Mike Hosking should not be TVNZ’s frontman

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, June 19th, 2016 - 128 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, Media, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

 

Mike Hosking greed is good2

Liz Gunn has explained why.  Very clearly …

I remember when I worked with him , he maintained as his mantra, with his now usual level of inordinate pride, the intended-to-be sardonic saying of Gordon Gecko in the original ” Wall St ” movie – namely , that “Greed Is Good”. He often repeated it off air, with that faux air of Great Authority . We all thought he was joking at first, but he was serious.

I started to feel nauseous as I heard it repeated on many days, and as I saw the results of such a perspective in his approach to interviewees, and in his manipulative media pronouncements -now foisted on viewers each evening at peak time, and always aimed at endorsing Neo Liberal ideology. He has maintained that dire stance throughout his career, admiring those who exhibit the most greed and reviling those who struggle under the weight and demands of the greedy few.

When I left TVNZ, I left with the most profound pity for such a dessicated human , so bereft of empathy or compassion for his fellow Kiwis, especially those who are facing difficulty or, God forbid, failure.

The year I did Breakfast with him, he went out of his way to undermine me in every way he could find. My goal became a very simple one…to get in early and sit quietly in that darkened studio and say a quiet resolution – a whispered prayer -asking for help so that I would never react and never never sink to his level. That I would maintain my own dignity and never let the hurts show in any overt reaction to his many attempts to humiliate and belittle.

It was a year of teeth-gritting, white knuckle survival. A quiet triumph. Every day. Over the passive and overt bullying.

I have never spoken of it in public until now, when it is relevant here, to the issue of the sort of man whom TVNZ have placed in such a position of influence.

I used to wonder if he would ever find that point where his lust for money or power could be satiated? If he would ever find authentic, not trumped-up happiness, on that heavy path of the pursuit of “still-more money”? And I wondered too what had shaped a man so lacking in human kindness?

I hope he can one day turn this around. He always wanted to be Paul Holmes but he never could emulate the real Paul. In spite of Paul’s self-admitted human fallibilities, Paul genuinely cared for people when he saw them suffering. He had a huge heart for Kiwis. Paul himself knew suffering.

I wonder if Mike has ever allowed himself to feel that vulnerability? Do those who won’t open to their own pain, risk becoming in-suffer-able?

I do not think he is a healthy touchstone for NZ broadcasting. I hope with time and perhaps some of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, himself, he can find a more real place, a more human face, a more caring heart for his fellow Kiwis. Until then, I wish for a far more empathetic nightly host to take his place at 7 pm. I endorse this petition.

Liz Gunn

Well said Liz.  If you want to sign the petition the link is here.

128 comments on “Mike Hosking should not be TVNZ’s frontman ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Colonial Viper 1
    19 June 2016 at 8:17 am

    If you want Hoskings to be fired, you’ll have to force the issue with TVNZ. How are you going to do that without some kind of pretty vindictive campaign. I doubt a carefully worded internet petition is going to help.

    • Paul 1.1
      19 June 2016 at 8:31 am

      Best solution.
      Don’t watch his show.

    • Halfcrown 1.2
      19 June 2016 at 9:39 am

      Personally I don’t have a problem with this bit of shit, the same way I don’t have problems with Garner Gower or Henry as I don’t watch them or turn off as soon as these ill informed right wing pricks come on the television.

      • Mary 1.2.1
        19 June 2016 at 11:26 am

        Turning off the television or changing channels when the likes of Hosking comes on is not the point. That being that his biased and cruel views are being foisted regularly on state-run television which to maintain its integrity should be far more impartial.

        • Rosie 1.2.1.1
          19 June 2016 at 2:09 pm

          +1 Mary. It doesn’t matter whether you or I or many people commenting here don’t watch him. A very poor standard has been set by the state broadcaster, which is completely unacceptable.

          • Graham Townsend 1.2.1.1.1
            19 June 2016 at 6:26 pm

            Mary, Rosie – totally agree with you. Hosking’s sardonic, flippant, self-congratulatory persona is destructive to NZ, because it buttresses those who share his retrograde, selfish and ignorant word-view.

    • weka 1.3
      19 June 2016 at 9:47 am

      Depends how many people sign.

    • Rocco Siffredi 1.4
      19 June 2016 at 11:21 am

      Perhaps a suitable hashtag would do the job, or maybe a cutting facebook post?

    • Gabby 1.5
      19 June 2016 at 1:23 pm

      A pretty vindictive campaign sounds like just the ticket. Ideas?

    • AmaKiwi 1.6
      19 June 2016 at 9:06 pm

      Hoskings might not get fired but he’s not going to get a raise and won’t get any more plum broadcasting slots.

    • WILD KATIPO 1.7
      20 June 2016 at 12:02 am

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmH5A6QsqRY

      I could have mentioned the Vichy govt… but this will suffice.

  2. mac1 2
    19 June 2016 at 8:20 am

    The ‘explained why’ link takes me to Change.org opinions, not to any link to the opinions of Liz Gunn.

    [Now fixed – MS]

    I personally find Hoskings insufferably opinionated. I just don’t watch TV1 as a consequence. Why suffer? I have better things to do, better ways of being informed than spending viewing time with him.

    • Paul 2.1
      19 June 2016 at 8:23 am

      I don’t watch any programmes Hosking is on.
      Like mac1 , I have better things to do and better ways of being informed than spending viewing time with him.

      This show is a lot more interesting.

      • Kiwiri 2.1.1
        19 June 2016 at 8:37 am

        Yeah, that particular show gave me a lot more to think about and to change my views more than any local tv or video piece has done in many years. Recently started watching Waatea’s Political Wrap of the Week and have been looking forward to it live or streaming it on a Saturday.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2
        19 June 2016 at 11:37 am

        Interesting pieces of information in there. Apparently we have the most resources per capita of any country.

        So, why are we doing anything with those resources?

      • reason 2.1.3
        19 June 2016 at 1:07 pm

        Hosking has always struck me as a Dummy …… possibly because Key sits beside him with his hand up mikes arse ……… they then do this ventriloquist trick where Hosking performs fellatio on the pm while appearing to speak into a microphone. ……

        Its a vulgar one trick act though and I wouldn’t want to see it again ……

        Humans who can actually think logically know that greed is bad and brings out the very worst in people and society.

        Fairness is what normal humans recognize as being good and it brings out the best in us.

        I usually go ‘eeww yuck’ if someone brings up the subject of Hosking in conversation and point out the inappropriateness of state television showing that kind of thing in prime time.

        Paying An expensive marionette for a cheap trick is not journalism.

      • Mosa 2.1.4
        19 June 2016 at 1:40 pm

        Way too go Paul it’s a great format they just need help with funding.

  3. Colonial Viper 3
    19 June 2016 at 8:20 am

    Hoskings will use this petition at his next performance review as evidence of his relevance and pull with the wider community.

    • North 3.1
      19 June 2016 at 8:58 am

      Brilliant from Liz Gunn.

    • AmaKiwi 3.2
      19 June 2016 at 9:19 pm

      CV, that won’t fly.

      The petition does NOT say he is interesting or amusing. It says TVNZ loses viewers (i.e., revenue) because this jerk is so repulsive to us.

      No way Hoskings can conjure up a positive spin on this petition.

      At very least Hoskings won’t get any raises or promotions if thousands sign that they hate his guts.

  4. Greg 4
    19 June 2016 at 8:35 am

    Hosking is just a TV presenter, he has no expertise outside his opinion on his worship of John Key, he would also love Al Capone. If people stopped listening to him, he will just fade away into obscurity. Any divorce will cost him most of his wealth.

    • AmaKiwi 4.1
      19 June 2016 at 9:30 pm

      @ Greg

      “Hosking is just a TV presenter.” I don’t want to argue semantics with you, but as I understand it a “presenter” reads news items written by others.

      I say “Hoskings is a commentator” and agree with you “he has no expertise outside his opinion on his worship of John Key”

      Hoskings has as much expertise as the guys draped over the bar stools on either side of me. They can’t agree on whether the current PM is “that woman from Mt. Albert” or Donald Trump. As long as they keep buying I’m not going to challenge their realities.

  5. johno 5
    19 June 2016 at 8:40 am

    Bring back Campbell Live!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Dialey 5.1
      19 June 2016 at 11:17 am

      Campbell Live is back, just tune into Radio NZ every week day 5.00pm – 6.30pm, it’s called Checkpoint

      • srylands 5.1.1
        19 June 2016 at 2:02 pm

        The only part of checkpoint worth watching is world watch. Campbell has turned a once good radio programme into an audio version of Campbell Live.

  6. Jenny 6
    19 June 2016 at 8:44 am

    Accompanying whichever mainstream news channel you watch to catch up with current events.

    Paul Henry, Mike Hosking, ensure that their right wing selfish views are rammed down people’s throats every night of the week.

  7. Dv 7
    19 June 2016 at 9:05 am

    Hosking is NOT a newcaster he is a purveyor of crap.
    In some respects it is useful as it gives an insight into the mind set of current arrogant ignorance.

    Best way to deal with him is ignore the ignorance

  8. Lucy 8
    19 June 2016 at 9:30 am

    Actually think Hosking is dangerous in a Fox News way. The views he and Paul Henry purvey give validity to a nasty section of society. The rich love them as do the disenfranchised, the spin that hard work makes you rich gives poor people hope and keeps them from questioning the premise. I signed the petition as I don’t want my money to be spent on a spokesman for any organisation that pays.

  9. Nick 9
    19 June 2016 at 9:36 am

    Isn’t Liz Gunn his wife?

    • Ross 9.1
      19 June 2016 at 10:12 am

      What, a wife can’t criticise her husband? 🙂

      No, his wife is Kate Hawkesby. They met I think on TV’s breakfast show and every show they did was as if they were on a date! Nauseating is an under-statement. They fawned over one another, all the while saying that their respective marriages were rock solid.

    • Astro 9.2
      19 June 2016 at 10:12 am

      Seriously? You need to get out more.

  10. jcuknz 10
    19 June 2016 at 9:46 am

    He is not part of my life as I gave TV away when it was necessary to change ones set
    … thanks TV you are not missed.

  11. Justme 11
    19 June 2016 at 9:48 am

    It is likely that Mike Hosking has become the mouth-piece of the John Key government.
    Fortunate as it is I do not get TVNZ on my telly and therefore whatever stupid things Mike Hosking says and does doesn’t affect me.
    However this guy does seem to have control and probably with the endorsement of John Key.
    Hosking has told Pora to move on. It’s kind of rich(excuse the intended pun here)of him(Hosking)saying such a thing. He hasn’t spent more than 20 years in a prison.
    And so we do see a lack of accountability by Mike Hosking for all the rubbish he says in the media. But when it is time for him to meet his Maker and be held to account for his actions then he may think and react differently.
    A man who is ruled by money, like Hosking is(and also John Key), is not a man but a slave to greed.

  12. Ross 12
    19 June 2016 at 9:50 am

    Some of Hosking’s haters appear to have joined the bandwagon only fairly recently. That surprises me.

    I mean, it’s been apparent for quite some time that he’s an arsehole. Four years ago he publicly criticised an older woman for having the temerity to accidentally damage the grill on his beloved Maserati car. He referred to her as a moron. Thankfully no one got hurt otherwise it might have gotten uglier. Road rage perhaps?

    His wife Kate Hawkesbay seems to share her hubby’s mentality.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10818146

  13. save nz 13
    19 June 2016 at 9:51 am

    Wow – congratulations on Liz Gunn for being so honest and actually speaking out against Hoskings bully boy antics, and against him advocating dangerous and uncaring garbage ideology every night!

    Very courageous and joining a growing list of TV presenters, journalists and others who are speaking out against what is very wrong in this country and the handful of presenters like Hoskings propping up a 1% greed mentality.

    • RedLogix 13.1
      19 June 2016 at 11:01 am

      Yes … we all have work colleagues who we don’t like, or cause problems … but working with a full blown, uncontrolled shithead like Hosking must have been awful. Debilitating awful, and my respect to her for surviving it with her dignity intact.

      The political question is … who in TVNZ management is protecting Hosking? Or is the entire organisation so degenerate that Hosking fits right in?

      • tc 13.1.1
        19 June 2016 at 5:14 pm

        Nobody, methinks it comes via the SOE minister.

        The org is rather degenerate and hollowed out of journalistic integrity along with any serious capability to create quality NZ content. Which is what a state broadcaster should be doing.

        Just look at the current CEO to see what faraway places this govt sees TVNZ flying to.

  14. weka 14
    19 June 2016 at 9:51 am

    Incredible and brave statement by Gunn, good for her (might want to fix the link if possible)

    I wish the petition a had also focussed on journalistic integrity and TVNZ’s responsibilities as a public broadcaster.

  15. Richardrawshark 15
    19 June 2016 at 9:53 am

    Signed.

    FTH!

  16. Ross 16
    19 June 2016 at 9:54 am

    Oh and I remember Liz Gunn on TV. She came across as a genuine, gorgeous person. In other words, everything that Hosking isn’t.

    It must have been a nightmare working with him and explains why she quit suddenly.

  17. Takere 17
    19 June 2016 at 10:05 am

    Oh no I’m Not! I’m not greedy or am I a bigot or a racist. I have brown friends, sun-tanned mostly but Maori looking who like me aren’t racist at all. So my cuzzies and I consider ourselves to be normal, you know the majority so we’re sweet az with it. Yes we earn more than most of you people who just can’t get out of deficit thinking!? That’s a poor peoples problem. You have to project your worth, your wealth, affirmations really work. It’ll materialise right in front of you, seriously it does for me. If you believe in yourself then you’ll be rich like me and Kate and the kids and their grandad. It’s that easy, really it is. Ask successfully rich, good looking people how it was for them to become like us and they’ll tell you it doesn’t come easy. Most of them would say that they lived in struggle street in Takapuna long before they made it to Herne Bay at least until the inheritance money kicked in. So, this comment by this wahine, Lizzy Gunne seems to be rather disingenuous. She forgets that she got lucky when she came onto my show. I really pushed the boat out to get her on the couch with me because the higher ups didn’t think she was good enough? But I insisted it should be her because I knew if they went with their first choice, we’d end up with a prima-donna type presenter who’d be more of a distraction to the many fans of mine, who, quite frankly would switch off. F..k that Paul Henry dickshit! Haha! He’s a looser. TV3 can have him. Gotta go and pick up my Ferrari. Its getting “Detailed” so I’ve got to check the ash-tray and coin tray (Haha, coin tray) for a stray hundie Kate threw at me when we were arguing over who’s going to tell the bloody cleaner that they need to wear the uniform provided for her when she’s doing the house work because we have standards to up hold. Bloody neighbours and their expectations!

    • Anne 17.1
      19 June 2016 at 10:13 am

      Most of them would say that they lived in struggle street in Takapuna long before they made it to Herne Bay at least until the inheritance money kicked in.

      Very nice. 🙂

    • Olwyn 17.2
      19 June 2016 at 11:19 am

      You have to project your worth, your wealth, affirmations really work. It’ll materialise right in front of you, seriously it does for me. If you believe in yourself then you’ll be rich like me…

      Yup. The idea of public service in politics and vocation in journalism seems to have lately been displaced by some sort of shabby positive thinking cult. To look squarely at homelessness etc. is to let negative thoughts get in the way of positive self-affirmation, so it is to be avoided. And where someone like the queen of England has clothes and cars intended to uphold the standards associated with the public role of a monarch, these people have clothes and cars to affirm their private status as winners.

  18. mauī 18
    19 June 2016 at 10:11 am

    In my opinion when you have someone with so much power, so divorced from reality given a platform, it really says something about society, that most people have no idea what is really going on. Reality is going to rudely awaken society sooner or later.

    • Draco T Bastard 18.1
      20 June 2016 at 12:23 am

      +1

      Seems to be the end point of all Western Civilisations over the last 5000 years. The rich get control and reality takes a back seat to their desires. The society inevitably collapses because of such hubris.

      • Rae 18.1.1
        20 June 2016 at 7:23 am

        And it seems in these times of so much awareness of history, we are just going to let it happen all over again.
        A few years ago, I didn’t think I would see it myself, now I am not so sure.

  19. Jack Ramaka 19
    19 June 2016 at 10:16 am

    What I object to is this moron is getting paid with good hard earned tax payers money to prattle shit about his boyfriend John Key and the Natzi Regime?

    • srylands 19.1
      19 June 2016 at 10:47 am

      Can you explain how he is paid with taxpayer money?

      • red-blooded 19.1.1
        19 June 2016 at 11:08 am

        I guess Jack is assuming that TVNZ (the publicly-owned company) actually pays Hosking. And yes, I know that they create their own profits and presumably pay their employees from that revenue, but any money not paid out to Hosking at al is returned to the public, as we have provided the infrastructure that allows TVNZ to operate. It might be indirect, but I think we can see an employee of a state owned enterprise as an employee of the taxpayer.

        • srylands 19.1.1.1
          19 June 2016 at 11:28 am

          Don’t you think that Hosking is employed by TVNZ because the commercial revenue he generates exceeds his remuneration? That’s how commercial TV works.

          You can’t expect to agree with every broadcasting personality. Let it go. I would rather RNZ had not employed John Campbell. Because he is a twit and a communist I can’t listen to the radio on my commute. But some people like him so I will listen to something else. I don’t get all bitter about it.

          If Hosking didn’t have an audience he wouldn’t be paid. Don’t like him then don’t watch him.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1.1.1.1
            19 June 2016 at 11:46 am

            The revenue “he” generates is in fact a team effort. I wouldn’t expect a delusional leech like you to understand that.

            • RedLogix 19.1.1.1.1.1
              19 June 2016 at 11:58 am

              I was thinking that being a self-made successful winner-man, srylands should start up his own TV station, employ Hosking and make an absolute killing.

              I mean … what a wasted greed opportunity.

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                19 June 2016 at 6:23 pm

                S Rylands and the National Party: a sophist in the employment of incompetence and fear.

          • Ross 19.1.1.1.2
            19 June 2016 at 12:00 pm

            Campbell is neither a twit nor a communist but I can see how you might feel inadequate compared to someone with his abilities.

          • Puddleglum 19.1.1.1.3
            19 June 2016 at 12:10 pm

            “If Hosking didn’t have an audience he wouldn’t be paid. Don’t like him then don’t watch him.”

            Yes, this is certainly the most concerning aspect of Mike Hoskings’ situation. That so many New Zealanders seem to feel so at ease with the kinds of values and attitudes Mike Hosking expresses both on and – according to Liz Gunn – off camera raises questions about the general moral perceptiveness of the population. (Or at least it raises questions as to whether or not such people believe that general moral considerations should take precedence over values such as ‘entertainment’ or the spectacle of hearing someone publicly say something outrageous.)

            The poorly thought through, inconsistent, anti-PC rhetoric he so often indulges in is clearly popular yet also clearly vacuous.

            For example, ‘Greed is good’?

            I don’t think any serious thinker has ever endorsed that sentiment. (Perhaps some amateur re-thinking of Adam Smith’s analysis of self-interest and market economies might lead some slipshod thinking in that direction – but I doubt that Hosking has spent much time (mis)analysing Smith’s ideas in that way.)

            I’m also surprised to hear that John Campbell believes that property should be held in common. Evidence?

          • red-blooded 19.1.1.1.4
            19 June 2016 at 12:27 pm

            I’ve got a couple of comments for you, srylands:
            1) I doubt whether it’s possible for TVNZ to really know how much commercial revenue is generated by Hosking and Hosking alone, sitting there in what has always been a prime spot and with an (awful, brain-dulling) change of focus and format along with changes of presenters. Even if it is possible, though, that doesn’t change the argument about having some balance on our state-owned TV channels. I don’t even need a voice for the left, as such; it would just be good not to have random right-wing rants going unchallenged as presented as some kind of insight or wisdom at the end of each show.
            2) “Don’t like him, don’t watch him” – (I”ve been kind enough to add the requisite comma). That would be fine if the main concern was what people on this site like to watch on TV. The bigger issue, though, is that we have overtly biased rubbish being presented to the wider public as wisdom and/or political insight and savvy. When there’s no attempt (ever) to find a countering voice, that’s worrying. It shapes the thinking of the wider public, and gives people only one viewpoint.
            3) That’s the same viewpoint (in the same voice) that’s pushed out through lots of other media, day after day. I had that same issue when it was Paul Holmes who was king of the airwaves; there shouldn’t be any one person in that position, and if it’s happening in the private sector then the public stations should provide an alternative. That’s a big part of the reason why we have public TV and radio.
            4) John Campbell a communist? Are you kidding me? The man is a dewy-eyed liberal. I’m glad he’s back on air because he’s a good broadcaster, but he’s certainly not a communist (and neither am I).

            Hosking and Henry are both toxic.

            • Jackjet 19.1.1.1.4.1
              23 June 2016 at 1:45 pm

              Typical left wing. All for free speech until it differs from their viewpoint. Hoskins calls a spade a spade and the left hate it. And what about rnz?? Full left wing wowsers. I choose not to listen to it rather than get bitter and twisted.

          • save nz 19.1.1.1.5
            19 June 2016 at 1:14 pm

            Any monkey can probably be on TV1 and still get high ratings after the 1 news.

            How about put on John Campbell instead on TV1 and see the ratings soar.

            It’s crap saying Hoskings is responsible for TV1 success.

            Put him on channel 4 at 10pm on Thursdays, and see how many supporters Hoskings gets then!

            But seriously the TV ratings are a joke, you can take them seriously when they only survey 600 people out of a 4.5 mill population. It shows how dumb marketing people are, that they take TV ratings that seriously when they spend their advertising accounts based on lotto probabilities.

          • Johan 19.1.1.1.6
            19 June 2016 at 2:24 pm

            To srylands: I can just see you checking under your bed each night for the commies;-))) You must patrol your property in a camouflaged outfit just in case, what a moron.

          • mikes 19.1.1.1.7
            19 June 2016 at 9:16 pm

            Hey Srylands what about that $1,000 bet??? Or do you just talk a lot and never back it up with action???

  20. Open mike 20
    19 June 2016 at 10:30 am

    I don’t watch any programme including Mike Hosking; same goes for listening.

  21. Reality 21
    19 June 2016 at 11:02 am

    Can’t watch Hosking. His sneering, lip-curling, supercilious face spouting his self-opinionated “I am always right” mantra is more than I can take. I can even tolerate Paul Henry before him. PH can sometimes be funny at least.

    How honest and brave of Liz Gunn to speak out on what it was like working with Hosking.

    As for telling Mr Pora to move on – his father-in-law did not do that without claiming a massive pay out for a very brief tenure at whichever TV channel it was at the time. Obviously MH’s view is that Mr Pora is not one of the “deserving” ones.

    • Ross 21.1
      19 June 2016 at 11:16 am

      I’m surprised Hosking doesn’t support Pora. Hosking is a big fan of David Bain’s claim for compo, notwithstanding that there’s considerable evidence Bain murdered his family.

      Hosking just can’t get a break. 🙂

      But you’re right, John Hawkesby was paid $6.5 million for 24 days’ work and didn’t have to spend a day in prison to collect. Pora’s compo of $2.52 million for 21 years at Her Majesty’s pleasure is an insult.

  22. Richardrawshark 22
    19 June 2016 at 11:21 am

    Can’t we export his special talents to Fox or something, we need a good oversea’s posting for Mike, something his vanity would go for, we should post clips of him at his best to some famous right wing foreign news agencies and hope they lure him away with the only thing that will, more money and fame.

  23. Gerald 23
    19 June 2016 at 11:34 am

    Recently I went on to youtube and watched a number of past interviews with NZ politicians. The interviewers were informed, polite and pressed for answers. Today, with one or two exceptions, we have uniformed bad mannered and narcissistic “interviewers”; todays situation cannot be accidental. So do as I do and turn the box off.

    • Incognito 23.1
      19 June 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Indeed, but news ‘readers’ and weather ‘presenters’ nowadays don’t’ just “read” or “present”, do they? They have (be)come to play a bigger part of it (participants) and it’s now almost (?) part of their job description to give ‘interviews’ to woman’s magazines and appear in other media (e.g. Twitter, blogs, newspapers, etc.).

      The so-called “anchors” have become the faces of competing channels and, as such, are the flag-bearers of these commercial enterprises.

      To a degree this has spilled over into the written media as well; often we encounter the exact same ‘celebrities’ and ‘TV personalities’ writing ‘opinion pieces’ in the NZ Herald, for example.

      But it goes much further than that; in politics the focus also seems to have shifted to the politicians and away from the politics. Case in point: John Key and KDS and the way John Key (the person) and #TeamKey front the National Party.

      In the US we have celebrity judges who have their own show on TV known as TV court judges (e.g. Judge Judy). Here in NZ members of judiciary also have featured more prominently in the ‘news’ in recent years.

      However, in this time of instant gratification, hedonistic consumption, self-promotion and selfishness, emphasis on personal development & responsibility and ego worship, vacuous & superficial narcissism, and empty & hollow rhetoric and misleading mass manipulation (propaganda), to name just a few related & connected traits, there are still a few ‘atavisms’ or ‘relics’ around. For example, many so-called editorials are still anonymous.

      Interestingly, in the unfolding story of Paula Bennett’s ‘leak’ this was said:

      John Gillespie, TVNZ’s Head of News and Current Affairs, said TVNZ had already confirmed a One News journalist was approached with information. “We’re not naming the journalist because they’re not the story here.”

      This is ironic because Rebecca Wright was or became very much part of the story. I wonder whether Mr Gillespie would have said a similar thing if it had involved Mike Hosking, for example – I doubt it somehow.

      In short, Mike Hosking and others like him are a sign of the times.

  24. Mosa 24
    19 June 2016 at 12:02 pm

    I don’t invite any mainstream current affairs shows like Horrible Hosking Horrible Henery, Ghastly Garner , Greasing Gower into my home or any other device, that goes for ZB and other blatant right wing outlets.
    Well done Liz Gunn for speaking out , that took guts !
    I will watch Waatea Fifth Estate knowing i am getting a realistic format that is not controlled by faceless people under corporate and this government’s influence and that talks about real bread and butter issues.
    Campbell live was killed because Key or his ministers would not front knowing he would ask them tough questions and want answers and it was making them look bad and they had no control over its content.
    Just look what’s replaced it !
    I have signed as a protest but realistically their audience share is so high TVNZ will be looking at advertising revenue and not concerned about Hosking and Amy Adams won’t move against a prime time govt propaganda friend like Horrible Hosking who dominates morning and again at night spewing vitriol and nasty anti left crap.
    My wife used to work for TRN(Radio Network) and whenever Key made an appearance they weren’t allowed out of their offices for the duration of his visit and DPS guys were posted everywhere compared to Clark it was complete overkill and at least you could use the toilet when she was visiting.

    • whispering kate 24.1
      19 June 2016 at 1:10 pm

      Mosa, The PM is a paranoid weakling over his safety – I wrote in another post a couple of days ago about how he has an armed detail following him around within the Parliament inner sanctum. Considering to get into the building to do a tour of the place is worse than LAX airport, hats, bags, jewellery, belts all had to go through a camera and then a wand was waved over us as well, it was crazy stuff really over the top security and then bags etc are taken off you and returned at the tour’s end – Canberra’s Parliamentry complex is much more casual and my partner commented as such to the detail at the gates going in. So why on earth would the PM need armed details guarding him within the parliament complex beggars belief.

      I can well understand why the Radio network went into lockdown when he visited, doesn’t surprise me at all. He has a detail which lives on his property – total over the top self-importance methinks.

      • lprent 24.1.1
        19 June 2016 at 5:04 pm

        Helen had a detail as well. However Helen also made sure that the security details were always unobtrusive.

        • weka 24.1.1.1
          19 June 2016 at 5:07 pm

          Hi Lynn, when you have a moment, can you please have a look at why all my comments are going to moderation? cheers.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 24.1.1.2
          19 June 2016 at 6:10 pm

          Representatives are lightning rods whether they will it or not. It goes with the territory. The more they increase “security” the greater the lengths the violent will go.

          Personally I’d rather MPs take society (mental healthcare, for example) seriously or face the consequences.

  25. Melanie 25
    19 June 2016 at 12:19 pm

    #Respect to Liz Gunn.
    She confirmed everything I believed about Mike Hosking as true when her Facebook post came through my feed last night.

  26. Philj 26
    19 June 2016 at 12:24 pm

    Amazing. Thankyou for the information Liz. Yet somehow, I was not surprised. It doesn’t reflect well on the standards of our National broadcaster which promotes and rewards such a person. TVNZ needs a major review, revamp and restructure. I don’t watch anymore, why would I? If you want to be entertained or informed there are much better options available.

  27. Byd0nz 27
    19 June 2016 at 12:26 pm

    The corporate media machine dont want humanists fronting its misinformation spreader, no no no. But the likes of people mentioned in other posts, all have something in common with a lot of you, that is, they keep voting for crapitalism instead of to smash the dirty rotten system you support.

  28. Ad 28
    19 June 2016 at 12:29 pm

    Hosking’s divisiveness rates well, so he stays.

    Pull up u tubes on how to prepare for a successful interview with O’Reilly. Vilifying the media is a stupid mistake of losers.
    Prepare better for interviews, with meticulous planning, and win the people.

  29. Herodotus 29
    19 June 2016 at 12:34 pm

    To me the most effective means of challenging someone or an idea is with comedy. I am sure many here are familiar with Mr. Wells work.If not here are a few links 🙂
    http://www.hauraki.co.nz/listen/radio-hauraki-audio-vault/jeremy-wells-like-mike-hosking-rant-john-campbell/
    http://www.watchme.co.nz/entertainment/like-mike/summer-holidays/
    http://watchme.co.nz/entertainment/like-mike/

  30. Mrs Brillo 30
    19 June 2016 at 1:16 pm

    I do not find Hosking divisive. Not in our household, anyway – because none of us watch the Toxic Tit. Nor ever will.

    In fact, TVNZ has so few programmes that engage us that we just tape the one or two that do (You Can’t Get the Staff, for me; Mastermind for Mr Brillo) and watch them SANS ADS at our leisure. Often at 7pm.

    So put that in your advertisers’ pipe and smoke it, TVNZ.

    • Mosa 30.1
      19 June 2016 at 1:48 pm

      Thank God for modern technology
      It was only two tv channels not that long ago.

    • seeker 30.2
      19 June 2016 at 1:50 pm

      “Toxic Tit”. Excellent description Mrs. Brillo@1.16pm. Even snappier than Toxic Twit, and far more reflective of his ‘toxicity’.

      Mikey T.T. Hosking……..a stunted human. What a sad ‘life state’ to achieve. Is there any hope that he may recover from his severe G.G. condition in this life time?

  31. NZJester 31
    19 June 2016 at 1:43 pm

    I hardly watch TV these days as there is so much scripted so-called reality TV. You just have to go on the internet to find out the truth behind a lot of these reality shows and how fake they are. Pawn Stars, for instance, is filmed on a set that has been made to match the inside of their real shop with vetted objects and experts lined up before the shoot to come appraise the objects. Even if the items are fake the people walk away with money in their pockets for being on the show.
    Auction Hunters with Allen Haff and Clinton ‘Ton’ Jones is known to have put items into the units for them to find. Their German handyman in a few episodes of the shows was played by a well known YouTuber Flula Borg that has now also appeared in a couple of big movies in 2015. “Pitch Perfect 2” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”
    A lot of what Mike Hosking says seems scripted by the National party dirty tricks men.
    I imagine they have to limit how often he can see the PM as the humping he does of John Keys leg must get a bit irritating for him after a while!

  32. Observer Toke 32
    19 June 2016 at 2:18 pm

    . The Face of Radio National New Zealand

    . If you happen to be visiting NZ you will find Mike Hosking presenting himself and his shallow philosophy of greed, nil compassion. and shameful dismissiveness.

    If you mute the TV but watch his body language you will be distressed by his constant facial distortions – as would be typical of disturbed patients. Also his uncontrolled uncool “flirting” with the Female presenting alongside him is disturbing and abnormal.

    He never provides a single thought of a solution to any issue. Which is unfortunate.

    However if Radio National New Zealand (the so called premium TV and News source for this country) wishes to have such a man representing them, you will probably sense that RNZ is the lowest quality of current affairs TV available here or anywhere in the world.

    If Mike Hosking is ill (and therefore requiring careful care) I can understand his difficulties. If he is just an abysmally shallow mantra driven, unintelligent fool then i feel he should be relieved of his strange role. He is not funny.

    • seeker 32.1
      19 June 2016 at 3:13 pm

      @Observer Toke@2.18pm

      I don’t think Hosking is on RNZ, he is on Newstalk run by NZME.
      Many unedifying or lightweight people work on this radio station including Larry Williams, Rachel Smalley, Leighton Smith, Kerry McIvor and most infamously Tony Veirch.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newstalk_ZB

      • Observer Toke 32.1.1
        19 June 2016 at 4:56 pm

        .
        .@ Seeker. Apologies, I meant to say he appeared on TV 1. Thanks for listing those who wallow around in the shallows.

        You need an intellect to swim in deeper waters.

  33. infused 33
    19 June 2016 at 3:28 pm

    Liz is a baby. Talk about holding a grudge.

    • Observer Toke 33.1
      19 June 2016 at 5:09 pm

      .
      .@infused

      .Nice to meet you. You should not be ashamed of being confused. Obviously you were there every time the twitchy distorted disapproving face and Liz appeared on camera.

      I know you would never lie on this blog, which is designed for grown ups. Not for tunnel eyed autistics, repeating the same mantras endlessly. Which you do for the Tory establishment.

      Would you take me along to Ms Boag’s place one night please? I will bring a Tory Baby with me – okay? And you can change its’ shitty napkin.

      Good to meet you.

    • reason 33.2
      19 June 2016 at 6:04 pm

      Liz sounds like a decent and intelligent women ….

      Infused shows yet again he is ugly right wing troll who lies a lot…

    • One Anonymous Bloke 33.3
      19 June 2016 at 6:19 pm

      Seldom in the history of wingnut commentary has a wingnut revealed so much of themselves in so few words.

      Let’s talk about it*

      *not you, Infused.

  34. Don't worry. Be happy 34
    19 June 2016 at 3:30 pm

    Watched Hoskings by accident a few weeks ago. His fly was undone. The sort of thing tv crew are paid to ensure does not go to air. I suspected at the time that someone on the team think he’s a tosspot and let that slide.

    • Richardrawshark 34.1
      19 June 2016 at 5:34 pm

      I thought that, i’m old my eyes are going bad, then I thought I was seeing double, I’m sure the pathetic fool has fancy pants with like two or more zips in a look at my spectacular package narcissistic kind of way.

      I wonder if his expensive jeans are made in some sweat shop somewhere ?

    • Philj 34.2
      19 June 2016 at 9:43 pm

      Hope you are recovering from your nasty accident. You will have to be more careful when switching on your television set. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Watching television can be injurious to your health and should come with a health warning. lol

  35. Stuart Munro 35
    19 June 2016 at 3:48 pm

    TVNZ is merging with Mediaworks anyway though isn’t it? The whole thing will have to be scrapped – not just Hosking.

  36. wahinetoa 36
    19 June 2016 at 4:23 pm

    respect to Liz Gunn for her honesty and to voice what the people also have noted of this narcissist commentator – we place these journalists behind a desk and then think they are experts on current events. They are not.

    As a journalist his job was simply to allow the voices of the real experts, the people to be heard – but instead he gives his opinions on issues he has not experience on and has no insight on at all – and that is the mark of true arrogance.

    He speaks of how people are victims of their own doing and it is not the culture of the country or the influence of Government. The Govt influence us from before we are born till after we are dead, they are the initiators of the overall culture of this country as a whole through law and policy instructing the norms of which we are to live –

    He is hired not to be insightful or to be informative but to be the Don Trump of tv – and he does this role well by spouting controversial and rich vs poor /pakeha vs maori / right wing vs left wing propaganda so that the public respond – after all any publicity good or bad was always considered to be a positive – so we need to vote by turning off the tv about paul hoskings and show we are not gullible and we will not give a shit about some upstart snob

    • Observer Toke 36.1
      19 June 2016 at 5:20 pm

      .
      . @Wahinetoa

      . As I say, Hosking might be in need of acute care. In which case it is wrong of the torys to put him out for ridicule daily.

      However Lady toa, what you have written goes beyond just the incredibly rude and untalented Hosking. You have written the script for good Current Affairs – free from wealth; free from bias; free from stupid ego.

      Thanks for contributing to this important topic. Also thanks for not rating Liz Gunn as an infant.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 36.2
      19 June 2016 at 6:01 pm

      Agree in all respects except one: it’s important to be aware of Hosking and others’ hate speech, in order to better defend citizens* against them.

      *and residents

  37. Little Kiwi 37
    19 June 2016 at 5:54 pm

    Check out Like Mike on watch me. Jeremy Wells does the best voice impression. The show started because he wanted to get ratings like Mike. I watch Like Mike more often than I watch Mike on TV and think he should do a daily skit. People are veering away from mainstream media because it’s so tainted with bias and like watching paint dry.

    http://www.watchme.co.nz/entertainment/like-mike/foreign-trusts/

    • Repateet 37.1
      19 June 2016 at 6:28 pm

      I don’t watch TV at 7.00pm during the week. When Hosking comes on radio Sport in the mornings to do his daily spout there I turn the radio to another station.

  38. newsense 38
    19 June 2016 at 6:53 pm

    Surely he is a symptom of the destruction of the media as a check on power, rather than a cause? A popular symptom, with a lot of momentum, but a symptom nonetheless?
    Making a partisan campaign to get rid of him will only make the polarisation of broadcasting worse surely? Though the campaign to get rid of Campbell was fairly effective!

  39. Observer Toke 39
    19 June 2016 at 8:12 pm

    . @Seeker
    . Thanks for the link to Hosking roasting.
    . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newstalk_ZB

    . Perhaps my sadness over Hosking, is not his lack of compassion and his inability to put himself in the shoes of the people he insults, but that he has missed the greatest major event in his lifetime. He could have used TV for noble purpose. He chooses not to.

    He does not realise, let alone discuss the fact that more and more of the world’s wealth belongs to fewer and fewer persons. So he blames the many while he praises the wealthy few. So sick.

    He is dumb. His yellow car looks surprisingly slummy. Yellow is the colour of cowards, isn’t it?

  40. Paul 40
    19 June 2016 at 8:55 pm

    Hosking is merely a symptom of New Zealand’s disease.
    Neo-liberalism creates people like Hosking.
    To solve the problem, change the system.

    • Colonial Viper 40.1
      19 June 2016 at 9:37 pm

      Manwhile we run petitions to get rid of Hosking, not petitions to get rid of TVNZ’s commercial focus.

      That’s how myopic the Left has grown.

      • Kiwiri 40.1.1
        19 June 2016 at 9:56 pm

        not myopic for the neo-liberal Left, though 😛

      • Observer Toke 40.1.2
        19 June 2016 at 10:43 pm

        .To Colonial Viper

        . I think you have a good policy CV. Establish a quality TV Station and Radio News that has no commercial input; no political bias; and a goal to be the premium TV and News service in New Zealand. I think New Zealanders would welcome it.

        . I also think that petitioning seriously for the removal of any employee within any public media is a democratic right, to be resolved by appropriate Counsel.

        It does not cut across your good policy of setting up a baggage free, informative, entertaining, Flagship Service. It would also carry major sporting and artistic events.

        Parliament would also define “Freedom of the Press” to encompass the truth that there is no freedom to report in a biased manner. Let Truth talk for itself.

        • Colonial Viper 40.1.2.1
          19 June 2016 at 10:52 pm

          . I think you have a good policy CV. Establish a quality TV Station and Radio News that has no commercial input; no political bias; and a goal to be the premium TV and News service in New Zealand. I think New Zealanders would welcome it.

          Of course, it’s hardly a groundbreaking idea; in the days before the rule of commercialism and the free market, we had this thing called ‘public broadcasting.’

      • Incognito 40.1.3
        19 June 2016 at 10:49 pm

        The petition was started by a guy by the name of Dan Wayman, Wellington, New Zealand, six days ago!

        Please explain how this corroborates your claim that the left has a (grown) myopic view.

        I assume you did read the motivation for the petition and that supporters of it “expect that TVNZ act as a responsible and mature public broadcaster”. [my bold]

  41. M. Gray 41
    20 June 2016 at 8:54 am

    He will never be the man Paul Holmes was . Paul loved our country and NZ people , he was kind , caring and genuine. Paul was not perfect and neither are any of us but he was not like Hoskings who is judgemental, one sided, bias and downright nasty.
    Also how come he is allow to voice is own one eyed opinion and others don’t appear to be able to do this on channel one

  42. Mike Bond 42
    20 June 2016 at 9:35 am

    Why is there so much negativity towards a TV presenter? If you don’t like the show, don’t watch it! Seven Sharp has the highest ratings ever, so do you seriously think a petition is going to have any effect? Some people have to much time on their hands for crap! For the record, I never watch the show because of Hosking, but I do see that the ratings are very high and that was part of the reason John Campbell got the sack. But the again I never enjoyed Campbell Live either!

    • RedLogix 42.1
      20 June 2016 at 10:17 am

      You need to keep in mind that popular does not necessarily = ‘good idea’. In fact history is littered with popular ideas and movements that turned out to be absolute cluster fucks.

      Nor does the opposite hold true either, un-popular does not necessarily = ‘good idea’ either. History is littered with fringe crack-pots who wasted their lives in well deserved obscurity.

      Yet it is a logical truth that all good ideas have their genesis in obscurity; all new truth emerges from the mind of one person. While at the same time the vilest propaganda and lies are accepted as unquestioned reality in the minds of millions.

      So then it is worth asking … how as a society do we determine what is good or bad? My opinion is that Hosking is bad. And I believe if we let his state sponsored, social engineering experiment run long enough, we will eventually discover the objective evidence he is bad.

      It is not too hard to make a reasoned prediction; Hosking is a mouthpiece for a neo-liberal ideology that is failing everywhere. Any reason why you think it will not just bring more failure to New Zealand Mike?

      • Mike Bond 42.1.1
        20 June 2016 at 10:52 am

        I can then say Patrick Gower is anti National and should therefor also be banned! The problem in this country is that we allow reporters/journalists etc. get away with biased, unsubstantiated and slanders comments. Many times these comments can be detrimental to us as a country but there are no consequences and they all get away with it. Little had to apologise fro taking someone on based on a news paper article that turns out to be incorrect! I can imagine the confusion amongst the younger up and coming kids as they reach a voting age. They are bombarded with garbage from both sides based on hearsay and facts are never an issue. I can see why we have the missing millions that I am sure stay away from voting and politics because it has become such a circus!

      • Incognito 42.1.2
        20 June 2016 at 3:10 pm

        Yet it is a logical truth that all good ideas have their genesis in obscurity; all new truth emerges from the mind of one person.

        This comment truly fascinates me!

        My thoughts on this are exactly the opposite: all (good) ideas have their genesis in the open, right under our noses and in front of our very eyes. It is just that the initial seed is often too small to detect, has to undergo morphogenesis to take its ultimate shape & form, and its development may be too slow to detect as well. In addition, ideas evolve and transform into new ideas.

        I also have a different view on the second aspect: when ideas have been germinating for long enough (?) often they ‘sprout up’ at the same time in more than one place or mind. This is a little alike Jung’s idea of synchronicity and our inter-connectedness with and through the collective unconscious. Arguably, this is the mind of one ‘person’ but possibly not what you meant.

  43. Robert Guyton 43
    20 June 2016 at 9:57 am

    “Why is there so much negativity towards a TV presenter?”
    Good question, Mike. Why do you think Hosking is so disliked?
    Have you any inkling at all?

    • Mike Bond 43.1
      20 June 2016 at 10:55 am

      Mike Hosking is a prized prat! An arrogant fool and nothing else! That is why I do not watch his show! End of! Does it upset me? No! He is not worth getting upset about! He is not worth drawing petitions up as ratings unfortunately says he will only benefit from any petition! Why do you think John Campbell was chopped? Ratings and nothing more!

  44. Nigel Cameron 44
    20 June 2016 at 9:55 pm

    Mike Hosking is so stupid he thinks he’s a genius . He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. I saw him in public a few months back, severe hunchback, like a deformity, very small and weak looking. Just get more side on standing photos of him out there and he’ll be fired pretty quick. In the infantile word of TV it’s a bad image that will snuff out a career faster than mere lack of intellect or normal human empathy etc.. There should be no state funded TV , just another example of snouts in the public purse. Why should our taxes fund this imbecile’s ludicrous salary. Seize the Maserati as a state asset.

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.