

        it’s not possible to have serious political discussion when one side is managing the economy like a boss and one side is throwing round bribes that don’t actually exist.

        The press is free to report how they see things. that they see national as being on message and in control and labour / greens way off message and out of control is more labour / greens fault, rather than the media.

        • Crunchtime 3.1.1.1

          the previous Labour Government managed the economy far better without having to sell the family silver (in fact, they bought some of it back) so you have no ground to stand on when it comes to National “managing the economy”.

          The press isn’t free, it’s bought and paid for, this is made crystal clear by how they parrot Key’s every brainfart as if it’s gospel. They see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear. Much like you, TightyRighty.

  4. phil 4

    Who polices the police?
    Who ensures that the MSM are fair and unbiased?
    It’s a rigged game and the MSM in NZ are untouchable.
    A change of Government must introduce a quality, independent, non commercial Public Broadcaster. If we can’t afford that we can’t afford a Democracy. Sad and deeply concerning …

    • Anne 4.1

      +1 phil.

      The Herald and TV3 partisan behaviour in particular has gone so far from being acceptable that I think it is time a group of people tested it in court – or somewhere. There are limits to the decimation of democratic governance in a country like NZ, and when the MSM so often deliberately and provocatively aid and abet in that decimation then surely they should be able to be brought to account.

      I know almost nothing about the legal system, but there must be some way to counteract their abominable partisan behaviour.

      edit: and its no use relying on the BSA because I know from personal experience they have become a bunch of toothless tigers peopled mainly by ex-Nat Party supporters.

    • Sosoo 4.2

      It’s not as worrying as it used to be. Broadcasting is less important these days, since people prefer “narrowcasting” available to them via the internet. After all, when was the last time you learned about something you were interested in from the TV news first?

      Many, including more and more younger people, get their news either direct from the source (e.g. someone’s Twitter feed) or from their social contacts (e.g. Twitter, Facebook).

      I guess a few people do get their opinions from sources like the Herald, but I have no idea why they would. Bob Jones is about the only regular columnist who isn’t thick.

      The good thing about the internet is that you aren’t subject to the rules of media politeness, so it’s possible to openly and honestly refer to conservatives as the disgusting authoritarians they actually are.

      • greywarbler 4.2.1

        It can’t be true that the vast majority don’t listen to radio otherwise they wouldn’t be able to stay in business. They can’t all go to Joyce for subsidies. Do young people actually care about the facts of a matter, or is it the general story that’s of interest and then what emotions are building around it? People who check with what their friends know don’t seem to be interested in the facts, just what is the socially acceptable response at the time.

        Perhaps someone who is in touch with the latest feelings on anything could give us an update with what the word is on the apps or whatever?

  5. Colonial Viper 5

    The old labour movement never expected the Tory papers to be sympathetic.

    That’s why they created their own mass media outlets, e.g. The Standard 1.0, and in the USA, Appeal to Reason.

    • swordfish 5.1

      Absolutely, CV. Always known as “The Tory Press” and for very good reason.

      The morning papers (THE HERALD, THE DOMINION, THE PRESS, THE ODT) were all staunch supporters of Massey’s very Right-Wing Reform Party (indeed, THE DOMINION was generally considered the semi-official mouthpiece of the Party), while the evening papers (AUCK STAR, EVENING POST, CHCH STAR etc) were Liberal supporters. All became Tory aligned after the 1936 formation of the Nats (albeit with the evening papers remaining a little more even-handed).

      And let’s not forget the SOUTHERN CROSS – the Wellington equivalent of THE STANDARD. Published c1946-1954.

  6. Tania 6

    I love it how the media go on about Cunliffe but the truth is it is promoting our policy about new born babies yay. It is the longest the policy has been airing while we dont hear about nationals policy anymore and its all labour you hear in the news be it negative. The people are not as stupid as the media may like to think.

  7. tricledrown 7

    Keys pathetic responses make Key look a lot worse his demeanor was the look of worry while Cunliffe fronted and admitted his muck ups and looked genuine.
    While Keys integrity has been damaged permanently .
    After Key has been caught lying so many times and refusing to admit anything.
    Its refreshing to see Cunliffe front .

  8. Tiger Mountain 8

    The Herald in particular is filth, and people need reminding of this now and then. If they ever ran a flattering pic of Helen Clark in nine years I missed it. Fairfax is filth too, all msm outlets are dirty filthy tory supporters when their track records over time are examined. http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=48735398-FC90-8334-7A51-09FCFDB95B7D

    They are staffed by up themselves yet under pressure cub reporters and aging boofheads, print versions subbed and typeset sometimes offshore, edited by the invisible man and part of the capitalist superstructure. The few individual exceptions such as Campbell Live are surely a most endangered species in election year with the “the Three Tory Amigos” Espiner, Hosking and Henry ensconced at radio and TV.

    The way to beat these pricks is not to buy the sausage wrappers, dry retch entering the pay zone or provide clicks or eyeballs to them apart from absolutely necessary research.

    Politicians need to get out and about like Hone from Mana does and even the unloved here Winston. And use the internet.
    David Cunliffe has https://www.facebook.com/david.cunliffe.labour which includes his ”I”m in” initiative which will be encouraging people that want the Key gang gone to sign up and do something at neighbourhood level. Labour and Greens need to do an Obama to get elected (and then stop and not do too much more Obama!)

    • Olwyn 8.1

      Politicians need to get out and about like Hone from Mana does and even the unloved here Winston. And use the internet.

      I agree Tiger Mountain. That is the way to go – where possible, bypass the messenger and talk to people directly. Every one of the people who were at Cunliffe’s State of the Nation speech has their own impressions, and are not reliant on the NZ Herald’s or Patrick Gower’s.

    • alwyn 8.2

      There were lots of flattering shots of Helen Clark in the Herald during her time in office.
      Most of them were in the period just before an election of course and were paid for.
      That photo-shopped one that was in the Labour Party ad’s was so flattering that is was unrecognisable.

  9. chris73 9

    1. Boo hoo, the media run unflattering pictures of politicians all the time

    2. Cunliffe, as the leader of the Labour party, now has to face the same scrutiny as John Key (and it looks like Cunliffes not handling the pressure)

    3. Cunliffe being caught out making a “policy error” again (yeah I’m suggesting it wasn’t an error) isn’t the fault of the media or John Key its simply the Labour party doing what the Labour party does best and thats being sloppy and amateurish

    4. If the Labour party want better coverage and don’t want to look like they’re trying to undermine Cunliffe (probably the next best thing Labour is good at is underming its leaders) then all they need to do is stop blaming others for their own misfortunes and start acting professional

    But then they woud require some honest self-reflection so don’t hold your breath

    • Hayden 9.1

      (yeah I’m suggesting it wasn’t an error)

      You’re suggesting it was a deliberate lie, and they didn’t expect the army of keyboard warriors to jump all over it? I’m suggesting that that’s a fucking stupid suggestion.

      …stop blaming others for their own misfortunes…

      When did he do that? Here he is taking responsibility:

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9667593/Cunliffe-takes-rap-but-fumbles-again

      • chris73 9.1.1

        I’m suggesting the Labour party were hoping to sneak it through without anyone noticing, don’t underestimate the Labour partys talent for shooting itself in the foot.

        And as to taking responsibility thats more to do with the Left in general blaming everything and everyone under the sun rather then looking at themselves.

        For example its: the MSMs fault, John Keys popularity, big business, Whaleoil, peoples greed etc etc as to why Cunliffes as popular as Shearer or why Labours stagnating or why Nationals still popular

        • Hayden 9.1.1.1

          I’m suggesting the Labour party were hoping to sneak it through without anyone noticing

          Yes, that’s the stupid bit.

          • chris73 9.1.1.1.1

            I agree, you’d think Labour would have learned by now but apparently not

            • Hayden 9.1.1.1.1.1

              Are you being deliberately obtuse?

              Were I forced to choose the more intelligent of you and David Cunliffe, I’m afraid you’d come, shall we say, not first.

              • chris73

                I agree Cunliffes a smart guy but I suspect those around him are as thick as two short planks…or most likely haven’t got their heads around new technology

                What I mean is the days where a politician could say something and it’d go out in the newspaper and (maybe if you’re lucky) in the nightly news and people (even if they knew it was wrong) couldn’t do much more then write a letter to the editor and by then people have moved on

                Mass communication is now a two way street, the left think its like the old days but now a politician says something wrong theres a lot of people (with blogs) willing to tell everyone about it

                • framu

                  i love this deep insight of yours into how the left thinks chris – its like your a mind reader or something

                • mickysavage

                  You obviously have no idea what you are talking about Chris. Tell me why don’t you think that knowing what you are talking about is important?

                  • chris73

                    So why have Labour been performing so poorly, apart from general incompetence, under Goff then Shearer and now Cunliffe?

                    The last couple of years whenever National got into a bit of trouble all you’d have to do is wait for someone from Labour to open their mouths take the heat off.

                    Why is that and why has it happened again for Cunliffes big speech?

                    Incompetence or arrogance?

              • TightyRighty

                so you say it was an honest mistake and we all have to bow down and just accept it? we can’t be at all sceptical of the labour leaders version of what happened? is cunliffe jesus or something now?

                The worst thing isn’t that the policy is different from how is was delivered. it’s that so many of the cheerleaders (MS?) have spent so long denigrating everybody who questioned that it may have been a deliberate misinterpretation, when they are so close to the truth that it looks orchestrated.

                • Francis

                  “so you say it was an honest mistake and we all have to bow down and just accept it?”

                  The media themselves makes mistakes similar to the one made in the speech, all the time. Frequently you see short apology notices in papers or in bulletins where they have to correct a previous factual error.

                  Are you implying that every time the media makes a mistake of fact, they’re deliberately trying to deceive the public?

                  How about when National gets their facts wrong (which they frequently do, since a lot of them are made up on the spot). Heck, when National gets it’s facts wrong, we (the public) don’t even get notified about it, most of the time . The media doesn’t even bother to fact check most of them…

                  The problem isn’t so much that Labour isn’t willing to admit to the mistake (which they did right from the start). It’s that the whole thing is being turned into a conspiracy theory about how Labour was deliberately trying to deceive the public, even though the correct information was easily accessible on the Labour Party website.

                  • TightyRighty

                    Yes, I do believe that sometimes the media make deliberate mistakes in reporting knowing that they only have to publish a 3rd to last page retraction.

                    When has national got it’s facts wrong? economy is looking pretty good to me right now. unemployment is down, wages are up, rates are holding.

                    Take a break National government, give yourself a big pat on the back and have a beer. you’ve earned it.

                    • red blooded

                      “When has national got it’s facts wrong?”

                      How about the scores of times I’ve heard senior National politicians claiming that they have rescued the economy from the disaster of the previous (Labour) administration?

                      Labour were very careful economic guardians. they ran surpluses and paid down debt (which has ballooned again under this government). And yes, I know there has been a GFC and yes, I know about the costs caused by the Christchurch earthquakes. However, I don’t see how the government can step away from responsibility for debt while also taking credit for the supposed ‘upturn’ caused largely by the beginnings of the ChCh rebuild. If the earthquakes weren’t their fault (and they weren’t), well hey the rebuild is a response to that huge series of events, not a construction of this government.

                      And let’s not forget that these guys were determined to cut taxes for the reasonably well-heeled, even in the face of the GFC. So much for being our economic saviours!

                • Hayden

                  I’m saying they’d have to be really fucking stupid to think they were going to get away with it, and you’d have to be pretty fucking stupid to think that they were really that fucking stupid. Clear?

    • Francis 9.2

      So…it’s a grand conspiracy that the fact of not being able to receive Paid Parental Leave and the Best Start payment at the same time wasn’t mentioned in a 40 minute speech, even though it’s clearly mentioned in the full policy outline located on the Labour Party website?

      Though I don’t see how anyone can possibly outline every single detail about a policy in a 40 minute speech (where only about 5 minutes was dedicated to the policy), in hindsight, it would have been better if it was mentioned. Having said that, I can almost guarantee that the media would find something else to pick on…

      Even so, I can’t see any reason why those kinds of questions haven’t been raised of the National Party education policy. Aspects such as how people for the positions will be selected are very vague (probably intentionally so), and I’m certain it would be in the public interest to know these sorts of things before they cast their votes.

      • TightyRighty 9.2.1

        when i listen to someone trying to sell me something on the spot, with no smartphone, i tend to believe what they are saying. then if they get caught out because of fine print, i cancel. there is a law against misrepresentation of the deal if the fine print isn’t made explicitly clear on the spot.

        • Hayden 9.2.1.1

          Well then, you’re fully within your rights to not vote Labour this election.

          • TightyRighty 9.2.1.1.1

            me and the other 70% of the voting population. but if they keep this up, 79% again. feeling lonely?

  10. appleboy 10

    How apt that the photographer’s name is Phibbs for this work.

  11. Rosie 11

    Exhibit A. They couldn’t get a more unflattering photo if they tried. The happy looking smiling people on the left of the photo are at complete odds with Cunliffe’s image who snapped in a fraction of moment, looks like he going to deck that guy he is facing. So even then they are failing to capture the true mood of the occasion.

    Given that about a third of the photo is taken up with a close up of a part of a man’s face and his neck, and looks like a really bad drunk party shot just, instead of a professionally shot “candid” press photo shows HOW desperate the Herald were to get the single most unflattering photo they could.

    Looks like a deliberate attempt to set an anti Cunliffe, anti Labour Party agenda and that’s without the “commentary”!

    And Gower and co over at TV3 I reallllly hope you’re getting all this down, the fact that folks know what you’re up to – you’re looking like desparado’s yourselves.

    • Tiger Mountain 11.1

      Gower has a face on him like a half chewed mintie rolled in dog hair, which adds to the desperado look. Not that I am any oil painting, but luckily do not have to be “my masters voice” in front of viewers of his crappola.

      • Rosie 11.1.1

        “Gower has a face on him like a half chewed mintie rolled in dog hair,”

        That’s gold. You’ve bettered Dai Henwood’s observation that Gower looked like a teenage undertaker.

      • Murray Olsen 11.1.2

        Good description. He has a face made for radio and a voice made for mime.

    • Stuart Munro 11.2

      It’s quite true. Luckily, David Cunliffe seems to be that generational thing, a sincere leader. Just try to make sure as many people as possible see some of his speeches or better yet meet him in person.

      Key’s dishonesty turns people away. Let people see Cunliffe in action and they’ll savage these wretched media hacks…

  12. Paul 12

    Time for the Greens and Labour to challenge the media face to face.

    • chris73 12.1

      I agree, Cunliffe and Norman should definitely challenge the media over this

      • BM 12.1.1

        +1

        Cunliffe needs to call the media out on this, especially Patrick Gower.

        He needs to show him who’s boss.

        • chris73 12.1.1.1

          Yeah if Cunliffe doesn’t do this then he must be chicken

          • marty mars 12.1.1.1.1

            lol you two are funny

          • Stuart Munro 12.1.1.1.2

            Cunliffe doesn’t need to call the media out – it is their professionalism that’s on the line, not his. It’s like Key’s brain fades – You can’t answer the public’s questions? really? – every time he does it soft supporters leave him in droves.

            But it’s surprising the Herald hasn’t sacked their political reporters – they are rubbish. Cunliffe is a genuinely good speaker, much better than Key, and with fresh policy – you wouldn’t think so reading Armstrong et al. Armstrong had to backpeddle furiously after the conference speech, which he did not report – probably the best political speech of 2013.

            • TightyRighty 12.1.1.1.2.1

              where are these “droves” you talk about?

              • Paul

                Watch this film and come back and talk afterwards about the impartiality of the corporate media.

                • TightyRighty

                  if john key was to attack the media it would be an attack on the freedom of speech. when cunliffe does we would have a valid point as it’s biased against him.

                  claims of bias against “mainstream”, lets not forget that term either, media are largely unfounded. individual publications, sure. The ABC, left like useless whinger. the spectator, slightly to the right of George Bush. the whole “mainstream” media? you are fucking retarded.

                  the reason it’s mainstream is because the masses to choose to watch it and make their choices on the information provided as a result of their choice to watch it. that the mainstream media reflects the values of it’s viewers is not the media’s fault. if the masses didn’t like it they wouldn’t watch it. therefore mainstream is representative of population due to it’s extremely large sample size, therefore mainstream hates labour.

                  Not the media’s fault. not the populations fault. labours fault.

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbhNgOyGyPA

                  • Paul

                    Simple question tr, do you accept the corporate media is biased in favour of the National party above either the Greens or Labour?

  13. Tanz 13

    Ther Herald fawn over Key all the time. Does he pay them? The bias is blatant and sickening.
    Still, Key’s days are numbered, the public are finally seeing through him it seems.

    • chris73 13.1

      Because Keys popularity as PM is falling (oops its not) and Cunliffes is rising? (has he overtaken Shearer yet?) or is it because Nationals numbers are dropping (oops a daisey they ain’t) and Labours are rising (well you get the picture by now)

      • ghostwhowalksnz 13.1.1

        Funny you should say that, the Labour -Green group is overhauling the National-XXXXX group

        But of course , we then have the idea that the ‘largest’ party should govern because even though they havent won the election, is the latest version of divine rule

      • Bearded Git 13.1.2

        Helen was still popular when Labour got voted out. Key’s problem (apart from the fact he is an extremely poor public speaker) is Brownlee, Bennet, Collins, Parata, Smith, Ryall, Finlayson, McCully, English etc etc etc

        oh and Dunne, Banks..

      • Paul 13.1.3

        If you seriously don’t think the corporate media is not inherently biased, then you need to educate yourself.

        http://canterbury.cyberplace.org.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Miscellaneous/mediaown.pdf

        However, I think you know the fundamentals of this already and just spinning for the 1%.
        If they’re paying you, you are contemptible.
        If they’re not paying you, you are quite deluded.

        Or of course you are one of the 1%.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 13.2

      He doesnt pay them. But he has some very nasty dogs in his media office that will bite if they see something they dont like.
      As we have seen with the ‘reducing wages’ interview some time back, if they dont get the bad press changed by the editors they will get the company board of directors to intervene.

    • Just note that on nearly every page of the Herald there in bold print
      is “National.”
      Then on radio every day we have “radio NZ’ ” NATIONAL” Its too clever to be coincidental ,don’t you think??.

  14. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 14

    What is becoming patently clear is that the right-wing are unable to criticise the substance of the policies that Labour have proposed because these policies are good – and are having to resort to pernickety criticisms, fabrications and bad photos.

    It is truly shocking to see our mainstream media doing the Nat party electioneering for them.

    Just have to remind ourselves of the weakness of the right-wing. They are clueless about how to act in the interests of the greatest number of people and playing below-the-belt tactics is the only way they get into power.

    Sadly these tactics are based on knowledge on how to influence people against their best interests and hopefully there are people in the appropriate circles (media & political) looking into the connections between the media/Gower & others and the Nat party pay roll.

    We need a whistle-blower here & if anyone is considering it – please remind yourself of how this behaviour of the media is degenerating our democracy.

    • McFlock 14.1

      it’ll get dirtier as the year progresses.
      But the dirtier it gets it means the more desperate they’re becoming

      • chris73 14.1.1

        I agree Labour love the dirt but hopefully they won’t go as far as they’ve done in previous elections

        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 14.1.1.1

          No Labour doesn’t like ‘the dirt’ – they get others to do it for them, for example like that time in 2005 when they made secret agreements with that Christian group to write up large adverts condemning the Government of the day – thereby working their way around the election funding rules – and how they feed dirt to dirty blogsites that write with no scruples – in this way they get their dirty messages across to the public without having the dirt emanating from them connected directly with their ‘brand’

          No, wait! Hang about! – It is the National Party that did those things not Labour!

          +1 McFlock – The dirtier it gets it means the more desperate National are becoming

    • chris73 14.2

      Well theres this:

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11194409

      Maybe labours policies arn’t good and how they’ve been announced has been a dogs breakfast

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 14.2.1

        The way that Best Start has been formulated is that it allows those on no & low income to get a relatively large boost to their flailing incomes – $ 60 for those in the upper bracket may well be considered a pittance – or it may encourage a longer time off work for one of the parents – which is a good thing for the baby.

        Some here on the Standard have mentioned that those on higher income don’t need to accept the payment – I am unclear whether this is true or not.

        I agree that it could have been targeted more specifically toward those on lower household incomes however the benefit of targeting those from $150 000 household income and under is that it fairly well lumps 95% of New Zealanders in the same category – as they should be – and counteracts the divisive politics of the right of picking sections of us off and pitting us against one another – but then I guess the right-wing have realised that already and that is why they are spewing.

        • TightyRighty 14.2.1.1

          take $60pw in exchange for cancelling the family tax credit of $150pw. labour giveth, labour taketh away. BS, that’s a targeted poverty policy all right

          • Francis 14.2.1.1.1

            From what I can tell, the Parental tax credit is an alternative for Paid Parental Leave currently. You cannot receive both at once. It’s also not available to anyone on many benefits.

            People can only claim it for up to 8 weeks after the birth of the child too, compared to the 1-3 years of the Best Start payment.

            So, if you’re in the rare case of it making sense to claim this tax credit (ie not on paid parental leave, not on a benefit, earning less than $20,000 per year), then you’ll only receive up to $1200. Keep in mind that Parental tax credit is means-tested, so $150 is the maximum rather than a fixed amount.

            Compare that to the Best Start payment fixed at $60 per week, which is available to anyone earning less than $150,000, which gives $3120 all up for those not receiving parental leave for the first year (and, as said above, anyone who may have received the Parental tax credit would not be receiving parental leave).

            In addition, anyone who was likely to want to receive the tax credit rather than leave would probably be earning well under $50,000, and thus would receive the extra $6240 for the next two years. Overall, that’s $9360 compared to $1200, which is nearly 8 times as much.

            Plus, it doesn’t have the added administrative and bureaucratic costs of means testing, as the Parental tax credit does…

  15. Rosie 15

    Can I ask, what is TV1 news like these days? I boycotted them about ten years ago but it looks like I might be boycotting TV3 some day soon, apart from Campbell Live. Not that either of them are necessary as a source of “News”, it’s more like a shameful case of 6pm junk news addiction that I suffer.

    If this was on offer however:

    “A change of Government must introduce a quality, independent, non commercial Public Broadcaster. If we can’t afford that we can’t afford a Democracy. Sad and deeply concerning …”

    You’re so right phil

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 15.1

      My opinion is that TV One news are more supportive of the left – or at the very least more ‘balanced’. They are not perfect, however TV3 news appears to be very captured by the right. I do not watch this news for information – only occasionally switch over to see the framing they are choosing to convey to the public.

      It is sad because TV3 cover New Zealand news stories in more detail than TV1 – however their bias is right-wing and they compromise information for that bias.

      I recall a Pike River Mine item on TV3 news – where John Key was letting the miners down severely – they did a series of quick shots of John Key – one of which where he was holding a baby and showing it a toy of some type. This picture was flashed on the screen quickly and had no relevance to the information being discussed – considering Key was reneging on some level of support that he’d promised and that it was a very negative piece of news – I consider the choice to show this shot as being motivated to connect Key with something good while bad news was being delivered – this approach targets peoples’ unconscious brains & has been proven to be effective at influencing people without their conscious knowing. You have to ask yourself what are news sources applying such techniques for?

      • Rosie 15.1.1

        Hi Blue Leopard. That is an interesting observation about the “positive Key image” inserted into the negative but true Key story re his abandonment of the Pike River Families. I don’t really recall Key ever being shown in a negative light on 3News.

        I might experiment and watch 1News for a week and see if there is a difference in reporting the same story and how it is framed. I might also watch as new legislation comes up too. Soon we will have Bridge’s Victorian Era -Workhouse-Union Busting ERA amendments and Hone’s Feed The Kids bill which has already been delayed. Will be interesting to see how this come across on TV1 as opposed to TV3

        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 15.1.1.1

          I find comparing the framing between the two stations very interesting and I thoroughly recommend others doing it too – this activity has been made all the more easier with the TV1 plus and TV3 plus channels (playing the same programmes and hour later).

          Would be interested in your impressions after doing that, Rosie [& anyone else].

      • floyd 15.1.2

        It is subliminal indoctrination. Not helped by the amount of times the word *key* is used in everday communications.

        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 15.1.2.1

          …yeah that point you make about the common nature of the word ‘key’ is a good point and another bloody annoying factor in all this.

    • Tanz 15.2

      Mark Sainsbury was refrreshingly unbiased. Really miss him. TV One News is a bit light these days, too many presenters.

    • Naki Man 15.3

      Campbell live as I have said before Tv3’s hard left infomercial. And you don’t like media that is biased. You must be f#%king joking

  16. Tanz 16

    And as for the flag change, why has Key put that on the table now? It hasn;t been mentioned for some time. What a power monger he is, an opportunist to the last.

    • PapaMike 16.1

      It is being said in Wellington that the Flag change proposal was to be put to the next Labour Party Conference remit, but a HO staff member leaked it to the media, and National, and Key was asked the question by the reporter,to which he already knew the answer.

    • Lanthanide 16.2

      The Listener had a cover story about changing the flag for their first issue of this year, IIRC. Which was before Key mentioned anything. This year, anyway.

      Back in September when he had the junket trip to see the Queen, he was quoted as saying he loved the royals and didn’t want to become a republic, “but that wouldn’t stop me from changing the flag”.

  17. Sybok 17

    So, the only place this has been a topic of discussion is The Standard and maybe some other random left-wing blogs.

    It’s a pointless argument because the Left always thinks the media is right-leaning and the Right always think the media is left-leaning. Meaning, both sides are as stupid as each other on this one and only raise it because their dude (or dudette) hasn’t had a good week and throw a tanty.

    Seriously, get back to substantive stuff and how in future not to screw up a major policy release.

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 17.1

      @ Sybok

      How information is conveyed is extremely substantive stuff. How accurately and non-biased information is conveyed to the general public will affect how well a democracy will function.

  18. captain hook 18

    The thing is the media in New Zealand is staffed by kids who think they are cute. They have no integrity and dont know anything about anything.
    A prime example is the Grammys. There was never a mention of who won any other award except the one the kiwi sheila was in.
    Solipsistic narcissistic head up your ass kiss the bosses arse style journalism.

  19. Daniel 19

    All pictures of politicians in all media outlets should be replaced with Ron Mark flipping the bird in Parliament.

  20. Whatever next? 20

    Happens on radio too, last election year, constantly used phrases like “commanding lead for National” ” desperate Labour” sort of subliminal messages……yes, I know sounds paranoid, except it worked!

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 20.1

      Would only sound paranoid if we all hadn’t heard it

    • corokia 20.2

      RadioNZ news this afternoon quoted Key…
      “Ms Turei said their behaviour amounts to bullying, but Prime Minister John Key said that’s not the case.
      “Go back and play the file footage and see who says the hardest, often nastiest comments. Almost always comes from the Greens – they go really hard.”

      This is crap, the Greens are quite polite, when was the last time they called other politicians ‘devil beasts” or ‘Taliban’?
      What pisses me off is that journalists let Key away with made up shit like this without challenging him. It might be laziness, but it comes across as bias.

      • KJT 20.2.1

        An example of bias/spin is when the first headline is “Key says” ………”Cunliffe”.

        The next is. “Cunliff denies”.

        A variation on the “when did you stop beating your wife”, gambit.

        When a newspaper wants to insinuate something and stay on the right side of the defamation laws, the headline is “(so and so) denies”.

      • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 20.2.2

        Dear Turei, boo fucking hoo. Harden up princess, you’re in Parliament – not playing tiddlywinks (Andre).

        • hamish 20.2.2.1

          Just think, in a few months you’ll be able to say Harden up princess, you’re in Government

        • Murray Olsen 20.2.2.2

          Metiria drew attention to ongoing racism coming from NAct. She didn’t cry. She is hard enough. A weak, soft woman would ignore it.

          • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 20.2.2.2.1

            Meh, a panicky playing of the race card IMHO. If this was a coded racist attack on Turei for being Maori, then every comment about John Key being a rich banker is coded antisemitism.

            • Pasupial 20.2.2.2.1.1

              SHG

              Your opinion is not humble, nor does it have any validity. Key is a self-confessed admirer of Muldoon, a multi-millionaire who made his cash getting inflated bonuses for dubious dealings for an overseas (now defunct) corporation, and proud of his nickname; the Smiling Assassin (bestowed for his skill at firing employees).

              The sooner we kick that sociopathic manipulator back to Hawaii the better for what remains of the country.

              • SHG (not Colonial Viper)

                Pasupial, your references to Key’s wealth (greed) and having worked overseas (allegiance to foreign interests) are quite clearly antisemitic attacks.

                HEY GUYS LOOK OVER HERE PASUPIAL HATES JEWS

                • Paupial

                  HEY GUYS LOOK OVER HERE; SHG IS UTTERLY UNABLE TO COMPREHEND WRITTEN ENGLISH AND IS REDUCED TO SHOUTING IMBECILIC SLURS UNFOUNDED IN EVIDENCE.

                  I do regard John Key as a sociopathic crytofascist stooge of foreign interests. Yes, he is Jewish on his maternal (Lazar) side, although it doesn’t seem to be a large part of his self image. Really that is irrelevant – except possibly when it comes to his relationship as NZ PM with the state of Israel.

                • felix

                  “your references to Key’s wealth (greed) and having worked overseas (allegiance to foreign interests) are quite clearly antisemitic attacks.”

                  Hey SHG, why do you automatically associate greed with jewishness?

                  Bit weird mate.

            • felix 20.2.2.2.1.2

              Bollocks SHG.

              Key is a Christian and an atheist. He said so himself.

              • TightyRighty

                and his mother is jewish, which makes him jewish. practicing or not.

                • It makes him Yiddish .However I understand most Jewish people disown him..

                  • SHG (not Colonial Viper)

                    It makes him Yiddish

                    Spoken with such ignorance. You must be an anti-semite.

                    When did you start hiding your hatred of the Jewish people and the state of Israel?

                • felix

                  “and his mother is jewish”

                  Yes Tighty, he has also mentioned that he is jewish. And a christian, and an atheist, depending who he’s talking to at the time.

                  That was the point. Thanks for reinforcing it.

              • red blooded

                Yet another mangled comment from Key. One can be an Christian OR an atheist, but not both (or not at once, anyway). An oxymoron that makes him sound like..? (Hint; it’s not an ox.)

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 20.2.2.2.1.3

              Tolley’s stupid remark is stupid. Who cares how she feels about being questioned on poverty by Turei? It’s their fucking job for Christ’s sake. Launching a personal attack is her way of showing weakness and irrelevance, like Simon Bridges attacking union reps while forestry workers die.

              Key’s money is germane to most political and economic debates because of how he came by it.

              I can see why Turei thinks Tolley’s remark is racist as well as inane, but you’re drawing a long bow to connect Key to that.

            • QoT 20.2.2.2.1.4

              “panicky”

              Nice spin. Evidence of Turei sounding at all “panicked”? Oh wait, she’s a woman stating a firm opinion, so it’s open season on the emotive labelling.

  21. greywarbler 21

    Photo A with a lovely short of some guy’s adam’s apple in profile, and David C in the background, is taken by Brett Phibbs. Two questions – Why would the Herald accept that? Did they pay him for it? Is his name really Phibbs? Don’t they have their own photographers any more? Wait that’s three.

  22. fisiani 22

    I can see that the natives are getting restless and looking for someone to blame for the election loss later this year. The main suspects touted are John Key, The Herald, The media in general, Crosby Textor, the Stuff polls, The Royal visit and the gullibility of the public.
    There is a complete failure to realise that there is absolutely no mood for change in the country. There might be with your mates but that is so myopic. People are happy and realise that everything is on song. The economy is booming, employment is rising, crime is down, benefit numbers are falling and more money is spent on education and health than at any time in history. John Key is really popular. Perhaps the most popular PM ever. He is trusted. The Cunliffe is not even trusted or wanted by his caucus for goodness sake. Not only that but a vote for Labour would mean a Labour/Greens government and the Greens would put all the last five years progress into reverse. The problem for Labour is that they will be saddled with all the nutty policies of the Greens.they are linked at the hip.
    This is all great news for the lazy Grant Robertson who will inherit the leadership he craves by Christmas.
    Follow the money. Cui bono. Who benefits from a Labour disaster? He who “polished up the handles so carefully that now he is the leader of the King’s navy.”

  23. xtasy 23

    Yep, I have been on about this very issue again and again, that the MSM are largely biased, do not deliver balanced, informative and well researched reports, and thus misinform the public. Investigative journalism is hard to find these days. Some of what the media do may be intentional, the rest may be due to journos also following the “herd instinct”, and not wanting to be different to their colleagues and mates.

    Most media staff come from middle or upper middle class backgrounds, who follow this career out of some interest in having a “vibrant”, exciting work place. I suspect only few are experts on what they report on.

    And of course, the ownership of the media is another issue that needs to be raised, as we have very poor, under-resourced and overly “commercial looking” public media (public broadcasting). Generally the media is dominated by private, even corporate owned media, with a strong commercial focus, and dependent on advertising, which is their bread and butter.

    The latter fact compromises the freedom to report, although the media will mostly deny this being the case in public.

    Thanks to mickysavage, Blue and others to write on all this, as the election later this year is in danger to be won again by the same forces, who won the last two general elections. It is certainly time to remind the media of their duties, and to rethink their conduct, as allowing themselves to be used by the well resourced political forces that run the show now, that is totally unacceptable.

    Lastly, we need a re-establishment of truly balanced, well resourced, good quality and robust public broadcasting, with online services also, to restore the balance to the presently dominant private media players, that set the tone and direction for the rest to follow. The private media does not deserve to dominate the media-landscape, so the next Labour led and Green supported government will need to be taken to task on this, to create true competition for the private sector part of the whole media.

    I expect to be well informed, not to be “infotained”, and thus treated like an immature or simple minded, consumerist idiot, which seems to be how too many in the media view the general public.

  24. SHG (not Colonial Viper) 24

    Labour communications, episode 68307: Cunliffe responds to criticism of his policy-launch fiasco.

    “There are some collective learnings, and I am absolutely undertaking that we will be spot-on in future.”

    There are some collective learnings, ahhhh the language of responsibility avoidance that comes so naturally to a Boston Consulting Group “strategy consultant”.

    • Tim 24.1

      …. agreed Cunliffe would do himself a favour if he didn’t buy into corporate-BS-speak: i.e. “collective learnings” ffs!

  25. Peter 25

    The MSM essentially back Key so we would be naive to expect objective reporting. NZ as a fair and reasonable country is a myth. Power and money are talking loud and clear! The Key accusation of Cunliffe misleading NZ is a prime case. People remember the accusation not the defence. Finding the truth is not the purpose of the story. The success of this little bit of manipulation is a National triumph.

  26. Hanswurst 26

    Don’t know if this has been mentioned, but there was also a VOD clip on TV3’s site titled “Key Dissects Labour’s Plans”. It Paul Henry interviewing John Key, and Labour’s plans or policy weren’t even mentioned. It was basically about Key’s holiday home in Hawaii and golf with the US president. This sort of thing happens quite often; I doubt that whoever writes the headlines has even watched the clip half the time. They probably just see key’s face, slap something vaguely political and extremely flattering to Key on it and move to the next clip. Is a headline as blatantly false as that a breach of standards of any kind?

    • Stuart Munro 26.1

      Their media strategy guy is on the ball – unfortunately (for them neither) Key nor their hapless media frontmen could dissect anything more complicated than bacon and eggs to save themselves. Such hard work making stupid people look clever – and so frustrating.

    • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 26.2

      Where you see the headline writer deliberately placing a title that is flattering to Key, I see a cynical bit of search-engine manipulation by some junior SEO nerd. “Key Dissects Labour’s Plans” is better click bait than “Key Plays Golf in Hawaii” this week. Gotta sell those eyeballs.

      • Hanswurst 26.2.1

        It amounts to the same thing, IMO. If they were impartially chasing hits and Key were too boring/too much of a dick, they’d just neglect to invite him onto the show. Besides, the fact that it is “Key Dissects Labour’s Plans” and not “Key flummoxed by Labour Policy” or “DotCom not trustworthy – Key” speaks volumes.

  27. floyd 27

    Having just read john armstrong’s column I actually feel quite sick. Is he for real? Is he on meds? Is he on a promise? I cannot believe that the herald publishes such negative one sided views of an obviously doddery old man who has forgotten how to think clearly and impartially. A load of regurgitation about Cunliffe’s Best Start policy (so last week) la la la and then ENTER JOHN KEY!!!! waving a flag or some such thing. How very Boy’s Own. I noticed about last November the little, feel good puff pieces about key leaching into the media. Yes I do mean leaching. It is now ramping up to disturbing proportions. How can it be stopped. Surely there is a way to get across to the real people of NZ what is truly happening. There are ALWAYS two sides to a debate but we are only being fed the slops of old retainers who need to be put out to pasture. Preferably during a drought. The main problem here is that key is thick enoughtt o actually believe implicitly every wonderful, positive thing that is written about him and therefore feeds his narcissistic ego driven personality.

    • Armstrong has some kind of hero worship thing going on for John Key. I do try to cut him a bit of slack on this, on the basis that if I were a newspaper columnist and PJ Harvey or Lemmy was the PM, I’d probably run no end of fawningly sycophantic pieces myself. On the other hand, at least PJ Harvey and Lemmy are actually cool…

  28. captain hook 28

    I dont think armstrong writes the stuff that comes out under his name.
    Lsas time I saw him he was being supported by a gaggle of females whose function was not altogether clear at that time but now I presume that they actually do the writing for him.

  29. RedBaronCV 29

    Put a little fear into them. In the foreign ownership deba te mention “foreign media ownership rules”

  30. Paul 30

    Further proof the corporate media is biased.
    The Herald follows Key’s instructions to discuss the flag.
    John Roughan
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11195040
    Sam Clements
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11194511

    They are doing everything in their power to prevent a mature discussion about the state of New Zealand.
    Distract, divert.
    Their plans for the future…..TPP, privatisation of health and education and the sale of NZ to international corporations would not be something they’s want NZers to be talking about.

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 30.1

      +1 Well said

      Judging by right-wing comments on this thread & elsewhere on this matter it is becoming very clear why they are doing the distraction thing – the right-wing have no decent points to argue in a mature discussion.

      Divisive, distracting, petty attacks is all they can do.

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 30.2

      +1 Well said

      Judging by right-wing comments on this thread & elsewhere, it is becoming very clear why they are doing the distraction thing – the right-wing have no decent points to argue in a mature discussion.

      Divisive, distracting, petty attacks is all they can do – they have no reasoned or decent arguments for the policies and ideology that they blindly follow.

  31. fisiani 31

    Of course the media are biased. Why did none of them challenge The Cunliffe ridiculous claim that 20% of New Zealand children do not have two pairs of shoes. A totally made up figure about 400 times the actual rate. So not a mistake just another attempt to be tricky and hope that no one questions.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 31.1

      …about 400 times the actual rate…

      [citation needed]

      Why are Kidscan making such a big deal about shoes? Because they’re lying, or because you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about?

      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 31.1.1

        The arguments that the right-wing are putting forward seem to be getting even more pathetic than usual…..

      • fisiani 31.1.2

        citation required for the Cunliffe crap

        the latest NZ Living Standards Report which does ask if everyone in a household has two pairs of good or sturdy shoes. And 92% said they did, and only 5% said they did not because they couldn’t afford it.

        Now 20% is four times greater than 5%, so that is some exaggeration

        apology -I wrote 400 times but meant 400%.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 31.1.2.1

          Ah, you misspoke.

          The Living Standards Survey was conducted in 2008. You may have heard that inequality has increased since then. You may also have heard predictions that this would be exactly the effect of legislation introduced by this government.

          I’m sure you’d rather nitpick than do something about it, especially since, in doing so, you are merely toeing the party line like a good party member.

          Paediatricians, on the other hand, live in nice houses and wear nice clothes, so god forbid they should lecture you about it, but they’ve been trying, tin ears.

  32. well I never 32

    Would the media be interested in:

    “The United Nations has issued New Zealand with 155 recommendations to improve its human rights record” …..which is apparently up from 64 in 2009.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9675262/NZ-needs-to-work-on-human-rights

    Seems to have vanished from front page already, despite being pretty important, if you care that is

    • floyd 32.1

      WEL But,but, I heard just after that announcement that Bag Lady collins said that we are getting very good recommendations from overseas. Don’t know where from and no actual evidence to back that claim up. Must have been a relly from Nania. Delivered by a unicorn.

  33. newsense 33

    Armstrong: should just list him as the Herald National Party correspondent.

    After that weird thing about Peters:

    “There seems to be no mood in the electorate for a change of government. Without such a mood, Labour – which anyway does not look ready to govern – and the Greens – who do have their act together – have to manufacture one.

    The trouble is the rhetoric simply does not wash.

    Enter Key. He intends making things even harder for his opponents. Don’t be fooled into thinking his advocacy for a change of flag is some innocent diversion.

    He is doing it on the back of a rapidly strengthening economy and much healthier levels of national confidence. Arguing for a new flag is an opportunity for him to display leadership and make people feel good about themselves and the country.

    It is all about nationhood. It is all about patriotism. It is all about gathering more votes for National.”

    Or just get Farrar to write the collumns directly and save the charade.

  34. Whatever next 34

    I can almost see them saluting as the new flag is hoisted up

  35. floyd 35

    When armstrong writes ‘key drapes a flag over his rival’ it sounds very much like a burial. Flags are draped over coffins. How come he didn’t get any comments on this piece of trash he wrote?

  36. Matthew 36

    It’s been a shocking week for Labour and the media is reflecting that in the photo’s they use. Whoop de do.

    If you want to talk about media bias perhaps you could start a discussion on the Herald constantly filling it’s opinion section with left wing drivel.

    • mickysavage 36.1

      Obviously you think that the Herald should only be filled with right wing drivel.

      • Whatever next 36.1.1

        Obviously

      • Matthew 36.1.2

        Not at all.

        I expect a range of views from all parts of the political spectrum.

        I don’t believe the Herald provides this.

        • felix 36.1.2.1

          If you genuinely mean what you say – and I don’t for a moment believe that you do – then your views must be so far to the right that you may as well give up on the right-wing rag The Herald and instead subscribe to Kyle Chapman’s newsletter.

    • Crunchtime 36.2

      Its readers fill the opinion section with “left wing drivel”. Which is an indicator of the REAL mainstream view of New Zealand.

      Quite different to the insanely corporatised extreme nutjob right-wing pro-rich anti-poor claptrap passed off as “journalism” and published by the Herald and its contemporaries.

  37. Blossom 37

    Someone should take the time and investigate the Bias and influence of the present Government on media . Look at the fluff floating around at the moment with TVNZ – Key for a substantial period interviewed politely and nursed by Roydon Christie for months and months with no counter to the views of the master, at least now we have some balance with DC on a Tuesday morning, but you can see the different approach in the tones of the interviews and the questioning.

    Make use the OIA act while we still can. It is very easy to “paint a picture” a certain way and easy to mislead the flock. The media as we all know have the power, they can make the innocent quilty, and vice versa. How many advisers (media) does Key rely on, they know how to manipulate and play on a situation to gain traction/support or to make it all go away… Just in the same way the comments under articles can be “cultured” to lead a certain bias and any opinions that do not go with the flow for example big business paper from Auckland it appears – just don’t post them even when they are not defamatory and just voice an opinion that does not gel with the flow of the articles bias. I heard from a very prominent NZ Journalist that they felt certain media had their own people commenting and leading the comment thread regards a high profile issue a few years back….. and if you look it fits… what is the reality is not really the actual…..the truth can be distorted and politics plays a sad part of that…Key and National will lead by “advantage” not by an having an honest equal battle field- just my observations and opinion….

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    Roundup is back! We skipped last week’s Friday post due to a shortage of person-power – did you notice? Lots going on out there… Our header image this week shows a green street that just happens to be Queen St, by @chamfy from Twitter. This week (and last) in ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    10 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Keen-Minshull visit
    After threatening Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of consequences if he dared to bar her entry, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull has been given her visa, regardless. This will enable her to hold rallies in Auckland and Wellington this weekend, and spread her messages of hostility against an already marginalised trans community. Neo-Nazis may, ...
    10 hours ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nucl...
    * Bryce Edwards writes – The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Wayne Brown's #Auxit moment
    Boomers voted him in, but Brown’s Trumpish moments might spook Aucklanders worried about what a change to National nationally might mean. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has become our version of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, except without any of the insatiable appetite for media appearances. He ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nuclear submarines
    The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as part of its Aukus pact with the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    11 hours ago
  • Posie Parker vs Transgender Rights.
    Recently you might have heard of a person called Posie Parker and her visit to Aotearoa. Perhaps you’re not quite sure what it’s all about. So let’s start with who this person is, why their visit is controversial, and what on earth a TERF is.Posie Parker is the super villain ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    13 hours ago
  • Select Committee told slow down; you’re moving too fast
    The chair of Parliament’s Select Committee looking at the Government’s resource management legislation wants the bills sent back for more public consultation. The proposal would effectively kill any chance of the bills making it into law before the election. Green MP, Eugenie Sage, stressing that she was speaking as ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    16 hours ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12 2023
    Open access notables  The United States experienced some historical low temperature records during the just-concluded winter. It's a reminder that climate and weather are quite noisy; with regard to our warming climate,, as with a road ascending a mountain range we may steadily change our conditions but with lots of ...
    1 day ago
  • What becomes of the broken hearted? Nanny State will step in to comfort them
    Buzz from the Beehive The Nanny State has scored some wins (or claimed them) in the past day or two but it faltered when it came to protecting Kiwi citizens from being savaged by one woman armed with a sharp tongue. The wins are recorded by triumphant ministers on the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Acceptance, decency, road food.
    Sometimes you see your friends making the case so well on social media you think: just copy and share.On acceptance and decency, from Michèle A’CourtA notable thing about anti-trans people is they way they talk about transgender women and men as though they are strangers “over there” when in fact ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Climate Change: More Labour sabotage
    Not that long ago, things were looking pretty good for climate change policy in Aotearoa. We finally had an ETS, and while it was full of pork and subsidies, it was delivering high and ever-rising carbon prices, sending a clear message to polluters to clean up or shut down. And ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Is bundling restricting electricity competition?
    Comparing (and switching) electricity providers has become easier, but bundling power up with broadband and/or gas makes it more challenging. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā TL;DR: The new Consumer Advocacy Council set up as a result of the Labour Government’s Electricity Price Review in 2019 has called on either ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Westland Milk puts heat on competitors as global dairy demand  remains softer for longer
    Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products  has  put the heat on dairy giant Fonterra with  a $120m profit turnaround in 2022, driven by record sales. Westland paid its suppliers a 10c premium above the forecast Fonterra price per kilo, contributing $535m to the West Coast and Canterbury economies. The dairy ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    1 day ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    * Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public office and becoming lobbyists and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • A miracle pill for our transport ills
    This is a guest post by accessibility and sustainable transport advocate Tim Adriaansen It originally appeared here.   A friend calls you and asks for your help. They tell you that while out and about nearby, they slipped over and landed arms-first. Now their wrist is swollen, hurting like ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • The Surprising Power of Floating Wind Turbines
    Floating offshore wind turbines offer incredible opportunities to capture powerful winds far out at sea. By unlocking this wind energy potential, they could be a key weapon in our arsenal in the fight against climate change. But how developed are these climate fighting clean energy giants? And why do I ...
    2 days ago
  • The next Maori challenge
    Over the past two or three weeks, a procession of Maori iwi and hapu in a series of little-noticed appearances before two Select Committees have been asking for more say for Maori over resource management decisions along the co-governance lines of Three Waters. Their submissions and appearances run counter ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Secret “war-crime” warrants by International Criminal Court is mischief-making
    The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue war crimes arrest warrants for the Russian President and the Russia Children Ombudsman may have been welcomed by the ideologically committed but otherwise seems to have been greeted with widespread cynicism (see Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants ...
    2 days ago
  • How to answer Drunk Uncle Kevin's Climate Crisis reckons
    Let’s say you’re clasping your drink at a wedding, or a 40th, or a King’s Birthday Weekend family reunion and Drunk Uncle Kevin has just got going.He’s in an expansive frame of mind because we’re finally rid of that silly girl. But he wants to ask an honest question about ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • National’s Luxon may be glum about his poll ratings but has he found a winner in promising to rai...
    National Party leader Christopher Luxon may  be feeling glum about his poll ratings, but  he could be tapping  into  a rich political vein in  describing the current state of education as “alarming”. Luxon said educational achievement has been declining,  with a recent NCEA pilot exposing just how far it has ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: More Labour foot-dragging
    Yesterday the IPCC released the final part of its Sixth Assessment Report, warning us that we have very little time left in which to act to prevent catastrophic climate change, but pointing out that it is a problem that we can solve, with existing technology, and that anything we do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Te Pāti Māori Are Revolutionaries – Not Reformists.
    Way Beyond Reform: Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have no more interest in remaining permanent members of “New Zealand’s” House of Representatives than did Lenin and Trotsky in remaining permanent members of Tsar Nicolas II’s “democratically-elected” Duma. Like the Bolsheviks, Te Pāti Māori is a party of revolutionaries – not reformists.THE CROWN ...
    2 days ago
  • When does history become “ancient”, on Tinetti’s watch as Minister of Education – and what o...
    Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Climate Catastrophe, but first rugby.
    Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • What the US and European bank rescues mean for us
    Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp?
    Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • It’s Raining Congestion
    Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
    2 days ago
  • Checking The Left: The Dreadful Logic Of Fascism.
    The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
    3 days ago
  • Good Friends and Terrible Food
    Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – What evidence is there for the hockey stick?
    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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Carry right on up there, Corporal Espiner
    RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are we shortchanged democratically by the way ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • This smells
    RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Major issues on the table in Mahuta’s  talks in Beijing with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is  to  meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang  where she  might have to call on all the  diplomatic skills  at  her  command. Almost certainly she  will  face  questions  on what  role ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago
  • Inside TOP's Teal Card and political strategy
    TL;DR: The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Make Your Empties Go Another Round.
    When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how similar Vladimir Putin is to George W. Bush
    Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
    3 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  Te Pāti Māori’s uncompromising threat to the status quo
    Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics
    Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Auckland Council Draft Budget – an unnecessary backwards step
    Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
    4 days ago
  • Talking’ Posey Parker Blues
    by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
    RedlineBy Admin
    4 days ago
  • More Māori words make it into the OED, and polytech boss (with rules on words like “students”) ...
    Buzz from the Beehive   New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Social intercourse with haters and Nazis: an etiquette guide
    Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • The Greens, Labour, and coalition enforcement
    James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • This sounds familiar…
    RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Letter to the NZ Herald: NCEA pseudoscience – “Mauri is present in all matter”
    Nick Matzke writes –   Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • So what would be the point of a Green vote again?
    James Shaw has again said the Greens would be better ‘in the tent’ with Labour than out, despite Labour’s policy bonfire last week torching much of what the Government was doing to reduce emissions. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Green Party has never been more popular than in some ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler Poor air quality is a long-standing problem in Los Angeles, where the first major outbreak of smog during World War II was so intense that some residents thought the city had been attacked by chemical weapons. Cars were eventually discovered ...
    4 days ago
  • Genetic Heritage and Co Governance
    Yesterday I was reading an excellent newsletter from David Slack, and I started writing a comment “Sounds like some excellent genetic heritage…” and then I stopped.There was something about the phrase genetic heritage that stopped me in tracks. Is that a phrase I want to be saying? It’s kind of ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Radical Uncertainty
    Brian Easton writes – Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s Middle East strategy, 20 years after the Iraq War
    This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. While it strongly opposed the US-led invasion, New Zealand’s then Labour-led government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark did deploy military engineers to try to help rebuild Iraq in mid-2003. With violence soaring, their 12-month deployment ended without being renewed ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    4 days ago
  • The motorways are finished
    After seventy years, Auckland’s motorway network is finally finished. In July 1953 the first section of motorway in Auckland was opened between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mt Wellington Highway. The final stage opens to traffic this week with the completion of the motorway part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project. Aucklanders ...
    5 days ago
  • Kicking National’s tyres
    National’s appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious choice, but he does have a record as a political scrapper. The party needs that because sources say it has been shedding farming votes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • As long as there is cricket, the world is somehow okay.
    Rays of white light come flooding into my lounge, into my face from over the top of my neighbour’s hedge. I have to look away as the window of the conservatory is awash in light, as if you were driving towards the sun after a rain shower and suddenly blinded. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • So much of what was there remains
    The columnists in Private Eye take pen names, so I have not the least idea who any of them are. But I greatly appreciate their expert insight, especially MD, who writes the medical column, offering informed and often damning critique of the UK health system and the politicians who keep ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 12, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 18, 2023. Story of the Week Guest post: What 13,500 citations reveal about the IPCC’s climate science report   IPCC WG1 AR6 SPM Report Cover - Changing ...
    6 days ago
  • Financial capability services are being bucked up, but Stuart Nash shouldn’t have to see if they c...
    Buzz from the Beehive  The building of financial capability was brought into our considerations when Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced she had dipped into the government’s coffers for $3 million for “providers” to help people and families access community-based Building Financial Capability services. That wording suggests some ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Things that make you go Hmmmm.
    Do you ever come across something that makes you go Hmmmm?You mean like the song?No, I wasn’t thinking of the song, but I am now - thanks for that. I was thinking of things you read or hear that make you stop and go Hmmmm.Yeah, I know what you mean, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • The hoon for the week that was to March 19
    By the end of the week, the dramas over Stuart Nash overshadowed Hipkins’ policy bonfire. File photo: Lynn GrieveasonTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:PM Chris Hipkins’ announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but ...
    The KakaBy Peter Bale
    7 days ago
  • Saving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
    When word went out that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins would be making an announcement about Stuart Nash on the tiles at parliament at 2:45pm yesterday, the assumption was that it was over. That we had reached tipping point for Nash’s time as minister. But by 3pm - when, coincidentally, the ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    7 days ago
  • Radical Uncertainty
    Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go on to attack physics by citing Newton.So ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • Jump onto the weekly hoon on Riverside at 5pm
    Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on Riverside (we’ve moved from Zoom) for our chat about the week’s news with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Dream of Florian Neame: Accepted
    In a nice bit of news, my 2550-word deindustrial science-fiction piece, The Dream of Florian Neame, has been accepted for publication at New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). I have published there before, of course, with Of Tin and Tintagel coming out last year. While I still await the ...
    1 week ago
  • Snakes and leaders
    And so this is Friday, and what have we learned?It was a week with all the usual luggage: minister brags and then he quits, Hollywood red carpet is full of twits. And all the while, hanging over the trivial stuff: existential dread, and portents of doom.Depending on who you read ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • This station is Karanga-a-Hape, Chur!
    When I changed the name of this newsletter from The Daily Read to Nick’s Kōrero I was a bit worried whether people would know what Kōrero meant or not. I added a definition when I announced the change and kind of assumed people who weren’t familiar with it would get ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Greens don’t shy from promoting a candidate’s queerness but are quiet about govt announcement on...
    There was a time when a political party’s publicity people would counsel against promoting a candidate as queer. No matter which of two dictionary meanings the voting public might choose to apply – the old meaning of odd, strange, weird, or aberrant, or the more recent meaning of gay, homosexual ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to March 17
    Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for the next hour, including:PM Chris Hipkins announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but which blew up ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Slow consenting could create $16b climate liability by 2050
    Even though concern over the climate change threat is becoming more mainstream, our governments continue to opt out of the difficult decisions at the expense of time, and cost for future generations. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTLDR: Now we have a climate liability number to measure the potential failure of the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • THOMAS CRANMER: Challenging progressivism in New Zealand’s culture wars
    Thomas Cranmer writes  Like it or not, the culture wars have entered New Zealand politics and look set to broaden and intensify. The culture wars are often viewed as an exclusively American phenomenon, but the reality is that they are becoming increasingly prominent in countries around the world, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges.  Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • New project set to supercharge ocean economy in Nelson Tasman
    A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • National’s education policy: where’s the funding?
    After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment.  “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Free programme to help older entrepreneurs and inventors
    People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government target increased to keep powering up the Māori economy
    A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Continued progress on reducing poverty in challenging times
    77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech at Fiji Investment and Trade Business Forum
    Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island
    $2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government future-proofs EV charging
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
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