I was wondering why Key’s team weren’t trying to milk his upcoming hardtalk interview for PR like they have with his other international media appearances.
Finally, an interview where some truly difficult points were forced. Made John Key look like a complete amateur and, despite some notable occasions, Stephen Sackeur is a wonderful interviewer who does his research.
The only question left to ask is this: wtf was John Key thinking accepting an interview from the one place that was going to truly sock it to him?
Stephen regularly makes the world’s most powerful people cringe in their chairs and only a few have truly stood their ground and fought with him – he always has an army of facts for any interview he does and isn’t afraid to follow up the 1st punch with a 2nd and 3rd…
Sorry just spilt coffee over my Keyboard
where was I ?
>Finally, an interview where some truly difficult points were forced.<
Not really passing judgement on Hardtalk verses Campbell Live, but Key refuses to front on CL or any program where he might be asked similar questions, this interview could be look at as entrapment, maybe not only should we feel embarrassed, but sorry for our dear leader.
The wanker
Front on New Zealand TV you slack prick
What an embarrassment! Opposition parties could have a field day with this performance. “100% pure relative to other countries” Better than a Tui ad. So ‘unemployment is really good compared to …!”
There is an episode of hardtalk on BBC World at 3:30am tonight (which presumably will also be shown on TV1), but I’m not sure if it is this interview. Some commentators on open mike yesterday mentioned watching this episode, not sure where they are located.
Hard Talk is scheduled to show on TV One overnight at 3.30am Wednesday. However, it was also on the scheduled early this morning at the same time, so I’m not sure if it will be the Key interview tomorrow am.
After doing some digging, I found that proxies from hidemyass.com seem to work (click on IP: Port Proxies in the centre of the menu, in the box on the left scroll down until you get United Kingdom and hit Search).
The 2nd one on the list is let me download the Windows Media Player version, which is 242mb. And it also appears that I can watch it! There’s DRM that forces it to expire 30 days after you’ve downloaded it, and no-doubt it’s also doing geo-location checks on my IP address, so need to use the proxy to watch it.
If no better source turns up, I might see if I can screen-scrape this, encode it and upload it somewhere on the net. Youtube probably won’t work though as BBC will probably automatically send them a take down notice.
“Conserving our native animals and plants is the core thing New Zealanders expect the government to do in conservation. The cuts to the budget the government has already made have reduced the department’s capacity to actually do that. With all of the rhetoric around the need to cut further, the public is being softened up for further cuts in areas like conservation.”
The department had a $1.6 billion budget for the 2010 financial year. In 2009, the government signalled it would be slashed by $54 million over a four-year period.
It woud be neglect if MSM do not pick up on this. Any bets on this happening? Has there ever been a more cringe worthy international performance by a NZ PM?
Oh the stupid it hurts.(PR folk that is not slippery sideshow)…..after years of laughing at the Ozzies having Howard as PM the worms turned big time with sideshow up front hamming it up on the world stage….am I coping it big time now from across the ditch.
I couldn’t believe the ridiculous smirk he has on his face at the start of the interview. I can’t imagine any other leader that would go into an interview with an expression like that.
He looked from the start as if he was going to be asked about corgis and the LotRings, like back home. Quite fun when he does his assassin eyes when hes reeling off numbers – steely trader squint, probably works on a monitor.
It must have been a real surprise for Shonkey to get a real journalist asking some real questions instead of the patsy arse kissing questions we get from NZ journalists, who are bribed to be Nationals mouth piece. Didn’t he completely fail in the real world where people respect the truth and lies are confronted.
Key’s answers were very telling taking on two flavours. The first was a typical denialist attack – discredit the source by saying it was that scientist’s ‘opinion’ and that he could find other opinions to refute it. His second type of reply was that there wasn’t an issue just ‘look out the window’ at the natural beauty.
The first is disingenuous, the second is quite scary if that is his yardstick for conservation. It implies that so long as the green veneer is there then he is happy to sell the 100% NZ brand regardless of any environmental crises going on behind.
I agree Key should have said something along the lines of:’ “Yes quitre correct – New Zealand isn’t 100% pure, it hasn’t been since colonisation. Sorry about the last ten years of duping tourists into coming here. But well you gotta love the marketing particulalry by politicans like Helen Clark and their officials as they toured around the world suckering it out of money. Again apologies from New Zealand to the world… come down and we’ll make it up to you with some fush n chups & an L&P.”
It was a horrendous show of pass the buck in parliament today, with Shonkey doing just that on a number of difficult questions. Next National will be blaming Labour for their drinking.
What was that shit about “two way trade on its way to 12 billion…y’ know, 20 billion”
So the total of import/export trade with China is…what exactly? I mean, fuck. 12 billion is a long way from 20 billion. What is two way trade heading towards and when will it be at the 12 cough 20 billion mark? And how much of that 12 cough 20 billion will be earned by NZ and how much by China?
That aside, I was waiting for him to blame the Christchurch earthquake for…..stuff. And then follow that up by claiming to be 110% committed to…stuff.
Anyway. The Nats publicly dumped the ‘Clean and Green’ sales pitch. So why didn’t he just say that his government recognised the ‘Clean and Green’ image as a bit of a have and move on?
Meanwhile. What are those tougher environmental measures for dairy farming he was referring to? Anyone?
I watched the interview yesterday on BBC World. Couldd be the same interview if it is on again tonight
If you have MySky, record it. This interview is a much watch.
Seriously, if this ‘100% Pure’ thing is all anyone has picked up on yet from the internet clip, then WOW. There is a whole lot more insight into Key’s mind and character in this interview.
You’re right. Key’s comments re immigration in the interview were also cringe-worthy. All his talk about encouraging worthwhile people to NZ; of them investing in our economy; bringing their skills and money, etc. Has he not been briefed by Kate Wilkinson on the great job she’s done dodging Campbell Live’s attempts to interview her about Martyn Payne? Overall, Key’s HARDtalk interview performance reinforced my view that the guy’s a lightweight.
And just to highlight how the MSM helps Mr – can’t answer questions by himself – Key cover up his mistakes…
MikeMs comment pretty much sums it up:
I’m very impressed at how Stuff’s summary of the interview managed to twist a boring environmental topic into something that was 90% about Key’s thoughts on the Monarchy.
Comment by MikeM on Dim post — May 10, 2011 @ 7:28 pm
Dim Post is also giving this an airing. Most are displeased or more, with our Prime Ministers foolish performance, just as there is an absence of support for Key here. Do Burt and Pete et al only get paid 9-5? Dim Post
Damn. Doesn’t go quite to the right page. [Fixed — r0b]
The HardTalk interview has probably done more to boost Goff & Labour’s chances in the November election than any other media event in the past 2 & half years. My friends , scattered across the world wherever HardTalk screened, have all expressed a collective cringe at seeing such a pitiful performance from a NZ PM.
Key’s performance was one that demonstrated what quality interviewing is all about… the interviewer allowing the interviewee to put his own foot in his mouth and then gently probing so that the foot goes even deeper into the speaker’s throat.
There was no excuse for Key being so uninformed, so ignorant and so shallow apart from his own arrogant belief in his PR creation.
It just shows how pathetic the media are here , they let that flimsy , pathetic excuse for a PM get away with SMILE and try the deflection routine . What is it ? do the media get stars in their eyes ?
Sackur refers to New Zealand being “vulnerable” to world economic events, and Key says that any small country that is effected by a large event is vulnerable but New Zealand is in a “economically quite a strong position”!
Sackur then says that one thing New Zealand does not have is strong growth. John Key says that “we don’t accept that position”. ‘Not only dairy… but forestry, land, beef, seafood prices are at record highs.’
Sackur then hits him on NZ having 30% lower wages than Australia, and 25% of NZ Graduates leaving NZ as opposed to 2.5% leaving Australia. Key defends NZ, says that nobody else in the OECD has had as big a population increase as NZ.
It goes on.. but here is the best quote from Sackur:
“You spent many years working in London making a lot of money. And I wonder if you’re the right person to be telling New Zealanders, “You know what, you should stay at home, invest in your own country, and you can make it in your own country” because you had to come here to make it”
Very internationalist perspective from Sackur. Very big picture. No wonder he is so sceptical of Key.
Ref the Helen Clark interview on Hardtalk…That woman made us proud to be NZ’ers. She handled those questions with such skill. That’s the difference between someone who is briefed, goes out of her way to be informed and lives by her principles. That line from her is so true “I say in private what I say in public”. I heard her say that so often. And some of the prescient comments left by viewers are being fulfilled right now.
Too true, the difference in the two interviews is marked.
I didn’t always agree with Helen but she is clearly intelligent, principled, well-informed, and very much her own person. None of which can be said about the present Head Bozo.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had another HC-like person in Labour?
Please can the NZ MSM get some similar interviewers. So refreshing to have someone that actually did some research, asked real questions and expected real responses in place of the usual one-liner PR spin we get in NZ.
I managed to use a proxy to download the WMP version (see 3.2.4 above). Spent the last 50 minutes trying to transcribe it all, and only got through about 8 minutes of it! It’s 30 minutes long, so this doesn’t seem like a go-er.
Here’s what I have so far. Apologies for any typoes and lack of grammer and punctuation. I’ve tried to get the wording almost as exact as I can, although I might miss a few ‘ums’ and other sounds out, as well as word stresses and Key’s slack-jawed gabbing.
Hard talk today is in central london. my guest is new zealand’s visiting prime minister john key. his first term in office has been a baptism of fire. he’s had to cope with a prolonged economic slowdown, and a string of disasters including a major mining accident and the devastating christchurch earthquake. geographically isolated and small in population, just how resilient is new zealand when put to the test?
HT: prime minister john key, welcome to hard talk
JK: thanks very much, great to be here
HT: is it proving harder than you expected to be new zealand’s prime minister?
JK: well we’ve certainly had more challenges than one might either want or expect, if you think about the time i’ve been in office, nearly three years, we’ve had the global financial crisis, two earthquake in christchurch, ah pike river mine disaster, we’ve ended up having to uh buy and ah bailout a number of finance companies and in recent times provide support for an insurance company which has a large exposure to christchurch so it hasn’t been an easy time for us
HT: those are massive tests, and we’ll go through them in some detail, but they’re tests that you’ve had to face, as, I think the most inexperienced prime minister in the last 100 years of NZ’s history. i mean you-you-you came in to office, I think just 6 years as an MP, 2 years as party leader, you weren’t really terribly well-equipped as a political leader were you?
JK: well it depends on what you think um are the skills that you need to be a good prime minister. it’s certainly true I got there in the fastest time, prior to me was david lange who I think took 7 years, but i think in modern day politcs you are seeing the emergeance of young leaders. um we’re seeing that in the case of president obama now in the US, obviously with david cameron here in the united kingdom, and I think the experience that i had working in a number of international markets here in the uk, singapore, australia and the likes, that banking experience where you have, very much, the economy at the front and centre stage of the issues new zaealand faces. i think actually the mixture of skills I’ve had would be about the right ones.
HT: well, you were a successful banker, you made lots of money, but you’d never, for example, run a city, let alone a ministerial department. and then to go to some of those challenges you’ve already alluded to, here you are, faced, for example, in christchurch, with what you I think described as possibly, maybe, NZ’s darkest day ever, with the christchurch earthquake.
JK: I think the answer to that is that you need to have a plan. I mean ultimately, one of the things the commercial sector teaches you is that you have to have a sense of where you’re going, a sense of how you’re going to achieve that, and to be able to frame up the challenges that ya face. in the case of christchurch, if one puts to one side the human tragedy, which has been enormous – I mean we lost 181 people there – um then th-the process of funding the rebuilding, of what is actually required to make that happen, allow that to happen in a timeframe which is sensible both for new zealand and for the people of christchurch, i think is rather the self-explanatory. now, we have taken some hard calls, we’ve passed legislation which gives us ah very wide and encompassing powers to enable us to rebuild christchurch quickly, we’ve essentially assumed that responsibility at a central government level
HT: does it make sense to rebuild christchurch, quickly? i mean th-the city is still getting serious tremors, it’s had around the area of the city, it’s had 2 major earthquakes in the last 8 or so months. is it wise, to rebuild christchurch?
JK: we believe so – the second earthquake we think is an aftershock of the first one, and that’s been supported by our scientists in new zealand. now it’s true, there’s been 5000 aftershocks in christchurch measuring above, i think 3 or 4 on the richter scale since the first earthquake on the 4th of september.
HT: ah-a-and because of that you have a lot of people in christchurch who are saying ‘i want out of this city, i see no future for myself and my children in this place’
JK: yeah-it’s-been-interesting-actually-the-response wh- look there are about 400,000 people that live in christchurch, and there is no perfect way of measuring how many people have or will leave, but if you put your finger in the air and say what’s that number likely to look like and I’d say it’s 20 to 30 thousand people.
HT: you’re sounding determinedly upbeat, but here’s where it gets very difficult for a very small country – populations not much more than 4 million – we’re talking about your second city, economists reckon that in the short-run, the next year or two, it could mean that rather than expecting growth of over 3%, it might be down to 2%, so it’s a real drag on new zealand’s economic prospects. and that’s, in a way, illustrating how vulnerable your small country is, would you accept that?
JK: well by definition, any small country where it’s affected by a very large event um has less room to move than say a larger country – that’s-that’s a statement of fact. having said that, new zealand finds itself in economically quite a strong position, so gross debt to gdp is under 20% currently, and we are going into our budget process on may the 19th with a zero budget, so instead of spending a billion dollars more, we will spend zero. and that money will be used over time, um to pay for the earthquake. so we are addressing that through essentially trimming government expenditure.
HT: but what you do not have in nz right now is-is strong growth, in fact you have virtually no growth at all, and that’s really not something you can blame on the earthquake. I just wonder whether you, with all of your financial background, over-estimated your ability, and the country’s ability to deliver, ahh, sustainable growth, because it isn’t happening, is it?
JK: well we wouldn’t accept that position. i mean for a start off, the global financial crisis had quite an impact, so when we came in to office at the end of 2008, the country had experienced 3 quarters of negative growth, and that continued into the back-end of 2008 and into early 2009. but if you strip the earthquake out and say ‘ok how does nz really look’ we have a very strong commodity sector, so it’s not just diary prices – forestry, lamb, beef, seafood, all of those are at record highs, and not withstanding that we’re combatting very high exchange rate, actually that part of our economy is very strong, we have the rugby world cup in new zealand, the christchurch rebuild will add probably a percent to the gdp every year for the next, 5 to 7 years. so, look i, the picture that we see, is one that we see is one of growth, above 4%
HT: (interjecting)well y-y-y-you’re painting a rosy picture, which I think a lot of new zealanders might-might question. I mean they heard you, for example, in-in, ahh, the last couple of years, consistently saying, ‘we are going to close the prosperity gap, the wages gap’ in particular ‘with Australia’, and people compare yourselves with australia. it hasn’t happened, in fact the wages gap is wider than ever.
JK: (smiling) actually we also reject that proposition. but let me take you through that, so. (chuckles)
HT: well, the-the opposition leader just the other day, Phil Goff he said “the best this government can do is now trumpet that new zealand wages are 30% below australia’s giving us a supposed competitive advantage. he used to talk about the fact we were going to close the gap’
JK: I won’t get into a political debate about the robustness of his numbers. but let me-let me take this step back for you. new zealand has had a widening wage gap with australia [why? why?] over the course of the last 40 years. primarily mineral resources base in australia. so australia’s very minerally wealthy, and china’s having a huge impact on their market. so to give you some idea of that, the capital investment going into the mining sector in australia, for the last decade, has averaged about 5 to 10 billion dollars a year. in the last 3 years alone in australia it’s been 55 billion dollars a year.
HT: i’m sure you don’t want to spend the whole interview comparing yourselves to australia, but, here is one important fact. more than a quarter of new zealand’s graduates, that is the brightest and the best that your country’s producing, are now living outside of your own country. that’s 10 times the rate for australia-born graduates, and that suggests to me that you have got a fundamental, a structual problem.
That’s fantastic! the interviewer doesn’t rate Key’s credentials at all, does he? and don’t accept/reject the proposition huh – only because he can’t deny them.
Haven’t updated this for a while but since National Ltd™ came to power:
has been caught out repeatedly lying in the run up to and during the election campaign about its real intentions in relation to the environment
celebrated the opening of the foreign-owned Pike River Coal Ltd mine on DOC land adjacent to the Paparoa National Park from which 1 megatonne of coal will be extracted per year for the next 20 years – Pike River Coal Ltd has announced that it has found additional coal in the national park
removed a proposed efficiency standard (MEPS) on incandescent lightbulbs
reversed a moratorium on building new gas/oil/coal power stations
removed the bio fuel subsidy
scrapped the scheme that would have penalised imported vehicles producing high emissions
removed regulations for water efficient new housing
renewed leases on sensitive high country farms which were meant to return to DOC
reversed restrictions on the freeholding of vast swathes of land on the edge of the Southern Lakes
arbitrarily excised 400 hectares from the brand new Oteake Conservation Park, including the most important and, ecologically, the rarest part of the new Park, the tussock and shrubland that went right down to the banks of the Manuherikia River, to enable future access to lignite
said nothing to say in regard to the World Commission on Protected areas of IUCN’s severe criticism of its intention to investigate mineral resources and mining opportunities in protected conservation areas including our three UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Te Wahi Pounamu-South West New Zealand, Tongariro National Park and the Sub Antarctic Islands
approved two prospecting permit applications lodged by Australian iron-ore giant Fortescue Metals Group subsidiary FMG Pacific lodged in June – areas covered by the two-year permits include an 8204-square-kilometre area of seabed adjoining the west coast from Cape Reinga to the Manukau Harbour and a 3798-square-kilometre prospecting area of land from Cape Reinga to the Kaipara Harbour including Ninety Mile Beach, the west side of the Aupouri Peninsula, Kaitaia and the Hokianga.
approved an additional prospecting permit for Fortesque Metals in relation to 3568sq km right next door to the Kahurangi National Park where the Heaphy Track is
was forced to release its Ministry of Economic Development (MED) report under the Official Information Act that proclaims “significant mineral potential” in the Fiordland, Kahurangi and Paparoa national parks – the report said the Waitutu area of the Fiordland National Park had sufficient petroleum reserves to be “worthy” of inclusion in a review of conservation land protected from mining
secretly granted the minerals industry the right to veto proposed National Park boundaries and permission for any such vetoes to be kept confidential – in spite of recommendations from its own officials against any such a veto
Minster of Conservation Tim Grosser, on 29 August 2009, called for caring New Zealanders to halt their “emotional hysteria” and recognise that conservation land should be mined for minerals and went on to say “Mining in a modern, technological way can have a negligible effect”
Associate Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson, in an interview in “Canterbury Farming” rubished her own department, DOC, suggesting it was incapable of looking after the high country reserves and parks under its control
gutted the home insulation scheme
pulled $300 million out of public transport, walking and cycling schemes and added it to a pot of $2 billion to ‘upgrade’ state highways
changed the law to provide billions of dollar in subsidies for polluters via the ETS casino which is now a target for scamming by international criminals
begun a process of gutting the Resource Management Act to make it difficult/impossible for the public to lodge appeals against developers
removed the ability of Auckland to introduce a fuel levy to fund planned public transport upgrades
left electrification of the national rail network up in the air without promised funding commitments
removed the Ministry for the Environment’s programme to make Government Departments ‘carbon neutral’
removed funding for public tv advertising on sustainability and energy efficiency
pulled funding for small-town public litter bin recycling schemes
cabinet ministers expressing public support the bulldozing of Fiordland
reduced Department of Conservation funding by about $50 million over three years
canceled funding for the internationally acclaimed ‘Enviroschools’ programme
usurped the democratic role of local Councils of determining policies for their citizens by requiring the abandonment of the efficient and well-established tree protection rules for urban areas
set about revamping Auckland governance in a way that is likely to greatly reduce the ‘Environmental Watchdog’ role of the the current Regional Council
removed Auckland’s metropolitan limits and opened the gateway for unfettered urban sprawl
defended internationally the importation of rain-forest-wrecking palm kernel and stood silent while Federated Farmers called Greenpeace “terrorists”
stood silent while Godfrey Bloom, a Member of the European Parliament and infamous Climate Change Denialist, publicly rejoiced in the 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior – who was doing so while standing on a dock next to the replacement vessel
took a 0% emissions reduction target to Copenhagen. Yes, seriously, that isn’t a misprint – that was the lower bound of their negotiation platform – then missed the 01/02/10 deadline for commitment to action it had agreed to – meanwhile 55 of the 80 countries which attended did make the deadline
secretly cancelled the internationally recognised scheme for the mandatory labelling of exotic woods to ensure the timber has not been taken from rain forests in direct contradiction of its own statements made at the 13th World Forestry Congress in Argentina
supported the Department of Conservation’s decision to open up the pristine Cathedral Cove to an ice-cream franchise
given the Department of Conservsation $1.7 million to further develop commercial activities on DOC land and started an “off set” plan allowing company’s to damage the conservation estate if they agree to improve land elsewhere – no monitoring regime has been suggested on put in place
left DOC director-general Al Morrison to announce that DOC is to charge for services that had been free and, to soften the public up to the idea that there will be more “energy generation schemes” operating on DOC land
taken no action to reduce existing pollution pouring into the Manawatu River and is “leaving it up to industry” to come up with solutions to heal the river which was described by the Cawthorn Institute as “one of the worst polluted in the Western world”
announced a $1.1 million industry subsidy to kick start marine farming without identifying no-go areas nor putting in place a consultation process for individiuals, communities, and other general coastal users
blamed New Zealanders after a Japanese whaling ship deliberately smashed into a smaller, more vulnerable craft in the open sea
was forced to release documents under the Official Information Act which confirm that DOC has “giving up” on ecologically valuable high-country land in the Mackenzie Basin because of funding cuts. The released documents cite “statements made by ministers”, “diminishing funding” and the Government’s new high-country policies as reasons for the changed stance – the comments from DOC were made after Land Information New Zealand (Linz), which manages the tenure review process, ignored DOC’s previous conservation recommendations for the farms
used former National Party minister and current director of Open Country Cheese – a company convicted of filthy farming practices – Wyatt Creech to head up an enquiry into Environment Canterbury which had been standing up the dairy farmers’ demands for more and more water resources and less and less regulation. The Creech report recommended the Environmental Canterbury be sacked and replaced with government appointments and the voters of Canterbury do without democracy until the water situation had been resolved. The Canterbury area holds 50 percent of New Zealand’s fresh water reserves and 50 percent of the water required for hyrdo energy. The Creech report said Environmental Centerbury put too much focus on the environment.
Despite international condemnation for knowing next to nothing about the parlous state of the New Zealand fisheries, National Ltd™ bucks international trends, pours more acid on the 100% Pure brand and increases the bluefin tuna quota.
New Zealand is subject to international criticism for its backing of commericial whaling which National Ltd supports
Government-owned company Solid Energy runs an essay competition entitled “The role of coal in sustainable energy solutions for New Zealand” for school children. First prize is a trip to New Zealand’s largest coal customer, China.
Supported access fees for entrance onto DOC walkways – fee introduced following cuts to DOC’s budget.
New Zealand’s environment would profit from mining national parks, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.
Department of Conservation director-general Al Morrison said the conservation estate created “opportunities to do a whole lot for a lot of different people. We’ve got to get away from this idea that somehow we have to protect one-third of New Zealand for a certain constituency and put it in a jar of formaldehyde and leave it.”
State coal miner Solid Energy could get an extra slice of the action if highly sensitive conservation land is opened to gold, silver and other prospecting. Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said Solid Energy’s work could be widened to include other minerals and resources, or it could form part of a new state-owned enterprise to maximise government returns from any mining. He did not rule out the company, which produces 80 per cent of New Zealand’s coal, having a role in mining gold and other minerals on Great Barrier Island and other conservation areas being eyed by the Government http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3519703/Golden-possibility-for-state-coal-miner
>removed a proposed efficiency standard (MEPS) on incandescent lightbulbs <
I posted a lot of mercury bombs into parliament, spreading mercury vapour throughout the postal system and parliament buildings, and it was legal, the bulbs tended to break as they went into the post box.
But it got the idiot law stopped 😉 … maybe?
@BLiP! – excellent stuff, i’ve been trying to pull together a summary like that for some time. Request permission to shamelessly borrow/promulgate.
Despite the almost non-exhaustive nature of that list, it’s pretty much a lot worse than that.
try: Sacked ECAN councillors claiming ‘dysfunctional’, but OIA documents reveal Carter, Brownlee and Key up to their eyeballs in pushing officials to get rid of ‘hurdles’ to ‘accelerating large scale water storage and irrigation in Canterbury’. Guess what the two hurdles were identified as? Water Conservation Orders and Council Processes.
What do we see come out of the toothless NPS on freshwater this week? a fund entitled “Irrigation acceleration fund”. Subtle? not very.
For those of you not up with the play, while the media spotlight played out on the sacking of ECAN councillors, the true fatal thrust to water in Canterbury was the amending of Water Conservation Orders (essentially National Park like status given to rivers that met the required tests under the RMA) so that there is no longer a right of appeal.
The comments here have spurred me into tidying the list up and adding more to it. I’ve been busy with mahi – the evil, foreign-owned multi-national I work for has decided the best way to increase productivity is to not replace staff who leave. That means the rest of us have to pick up the slack. Do you think our salaries have gone up to reflect the extra work? Like fuck.
SOMEONE needs to put this up on Youtube and pass it on to the New Zealand media or else no-one will see or hear about it except for us geeky lefties that will not vote for the brat anyway.
There is a lot more to this interview than the freely available highlights online.
I followed someone’s instructions here and downloaded it via a hidemyass proxy but i don’t know how to convert it to youtube friendly …
Made total mincemeat of him. Makes you realise how pathetic NZ current affairs TV is. Can’t we get Stephen Sackur to come to NZ for the election campaign?
richard you are right. current afairs in NZ is pathetic and that is the way these people want it. they know they can stand up to the hair and teeth jobs shoulder tapped by TVNZ and the others so to save themselves the bother they just dont have any current affairs at all! very convenient and then they say that the public isnt interested. well they would be if there was some blood on the floor every now and again instead of the saccharine hucksterism that passes for investigative journalism these days.
You know that there’s something wrong with the MSM when, confronted with scientific research, they go and get a businessman to cast doubt on the scientists research.
HA! Whilst I was listening to the interview in the above clip my 14 year old daughter was sitting on the sofa behind me mucking about on facebook or whatever and she suddenly piped up and said, ‘Why can’t he just answer the question!’
Re: the question whether NZ will let Crafar being bought – I can mostly hear that slurring guy trying to buy interview time while figuring out how to answer, nay, avoid the question.
This one that NZ elected as PM in 2008 shows himself to be very mediocre, nay, an embarrassment at coming up with responses when he is interviewed.
Cut out the explanation of the research- cut out the journalist saying you aren’t answering the questions and end with the journalist patting Key down…
John Key should be immortalised ” Compared to other countries we are 100%” compared to sum I achieved 100% in School cert English 🙂 !!!
I only wished that JK was min of education when I was at school !!!!!
This is pure magic and should be aired many times. The unfortunate thing is that this will be lost on many. Still even so late in the day nice to have a chuckle. Pure magic
Anyone know when the full interview will be on again and where. There maybe some more gems that were missed on the 3 minute clip
Another classic part is near the end, where Key goes on about NZers supporting the monarchy based on a poll that said 85% of people here supported bringing back knighthoods. Shortly afterwards, Sarkur points out that a poll he has seen says around 40% of NZers want a republic. Key responds by saying “There’s always some random poll that you can draw from but…”
Everytime i watch Key’s answers my face meets the palms of my hands at regular intervals. I know NZ does have some decent journo’s but could you imagine Key getting that type of grilling with more regulararity. His tenure as PM would’ve been finished long ago. Since Muldoon’s over the top treatment of any journo’s not giving the Nats favourable treatment back in the early 80’s there seems to be an utter lack of consistent probing invesitgative journalism in NZ putting chancers like Key under real public scrutiny. That coupled with the severe scaling back in NZ based newsrooms.
Sackur is not known as one the BBC’s hardest interviewers. But he was doing what any investigative political journo does well. Puts his subject under pressure and see’s how they react. In Key’s case not very well. Sackur having dealt with the seasoned Westminster politico’s for years was always going to have done his research on Key and most of it was not going to be favourable. As oppossed to the Herald who have just gone to their default position of being the Nat’s propoganda leaflet. The Herald article almost seems to hint that the big old nasty BBC had no right to harrass NZ’s glorious leader. Plus going to a NZ business bloke to refute the claims of a respected scientist must surely be the Herald’s idea of a piss take.
Key must be asking himself “why can’t all international TV invites be as intellectually challenging as Letterman”?
Having watched the full interview, I actually think that your average viewer would think that Key does OK. Don’t get me wrong imho Key is evading questions, contradicting himself (most notably with the whole “academics and lawyers” and republic v monarchy statistics) etc
But he is very good at doing it while smiling without ever getting aggressive and taking the bait. Most people, when proven wrong like he is, a few times just in this interview (!), or when caught out lying, e.g. the whole Kiwirail shares thing before the 08 election, would go on the attack or get really flustered. He just sticks to some semi-evasive waffle, might even partially concede a point to conceal the fact that he is getting caught red-handed, and remains mild-mannered.
How does he get away with it? Well, in NZ, the casual mild-mannered approach is king. It’s a cultural thing. Politicians like Clark and Goff who are too serious, too intellectual, or too earnest invoke suspicion – they must be full of themselves if they aren’t constantly in self-deprecating humour mode or if they use technical vocabulary (tall poppy syndrome) – and are called “robots” “hapless ideologues” “ivory tower types” and so on. They are not “one of Us”. Key on the other hand is your “average white businessman familyman golfplaying aucklander” type who speaks the language of low-level corporate office. He ticks all the boxes for the Herald, most journalists, tv, etc. as being “one of Us” so he has significantly greater leeway on any subject anyway. He fits into what the Nats would see as the “mainstream NZer” mould quite nicely. Add to that his casual, friendly mild manners and our journos hesitate to attack him because they would be attacking a friendly one-of-us type bloke – they will be the ones seen as unreasonable aggressors. Even Sackur when he nailed him couldn’t bring himself to go all the way.
Invoking “pragmatism” also gets him off the hook. This is an anglo-saxon misnomer to conceal a dominant ideology in this case a watered down neo-liberal approach. Neoliberals can afford to be conservatives in NZ, in the literal sense of the term, because we are not that far off a neoliberal paradise anyway. And Key like many other politicians will avoid rocking the boat by any means possible. This “conservative” line is seen as both “moderate” and “reasonable”.
So the nicknames “teflon” “slippery” are all well-founded. Unless a respected journo nails him with an unrelenting line of questioning on prime time telly – and the PR boys will avoid that at all costs – he will remain our friendly PM whose policies go unnoticed and unchallenged behind the artificial veil that is his Image. If only they would show a few more vids on the news of him sneering and jeering nastily in the house, that could go a long way to undermining his “nice-guy-not-a-politician” persona. His honeymoon with a befuddled media is not even over yet and it’s almost election time so there is little hope of that happening…
It takes the BBC – a leading overseas media organisation – to show the true face of our useless “leader”. Again this proves the uselessness of most NZ media. Apart from a few exceptions the NZ media has become so useless and pre-occupied with “image” and “presentation” that no matters of substance are reported on in-depth. Like with our supermarkets we have something like a duopoly owning the newspapers, magazines and some TV and radio stations. Public broadcasting gets treated worse year by year.
So many in NZ are so brain-washed, they do not get a chance to see “real” questions being asked to our leading politicians. Many do not even bother informing themselves, because they have grown up in a society where commercials on radio and television take up a per centage of broadcasting times, so that any program gets fragmented and listeners and viewers constantly distracted and otherwise brainwashed to simply be “consumers”.
This interview should be a revelation of how useless John Key really is. He dodges questions all the time, contradicts himself, denies facts and make a total fool of himself. Sadly hardly anyone in NZ bothers watching or listening to Hard Talk!
So no wonder we get election results that make critical and informed people wonder how that came about.
At least one tv program showed a 45second extract of this – Media7 on TVNZ7
TVNZ7 the best news in the country at 8pm where they take time to interview people and get to the bottom of issues unlike the tabloid headlines prevalent on TV1 TV3 Prime.
TVNZ7 the channel discarded by our beloved national govt
no surprises there – Key and Coleman are conducting their own Glorious Cultural Revolution
with the motto “Kill Public Service Broadcasting”.
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Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have delivered an upgrade of the SuperGold Card website and a new smartphone app, which will help unlock the full benefits of the SuperGold Card for 750,000 New Zealand seniors.Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters, ...
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Another busy week, from speaking with world leaders on the world stage about climate change, to equipping our school leavers with everything they need to get ahead in life. ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says Air New Zealand has "an obligation to look after Kiwis", and urged the national carrier not to hike up their prices after Jetstar airline announced their withdrawal from regional flights this week. The Provincial Champion also expressed his disappointment at Jetstar’s decision on ...
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Kiwis are benefiting from higher wage growth and low inflation under the Coalition Government. Stats NZ data out today shows the rise in the cost of living remains low, as annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.5% in September from 1.7% in June. “The low inflation comes as ...
New Zealand’s economic strength and resilience has been recognised in a major update on the state of the global economy. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook released overnight shows a reduced global growth forecast over the next two years as issues like the US-China trade war and Brexit take hold. ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little has today introduced a new Bill to prevent terrorism and support the de-radicalisation of New Zealanders returning from overseas. The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill gives the New Zealand Police the ability to apply to the High Court to impose control orders on New Zealanders who ...
A Bill that proposes targeted changes to simplify the processes for Māori land owners when engaging with the Māori Land Court has had its First Reading today. “The approach taken by the Government is to ensure that the protection of Māori land remains a priority as we seek to improve ...
Let me first thank all the new unionists and members in the room. There is nothing more important to improving people’s working lives than people making the decision to care, to get on board and help, to take up the reins and get involved. Congratulations to you. You bring the ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has signed a certificate exempting the activity of engine testing at Whenuapai Airbase from the Resource Management Act 1991. The Act gives the Minister of Defence the power to exempt activities for the purposes of national security. The certificate will mean the recent Environment Court ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced New Zealand will join the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action while attending APEC meetings in Chile. The objective of the 39 member Coalition is to share information and promote action to tackle climate change. It was formed in April this year, in ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
"Let’s start by acknowledging that it has been a huge year. " Police Association Annual Conference James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou katoa. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill; Members of the Association and ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark have announced the New Zealand Government’s decision to again deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. New ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand continues to have serious concerns for peace and stability in north-east Syria. “Recent reports that hundreds of ISIS-affiliated families have fled from a camp are deeply concerning from a humanitarian and security perspective”, Mr Peters says. “While we acknowledge Turkey’s domestic security ...
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is warning travelling Kiwis to be vigilant as the high-season for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is under way. “We’re on high alert to stop BMSB arriving in NZ. The high season runs until April 30 and we’ve strengthened our measures to stop stink ...
The Government is moving swiftly to change the law to improve the welfare and pastoral care of students living in university halls of residence and other tertiary hostels. Cabinet has agreed to several changes, including creating a new mandatory Code of Practice that sets out the duty of pastoral care ...
The Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage has launched a new comprehensive trapping guide for community trappers to help them protect our native birds, plants and other wildlife, at Zealandia in Wellington today. ‘A practical guide to trapping’, has been developed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and was launched during ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices ...
The Government has approved the next stage of a major redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which will deliver new and improved facilities for patients. Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced details of a $300 million dollar project to build a new East Wing at the New Plymouth hospital. It ...
Extra funding will allow Rural Support Trusts to help farming families, says Minister for Rural Communities and Agriculture Damien O’Connor. “I know that rural families are worried about some of the challenges facing them, including the ongoing uncertainty created by the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. “Those concerns sit alongside ongoing worries ...
Thank you for the opportunity to be here to present certificates to the 16 graduates who have completed a beekeeping course delivered by the Howard League. Let us start by acknowledging Auckland Prison’s Deputy Prison Director Tom Sherlock, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner of Corrections Northern Region Scott Walker - ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson leaves this weekend to attend the APEC Finance Ministers meeting in Santiago, Chile. Discussions between APEC Finance Ministers at the meeting will include the effects of the current global economic uncertainty, risks for APEC economies and sustainable development of the region. While at APEC Grant Robertson ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says for Pacific people, language can be a source of strength. It can help ground us and give us confidence. When we speak them, our languages provide us with an immediate and intimate access to our identity and our story - and ...
The Coalition Government has announced an action plan to improve the wellbeing of disabled New Zealanders by addressing inequalities in play, active recreation and sport. The initiative includes training to develop a workforce that understands the needs of children and young people with a range of impairments, advocacy for fit ...
The construction sector is being freed up to allow more homes to be built more quickly as the Government cuts through some of the red tape of the Building Act. “Every New Zealander deserves a warm, dry, safe home and old inefficiencies in the Building Act make building slow and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed further details on the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to New Zealand next month. Their Royal Highnesses will visit New Zealand from 17-23 November – their third joint visit to New Zealand and first in four years. They arrive in Auckland ...
Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, heads to Thailand today to attend the final Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial meeting, as negotiations enter their final stages. “The RCEP Agreement would anchor New Zealand in a regional agreement that covers 16 countries, ...
Pacific young people living in the Hawke’s Bay, Southland and Otago regions will have access to support services that have proved successful in helping young people find new earning and learning opportunities. “Tupu Aotearoa is about changing Pacific young peoples’ lives. Our young people are talented, they are smart, they ...
Introduction As the Minister for ACC I thank you all for the work that you do supporting New Zealanders in their literally most vulnerable moments. From those who hold people’s lives in their hands, to the people who research technique, technology and trends, your work is highly valued. A special ...
Notes prepared for speeches in Christchurch – Wednesday 9 October 2019 Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There ...
Minister of Health Dr David Clark and Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare say this year’s World Mental Health Day theme is a reminder of why the Government’s work on mental health is so important. “This year the World Federation for Mental Health has made suicide prevention the main theme ...
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni will represent the government at Australia’s Meeting of Cultural Ministers in Adelaide this week. “This year’s meeting is special because New Zealand is expected to become an International Member of the Meeting of Cultural Ministers at this Australian forum,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “The meeting is an opportunity to ...
The Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service has resolved 608 insurance and EQC claims in its first year in operation, Minister Megan Woods has announced. The government service, which celebrates its first birthday today, provides a one stop shop to help Cantabrians still battling to get their homes repaired or rebuilt ...
Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There has been an increasing amount of attention paid to the outlook ...
The Government is acting swiftly to strengthen NZTA’s regulatory role following a review into the Transport Agency, and Ministry of Transport’s performance as its monitor, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. An independent review by Martin Jenkins has found NZTA failed to properly regulate the transport sector under the previous ...
The Netherlands and New Zealand have a long-standing and close relationship based on many shared interests and values. We value the rule of law, our democracies, and multilateralism. And we value our environment – at home and globally. Right now there are major global challenges in all of these areas – ...
The Government is putting right a decade’s worth of underpayment to nurses, doctors and other health workers, says Health Minister Dr David Clark. Initial sampling of District Health Boards payroll records has found that around $550-$650 million is owed to DHB staff to comply with the Holidays Act. It’s expected ...
A strong surplus and low debt show the economy is performing well, and means the Government is in a good position to meet the challenges of global economic uncertainty. “The surplus and low levels of debt show the economy is in good shape. This allows the Government to spend more ...
New applications from mining company OceanaGold to purchase land in Waihi for new tailings ponds associated with its gold mines have been approved. Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Associate Minister of Finance David Parker considered the applications under the Overseas Investment Act. Earlier this year, applications from OceanaGold to ...
New Zealanders in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay will witness Māori, Pākehā and Pacific voyaging traditions come together today as the Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla assembles for the first time, Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Minister Kelvin Davis says. “Tuia 250 is a national commemoration and an opportunity for honest conversations ...
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker leaves tomorrow for Dubai, London and Berlin for a series of meetings to advance New Zealand’s trade interests. In Dubai he will visit New Zealand’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 where construction is underway. There he will meet Minister of State for International Cooperation, Her ...
Confirmation that PHARMAC will fund two new cancer drugs is further evidence of the good progress the Government is making to improve the treatment of New Zealand’s leading cause of death, Health Minister David Clark says. From 1 December PHARMAC will fund alectinib (Alecensa) for ALK positive advanced non-small cell ...
Josie Adams is in tonight’s episode of Have You Been Paying Attention. Specifically, she is in the audience.When you watch Have You Been Paying Attention? tonight, please consider the bladders of audience members watching it live. They offer beverages, but my God it’s a dangerous offer. As I found out ...
Despite comments from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers—Herald Newspaper Tuesday Oct 15th--there is very little evidence that says high pay and bonuses improve the performance of a company. Most ...
By Michael Andrew Pacific diplomats, academics and youth leaders will gather in Auckland this week to discuss security, economic development and other pressing issues shaping the region’s future. Pacific Futures will be held on October 18 and will feature speakers from across the region, including Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hutchinson, PhD Candidate, Australian National University It has been more than two years since “clearance operations” by Myanmar’s security forces, the Tatmadaw, forced more than 700,000 Rohingya across the border to neighbouring Bangladesh. During this time, the UN Security Council has ...
Fast food company Restaurant Brands has made a smaller half year profit largely because of accounting changes as it prepares to invest heavily in the launch of Taco Bell in New Zealand. ...
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Papua New Guinea police have issued a warrant for the arrest of former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. According to EMTV News, the Waigana district court issued the warrant which was based on evidence previously compiled by police investigators. Acting Police Commissioner David Manning said he ...
Patient Voice Aotearoa welcomes the comments made by the Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on ‘The Project’ on Friday last week. Peters stated “Right now…we know we are not spending nearly enough on pharmaceuticals and first world drugs…the ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on outgoing Porirua Mayor Mike Tana to repay money clocked up on his ratepayer-funded fuel card for personal travel. The Ernst and Young report released yesterday reveals that, within less than three ...
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, a new hole-in-the-wall eatery in Auckland dedicated to New Zealand’s favourite snack.Cheese On Toast has unsavoury connotations for a lot of New Zealand music fans, but now you can wash that bad taste out ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Md Arif Hasan, PhD candidate, Victoria University of Wellington CC BY-NDClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert ...
There’s an innovation renaissance brewing in post-earthquake Christchurch as multicultural entrepreneurship replaces the old boys’ network. This required a new name, writes Steven Moe.An unusual name that evokes images from Harry Potter is fine by the Ministry of Awesome, because it immediately sets it apart. Founded in the aftermath of ...
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and Ngā Tāngata Microfinance endorse the Salvation Army’s call for tougher regulations on debt collectors and mechanisms to provide forgiveness or waivers for debts to private lenders and Government that are "effectively ...
Cotton On members are currently negotiating a new Collective Agreement with their employer, but despite the company’s repeated claims that they will provide “a pathway to the living wage”, a “people first focus” and a “commitment to ...
Today the Wellington Howard League releases the results of its fourth annual Wellington Howard League prison survey. The survey suggests a variation in the conditions experienced across prisons in New Zealand and an overall decline in most aspects surveyed. This ...
Some people go for a run to let off steam after work, while others try their hand at ballroom dancing or hit up a pub quiz. And some, as Greta Yeoman discovers, throw sharp objects at walls. She gives it a go.An uncoordinated, anxious journalist with terrible aim is probably ...
A move by Australia's financial regulator could be enough to turn the big banks' threat to ditch New Zealand into a reality - or at least see them charge customers more. ...
A staffing survey carried out by the senior doctors’ union, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, has found a gaping shortfall of hospital specialists at the Northland DHB. ...
Iain Lees-Galloway has defended granting residency to a man with multiple drink-driving convictions saying the person had been in the country for 20 years and had kept out of trouble for a long time. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Industrial relations Luke Malpass (Stuff): Winston Peters holds the keys to new union laws. Will ...
Yes we fully support Minister of transport plan to use special speed cameras finally catching all speeding trucks, and other vehicles on our narrow single lane roads that are not fit to use as a speedway by any vehicle. ...
This afternoon Fish & Game posted a public statement responding to my email to supporters this morning – specifically rejecting our claim that steel shot is now deemed "enhanced penetration ammunition" and therefore possession of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mandie Shean, Lecturer, School of Education, Edith Cowan University Two-thirds of young people experience levels of exam stress that mental health organisation ReachOut describes as “worrying”. Research shows high levels of exam stress can interfere with attention and reduce working memory, leading ...
The National Party's outrage that the Immigration Minister granted residency to a protected person and recidivist drink driver, entitling them to the same benefits as New Zealanders, has backfired. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Beckett, Lecturer in Media and Communications, University of Melbourne Reports of Facebook moderators’ appalling working conditions have been making headlines worldwide. Workers say they are burning out as they moderate vast flows of violent content under pressure, with vague, ever-changing guidelines. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Lycett, Senior Research Officer, Deakin University; Honorary Fellow, The University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Three simple factors can predict whether a child is likely to be overweight or obese by the time they reach adolescence: the child’s body mass ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Marshall, Lecturer, Landscape Architecture and Urban Ecology, University of Melbourne You may mock the national anthem by singing “Our land abounds in nature strips” but what you might not know is how true that is. In Melbourne, for example, more than ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keith Rathbone, Lecturer, Modern European History and Sports History, Macquarie University It’s unlikely Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets basketball team, realised he’d be sparking an international diplomatic incident when, on October 4, he tweeted the following Stand with Hong ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Pressure on government from unions, mosque attack victim widows turned down for residency, and another Nat eyes safe Botany seat nomination.Pressure is being put on the government to deliver on one of their major promises to the union movement, reports the NZ ...
It’s the end of an era at Three as MAFS NZ and Guy Williams’ new show canceled and 7 Days cut to bone, writes Duncan Greive.A trio of shows which have been amongst Three’s most important local productions are either being canceled or severely cut back, as the channel’s agonising ...
'Joker' expects viewers not only to understand its cruelty, but to understand the justified violence of a white man when the protests of black men and women in the US are regularly met with condemnation, vilification and exclusion. ...
She runs the women's Aussie Rules and netball programmes at one of Australia's oldest sports clubs, so why is Jane Woodlands-Thompson sitting on the Silver Ferns bench? ...
As someone with a severe chronic illness, Hannah McGowan has a vested interest in getting to the bottom of what cannabis can and can’t do for her health. The reality, she discovers, is complicated.Woo [colloq.]: Mystical, supernatural or pseudo-scientific beliefs not backed up by evidence. I crave a well informed, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The last PM shock jock Alan Jones slapped down was Jacinda Ardern. His language was particularly offensive, advertisers deserted his program and he apologised to New Zealand’s leader. But at least Ardern didn’t have to ...
By Michael Andrew and Sri Krishnamurthi The true story of one of the Pacific’s great waka builders and sailor has been captured in a stirring and visually gripping documentary. Loimata: The Sweetest Tears follows the final years of Ema Siope, a Samoan born kiwi who endured a tumultuous past ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Cowie, Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity Around one-third of Australians living with hepatitis C have been cured in the last four years. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is ...
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Image AsiaPacificReport.nz/RNZ.Commentators across the political spectrum seem to agree – the Labour-led Government’s popularity is being damaged by its failure to deliver in Jacinda Ardern’s self-proclaimed “Year of Delivery”. Instead, the delivery of bad news to Labour and the Government has come in ...
Internet Service Providers have cautiously greeted the news that the Government is exploring an internet filter for violent extremist and terrorist content. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Polls Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern now dependent on Peters Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern still standing, but ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Austin, Professor UNSW Canberra Cyber, UNSW This is part of a new series looking at the national security challenges facing Australia, how our leaders are responding to them and how these measures are impacting society. Read other stories in the series ...
Researchers from Lincoln University are investigating how to use nanotechnology in agriculture to increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. ...
The increased presence of anti-trans and white supremacist stickers around the University of Auckland campus is proof that inaction is enabling hate groups, write Anisha Sankar and Max Whitehurst.Anisha Sankar is a Chennai-born, Te Awakairangi-raised, South Indian Tamil studying at the University of Auckland. Max Whitehurst is a transgender Pākehā ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Following the Christchurch mosque shootings, the New Zealand government’s first response was to ban the firearms the alleged gunman had used to murder 51 people. Seven months later, the second tranche of this process ...
The nine members for the next three year term of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) for Auckland have been appointed by the statutory Selection Body. Their appointments begin on 1 November 2019 and continue to 31 October 2022. Mana Whenua ...
“If we are truly to solve the challenge of poverty within the Te Ao Maori world we must lift our people from the low wage and low skills growth side of the economy. At the same time we must continue to ensure our people, no matter where they are, ...
Alex Casey asks Rose Stewart from Family Planning every single question she can think of about New Zealand’s new free IUDs. Listen up, womb-owners who love free shit and long-term contraceptive options: Pharmac announced that they will be fully funding two new long-lasting, reversible contraceptives in New Zealand from November 1, ...
Patients are increasingly being turned away for treatment and there can be no more excuses from the Government over properly funding district health boards to boost specialist numbers in public hospitals, says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the ...
Today’s Council of Trade Unions’ report, Fair Pay Agreements: A Framework for Fairness , provides a much-needed pathway to fair wages and conditions across several major industries, and the Government must deliver on its promise to introduce FPAs ...
The Speaker has limited the number of questions Simon Bridges can ask in the House as a punishment for the National Party defying Trevor Mallard by not pulling down their attack ads. ...
Sunshine capital? Check. Rich artisan tradition? Check. Incredible sausages? That’s a big check. We’ve put together a list of all you need to know before you explore the truly gorgeous Nelson region this summer. If you’ve got friends or relatives visiting Aotearoa, top of their list should be sorting out their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In the four years since the Paris climate agreement was adopted, countries have debated the fine print of how emissions reduction should be tracked and ...
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million. ...
They made this guy the minister of tourism? 
The government has decided that someone has done Something Bad. But despite their belief, there seems to be no evidence that they have actually broken the law. So the government's solution is to pass a retrospective law allowing them to be punished anyway, on a lower standard of proof. If ...52 mins ago
I came across this song quite by accident. If it isn't one of Greta Thunberg's favourites - it should be.Video courtesy of YouTube.This post is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...4 hours ago
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...23 hours ago
The Royal Commission on abuse in care is very significant for the disability community. For many decades last century, thousands of disabled children, and adults who managed to survive, were locked away from families and communities. This was not for anything they had done, but for the perceived threat their ...1 day ago
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...5 days ago
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...6 days ago
https://mailchi.mp/7d9133add053/closing-the-gap-october-2019-newsletter ...6 days ago
For some reasons, my post about the mystery message from inside the Downing Street bunker seemed to catch people's attention. Quite a lot of hits from NZ (unsurprisingly) and the USA (a bit more puzzlingly, but hi there, USAians!!) and 76 views from the Ukraine.I've celebrated my Ukrainian readers in ...7 days ago
Speaking at the Council of Trade Unions' (CTU) biennial conference, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told unionists that any future attacks on the Government won't work. "Now, we are being attacked by the union movement in this country. You can have your views but I'm here to say standing ...5 hours ago
We want every New Zealander to be happy, safe, and healthy. To do this, we need to support strong, safe communities, and a robust and efficient health system. ...1 day ago
At 1.30pm tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of Kiwis will join about 65 million people around the globe in ShakeOut, the world’s biggest earthquake drill. The annual drill is to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake which is to Drop, Cover, Hold, and to practise their ...52 mins ago
Josie Adams is in tonight’s episode of Have You Been Paying Attention. Specifically, she is in the audience.When you watch Have You Been Paying Attention? tonight, please consider the bladders of audience members watching it live. They offer beverages, but my God it’s a dangerous offer. As I found out ...30 mins ago
Despite comments from Auckland City Council CCOs Board Chairs re pay and performance bonuses for top managers—Herald Newspaper Tuesday Oct 15th--there is very little evidence that says high pay and bonuses improve the performance of a company. Most ...39 mins ago
By Michael Andrew Pacific diplomats, academics and youth leaders will gather in Auckland this week to discuss security, economic development and other pressing issues shaping the region’s future. Pacific Futures will be held on October 18 and will feature speakers from across the region, including Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister ...48 mins ago
Fast food company Restaurant Brands has made a smaller half year profit largely because of accounting changes as it prepares to invest heavily in the launch of Taco Bell in New Zealand. ...2 hours ago
Higher household costs helped to push consumer prices higher in the past three months, beating expectations. ...2 hours ago
Just talking about how good things will be if given the chance no longer cuts the electoral mustard. ...2 hours ago
In the 1980s, 78 percent of New Zealanders owned the home they lived in. Fast forward to today, and that's dropped to just 55 percent. ...2 hours ago
The government has introduced a new bill to prevent terrorism and support the de-radicalisation of New Zealand fighters returning from overseas. ...2 hours ago
Principals nervously wait for the final outcomes of the biggest education system review in 30 years. ...3 hours ago
Dairy prices rose slightly in the latest global auction overnight. ...6 hours ago
New Zealand's light is still glowing bright on the international investment stage despite a pause of caution from investors this year. ...6 hours ago
A move by Australia's financial regulator could be enough to turn the big banks' threat to ditch New Zealand into a reality - or at least see them charge customers more. ...6 hours ago
Zhang Jun looks at how China can move beyond imitating its more developed counterparts to leading the world in innovation. ...11 hours ago
After two bad polls, Jacinda Ardern was greeted by a friendly crowd of unionists - but one eager for faster and greater progress. ...11 hours ago
'Joker' expects viewers not only to understand its cruelty, but to understand the justified violence of a white man when the protests of black men and women in the US are regularly met with condemnation, vilification and exclusion. ...11 hours ago
She runs the women's Aussie Rules and netball programmes at one of Australia's oldest sports clubs, so why is Jane Woodlands-Thompson sitting on the Silver Ferns bench? ...11 hours ago
Is the Government going soft on its so-called Electric Vehicles pledge? The University of Auckland's Basil Sharp doesn't think so. ...11 hours ago
A preview of the public lecture to be given at the National Library in Wellington this week by distinguished playwright Dean Parker. ...11 hours ago
Volunteer drug testers must tip-toe around a legal grey area to be able to spell out the risks of drug-taking to festival-goers. ...11 hours ago
Internet Service Providers have cautiously greeted the news that the Government is exploring an internet filter for violent extremist and terrorist content. ...21 hours ago
The proceeds from the sale of Trump-style "Make Ardern Go Away" hats are being used to promote far right Facebook pages. ...23 hours ago
Support has risen for the general arming of police officers in the wake of March 15, but the police minister is opposed. ...23 hours ago
Researchers from Lincoln University are investigating how to use nanotechnology in agriculture to increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. ...23 hours ago
The real estate market has sprung back into life, but national sales volumes were flat. ...1 day ago
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million. ...1 day ago
Minister of Tourism .. touring for himself, not the tourism sector
Yes, Stephen Sackur dear, yes you are right, yes, John Key is 100% pure bullshit
In any case, some folks I know say tourism has been cursed since he took the portfolio
Finally, an interview where some truly difficult points were forced. Made John Key look like a complete amateur and, despite some notable occasions, Stephen Sackeur is a wonderful interviewer who does his research.
The only question left to ask is this: wtf was John Key thinking accepting an interview from the one place that was going to truly sock it to him?
Stephen regularly makes the world’s most powerful people cringe in their chairs and only a few have truly stood their ground and fought with him – he always has an army of facts for any interview he does and isn’t afraid to follow up the 1st punch with a 2nd and 3rd…
I was going to edit and saw your reference … indeed the interview shows up John Key as Minister of Amateurism
*facepalm*
Finally, an interview where some truly difficult points were forced.
Sorry just spilt coffee over my Keyboard
where was I ?
>Finally, an interview where some truly difficult points were forced.<
Not really passing judgement on Hardtalk verses Campbell Live, but Key refuses to front on CL or any program where he might be asked similar questions, this interview could be look at as entrapment, maybe not only should we feel embarrassed, but sorry for our dear leader.
The wanker
Front on New Zealand TV you slack prick
god, he gets tetchy after a couple of questions… and then it gets worse.
“we’re 100% pure, relative to other countries”
and when he asks Key if he’s happy to have china owning Kiwi farmland
“well, we’re happy to have them as a major trading partner”
“that’s not what I asked you, is it?”
is there a link to the full interview?
What an embarrassment! Opposition parties could have a field day with this performance. “100% pure relative to other countries” Better than a Tui ad. So ‘unemployment is really good compared to …!”
Spain where unemployment hit 21% – depression level (not that that is mentioned in the NZH article).
BBC iplayer can only be accessed in the UK. I’m wondering if it will show up on sky here?
There is an episode of hardtalk on BBC World at 3:30am tonight (which presumably will also be shown on TV1), but I’m not sure if it is this interview. Some commentators on open mike yesterday mentioned watching this episode, not sure where they are located.
Hard Talk is scheduled to show on TV One overnight at 3.30am Wednesday. However, it was also on the scheduled early this morning at the same time, so I’m not sure if it will be the Key interview tomorrow am.
Watched the whole thing last evening on skys 93BBC. Painful, embarrassing and cringe worthy.
After doing some digging, I found that proxies from hidemyass.com seem to work (click on IP: Port Proxies in the centre of the menu, in the box on the left scroll down until you get United Kingdom and hit Search).
The 2nd one on the list is let me download the Windows Media Player version, which is 242mb. And it also appears that I can watch it! There’s DRM that forces it to expire 30 days after you’ve downloaded it, and no-doubt it’s also doing geo-location checks on my IP address, so need to use the proxy to watch it.
If no better source turns up, I might see if I can screen-scrape this, encode it and upload it somewhere on the net. Youtube probably won’t work though as BBC will probably automatically send them a take down notice.
Species extinction.. ‘what are you going to do about it?’
Make funding endangered, of course!
Hope TVNZ picks up that interview.
It woud be neglect if MSM do not pick up on this. Any bets on this happening? Has there ever been a more cringe worthy international performance by a NZ PM?
Oh the stupid it hurts.(PR folk that is not slippery sideshow)…..after years of laughing at the Ozzies having Howard as PM the worms turned big time with sideshow up front hamming it up on the world stage….am I coping it big time now from across the ditch.
Aye
Key said that NZ will inevitably become a republic but not under his watch.
He has previously said that the age of retirement will not go up under his watch.
Another inevitability that he should address now if he wanted to do the best for the country.
He is a coward.
I couldn’t believe the ridiculous smirk he has on his face at the start of the interview. I can’t imagine any other leader that would go into an interview with an expression like that.
Nah, don’t worry, the stupid smirk was lost faster than the Kiwi dollar has lost a cent on the currency market on a bad trading day.
In fairness to John Key, he’s probably the only leader who’s never watched Hard Talk and doesn’t know who Stephen Sackur is.
Well he knows who he is nowfor farkin sure. Oh that cheered me up after a bad day.
Irish, I’m still getting my head around them making him MP for Helensville.
Can’t I just call this guy a hack or not actually go on his programme like I would in NZ?
Quick get Dick Griffin to head the BBC!
He looked from the start as if he was going to be asked about corgis and the LotRings, like back home. Quite fun when he does his assassin eyes when hes reeling off numbers – steely trader squint, probably works on a monitor.
It must have been a real surprise for Shonkey to get a real journalist asking some real questions instead of the patsy arse kissing questions we get from NZ journalists, who are bribed to be Nationals mouth piece. Didn’t he completely fail in the real world where people respect the truth and lies are confronted.
Key’s answers were very telling taking on two flavours. The first was a typical denialist attack – discredit the source by saying it was that scientist’s ‘opinion’ and that he could find other opinions to refute it. His second type of reply was that there wasn’t an issue just ‘look out the window’ at the natural beauty.
The first is disingenuous, the second is quite scary if that is his yardstick for conservation. It implies that so long as the green veneer is there then he is happy to sell the 100% NZ brand regardless of any environmental crises going on behind.
Wish I could watch this, but still waiting for my Brighter future and my ultra fast broad band, is there a transcript anywhere?
If you still can’t get it here is an alternative, just about as funny. “John Key has gone missing” http://www.bryangould.net/
Ah, a journo with a brain who has done the research!
IrishBill: you will want to change your handle. We don’t allow identity theft here.
I agree Key should have said something along the lines of:’ “Yes quitre correct – New Zealand isn’t 100% pure, it hasn’t been since colonisation. Sorry about the last ten years of duping tourists into coming here. But well you gotta love the marketing particulalry by politicans like Helen Clark and their officials as they toured around the world suckering it out of money. Again apologies from New Zealand to the world… come down and we’ll make it up to you with some fush n chups & an L&P.”
That’s actually not far off what he did say.
Wow, 2 1/2 years into his term, all Key supporters can say is – it’s all somehow Labour’s fault
LOL
It was a horrendous show of pass the buck in parliament today, with Shonkey doing just that on a number of difficult questions. Next National will be blaming Labour for their drinking.
Can’t blame that on Labour. No Way. No How!!
Accomplices all share blame. Check your history.
http://10yearsyoung.tourismnewzealand.com/
According to John Key “we are masters of our own destiny” LOL
Who is HIS master, that is what I want to know.
he may have meant to say that he was “master of his own domain” – which he isn’t.
Or ‘Captain of my destiny’ a quote attributed to Nelson Mandela according to the movie Invictus
Ha Ha Ha – looks like Shonkey is desperately hoping for some RWC magic to help him win the election too….
Well I have news for you, John the destroyer – you’re not Nelson Mandela, this is not South Africa, and the All Blacks are not the Spring Boks
And do you think that the E-Mails are going to be running thick and fast between his kitten bearing masters, and him?
A friend in the UK sent me this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/9480610.stm
What was that shit about “two way trade on its way to 12 billion…y’ know, 20 billion”
So the total of import/export trade with China is…what exactly? I mean, fuck. 12 billion is a long way from 20 billion. What is two way trade heading towards and when will it be at the 12 cough 20 billion mark? And how much of that 12 cough 20 billion will be earned by NZ and how much by China?
That aside, I was waiting for him to blame the Christchurch earthquake for…..stuff. And then follow that up by claiming to be 110% committed to…stuff.
Anyway. The Nats publicly dumped the ‘Clean and Green’ sales pitch. So why didn’t he just say that his government recognised the ‘Clean and Green’ image as a bit of a have and move on?
Meanwhile. What are those tougher environmental measures for dairy farming he was referring to? Anyone?
So much GOLD in 3 minutes
For the Greens – “Jump into any river or stream in NZ” Would love to see him being presented a list of rivers or streams to jump into.
I’m thinking of printing T Shirts “Mostly 100% pure”
Do you think he shook off his minders and went over thier heads for the interview?
I’m thinking of printing T Shirts “Mostly 100% pure”
“Was 100% pure” ?
I was wondering the same thing, he’s not usually allowed to do serious interviews.
Maybe he made a new friend at the wedding.
How about “Conditionally 100% New Zealand Pure”
@Billy Fish, I’d suggest Key jump into the Manawatu or Tarawera rivers, and be sure to put his head underwater after doing so.
I watched the interview yesterday on BBC World. Couldd be the same interview if it is on again tonight
If you have MySky, record it. This interview is a much watch.
Seriously, if this ‘100% Pure’ thing is all anyone has picked up on yet from the internet clip, then WOW. There is a whole lot more insight into Key’s mind and character in this interview.
You’re right. Key’s comments re immigration in the interview were also cringe-worthy. All his talk about encouraging worthwhile people to NZ; of them investing in our economy; bringing their skills and money, etc. Has he not been briefed by Kate Wilkinson on the great job she’s done dodging Campbell Live’s attempts to interview her about Martyn Payne? Overall, Key’s HARDtalk interview performance reinforced my view that the guy’s a lightweight.
And just to highlight how the MSM helps Mr – can’t answer questions by himself – Key cover up his mistakes…
MikeMs comment pretty much sums it up:
I’m very impressed at how Stuff’s summary of the interview managed to twist a boring environmental topic into something that was 90% about Key’s thoughts on the Monarchy.
Comment by MikeM on Dim post — May 10, 2011 @ 7:28 pm
Dim Post is also giving this an airing. Most are displeased or more, with our Prime Ministers foolish performance, just as there is an absence of support for Key here. Do Burt and Pete et al only get paid 9-5?
Dim Post
Damn. Doesn’t go quite to the right page.
[Fixed — r0b]
The HardTalk interview has probably done more to boost Goff & Labour’s chances in the November election than any other media event in the past 2 & half years. My friends , scattered across the world wherever HardTalk screened, have all expressed a collective cringe at seeing such a pitiful performance from a NZ PM.
Key’s performance was one that demonstrated what quality interviewing is all about… the interviewer allowing the interviewee to put his own foot in his mouth and then gently probing so that the foot goes even deeper into the speaker’s throat.
There was no excuse for Key being so uninformed, so ignorant and so shallow apart from his own arrogant belief in his PR creation.
It just shows how pathetic the media are here , they let that flimsy , pathetic excuse for a PM get away with SMILE and try the deflection routine . What is it ? do the media get stars in their eyes ?
I just watched the interview on Mysky again.
Sackur refers to New Zealand being “vulnerable” to world economic events, and Key says that any small country that is effected by a large event is vulnerable but New Zealand is in a “economically quite a strong position”!
Sackur then says that one thing New Zealand does not have is strong growth. John Key says that “we don’t accept that position”. ‘Not only dairy… but forestry, land, beef, seafood prices are at record highs.’
Sackur then hits him on NZ having 30% lower wages than Australia, and 25% of NZ Graduates leaving NZ as opposed to 2.5% leaving Australia. Key defends NZ, says that nobody else in the OECD has had as big a population increase as NZ.
It goes on.. but here is the best quote from Sackur:
“You spent many years working in London making a lot of money. And I wonder if you’re the right person to be telling New Zealanders, “You know what, you should stay at home, invest in your own country, and you can make it in your own country” because you had to come here to make it”
Very internationalist perspective from Sackur. Very big picture. No wonder he is so sceptical of Key.
I’ll just put this here…
Helen Clark on HardTalk re: China free trade.
LOL, the comments for that video are priceless, considering the current govt and Key’s performance.
Ref the Helen Clark interview on Hardtalk…That woman made us proud to be NZ’ers. She handled those questions with such skill. That’s the difference between someone who is briefed, goes out of her way to be informed and lives by her principles. That line from her is so true “I say in private what I say in public”. I heard her say that so often. And some of the prescient comments left by viewers are being fulfilled right now.
Too true, the difference in the two interviews is marked.
I didn’t always agree with Helen but she is clearly intelligent, principled, well-informed, and very much her own person. None of which can be said about the present Head Bozo.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had another HC-like person in Labour?
Epic fail from Key.
Wonder if Metiria or others will be on Hard Talk anytime soon.
Real empty interview from Key. Was he hungover from the wedding?
I may be wrong but I think it was conducted here.
It was definitely in London
Please can the NZ MSM get some similar interviewers. So refreshing to have someone that actually did some research, asked real questions and expected real responses in place of the usual one-liner PR spin we get in NZ.
keys had to protect china.. he is ordered to.
it is what peopleabove himtell him ..he has to be careful..hes f**ked up alot though heh
I managed to use a proxy to download the WMP version (see 3.2.4 above). Spent the last 50 minutes trying to transcribe it all, and only got through about 8 minutes of it! It’s 30 minutes long, so this doesn’t seem like a go-er.
Here’s what I have so far. Apologies for any typoes and lack of grammer and punctuation. I’ve tried to get the wording almost as exact as I can, although I might miss a few ‘ums’ and other sounds out, as well as word stresses and Key’s slack-jawed gabbing.
Hard talk today is in central london. my guest is new zealand’s visiting prime minister john key. his first term in office has been a baptism of fire. he’s had to cope with a prolonged economic slowdown, and a string of disasters including a major mining accident and the devastating christchurch earthquake. geographically isolated and small in population, just how resilient is new zealand when put to the test?
HT: prime minister john key, welcome to hard talk
JK: thanks very much, great to be here
HT: is it proving harder than you expected to be new zealand’s prime minister?
JK: well we’ve certainly had more challenges than one might either want or expect, if you think about the time i’ve been in office, nearly three years, we’ve had the global financial crisis, two earthquake in christchurch, ah pike river mine disaster, we’ve ended up having to uh buy and ah bailout a number of finance companies and in recent times provide support for an insurance company which has a large exposure to christchurch so it hasn’t been an easy time for us
HT: those are massive tests, and we’ll go through them in some detail, but they’re tests that you’ve had to face, as, I think the most inexperienced prime minister in the last 100 years of NZ’s history. i mean you-you-you came in to office, I think just 6 years as an MP, 2 years as party leader, you weren’t really terribly well-equipped as a political leader were you?
JK: well it depends on what you think um are the skills that you need to be a good prime minister. it’s certainly true I got there in the fastest time, prior to me was david lange who I think took 7 years, but i think in modern day politcs you are seeing the emergeance of young leaders. um we’re seeing that in the case of president obama now in the US, obviously with david cameron here in the united kingdom, and I think the experience that i had working in a number of international markets here in the uk, singapore, australia and the likes, that banking experience where you have, very much, the economy at the front and centre stage of the issues new zaealand faces. i think actually the mixture of skills I’ve had would be about the right ones.
HT: well, you were a successful banker, you made lots of money, but you’d never, for example, run a city, let alone a ministerial department. and then to go to some of those challenges you’ve already alluded to, here you are, faced, for example, in christchurch, with what you I think described as possibly, maybe, NZ’s darkest day ever, with the christchurch earthquake.
JK: I think the answer to that is that you need to have a plan. I mean ultimately, one of the things the commercial sector teaches you is that you have to have a sense of where you’re going, a sense of how you’re going to achieve that, and to be able to frame up the challenges that ya face. in the case of christchurch, if one puts to one side the human tragedy, which has been enormous – I mean we lost 181 people there – um then th-the process of funding the rebuilding, of what is actually required to make that happen, allow that to happen in a timeframe which is sensible both for new zealand and for the people of christchurch, i think is rather the self-explanatory. now, we have taken some hard calls, we’ve passed legislation which gives us ah very wide and encompassing powers to enable us to rebuild christchurch quickly, we’ve essentially assumed that responsibility at a central government level
HT: does it make sense to rebuild christchurch, quickly? i mean th-the city is still getting serious tremors, it’s had around the area of the city, it’s had 2 major earthquakes in the last 8 or so months. is it wise, to rebuild christchurch?
JK: we believe so – the second earthquake we think is an aftershock of the first one, and that’s been supported by our scientists in new zealand. now it’s true, there’s been 5000 aftershocks in christchurch measuring above, i think 3 or 4 on the richter scale since the first earthquake on the 4th of september.
HT: ah-a-and because of that you have a lot of people in christchurch who are saying ‘i want out of this city, i see no future for myself and my children in this place’
JK: yeah-it’s-been-interesting-actually-the-response wh- look there are about 400,000 people that live in christchurch, and there is no perfect way of measuring how many people have or will leave, but if you put your finger in the air and say what’s that number likely to look like and I’d say it’s 20 to 30 thousand people.
HT: you’re sounding determinedly upbeat, but here’s where it gets very difficult for a very small country – populations not much more than 4 million – we’re talking about your second city, economists reckon that in the short-run, the next year or two, it could mean that rather than expecting growth of over 3%, it might be down to 2%, so it’s a real drag on new zealand’s economic prospects. and that’s, in a way, illustrating how vulnerable your small country is, would you accept that?
JK: well by definition, any small country where it’s affected by a very large event um has less room to move than say a larger country – that’s-that’s a statement of fact. having said that, new zealand finds itself in economically quite a strong position, so gross debt to gdp is under 20% currently, and we are going into our budget process on may the 19th with a zero budget, so instead of spending a billion dollars more, we will spend zero. and that money will be used over time, um to pay for the earthquake. so we are addressing that through essentially trimming government expenditure.
HT: but what you do not have in nz right now is-is strong growth, in fact you have virtually no growth at all, and that’s really not something you can blame on the earthquake. I just wonder whether you, with all of your financial background, over-estimated your ability, and the country’s ability to deliver, ahh, sustainable growth, because it isn’t happening, is it?
JK: well we wouldn’t accept that position. i mean for a start off, the global financial crisis had quite an impact, so when we came in to office at the end of 2008, the country had experienced 3 quarters of negative growth, and that continued into the back-end of 2008 and into early 2009. but if you strip the earthquake out and say ‘ok how does nz really look’ we have a very strong commodity sector, so it’s not just diary prices – forestry, lamb, beef, seafood, all of those are at record highs, and not withstanding that we’re combatting very high exchange rate, actually that part of our economy is very strong, we have the rugby world cup in new zealand, the christchurch rebuild will add probably a percent to the gdp every year for the next, 5 to 7 years. so, look i, the picture that we see, is one that we see is one of growth, above 4%
HT: (interjecting)well y-y-y-you’re painting a rosy picture, which I think a lot of new zealanders might-might question. I mean they heard you, for example, in-in, ahh, the last couple of years, consistently saying, ‘we are going to close the prosperity gap, the wages gap’ in particular ‘with Australia’, and people compare yourselves with australia. it hasn’t happened, in fact the wages gap is wider than ever.
JK: (smiling) actually we also reject that proposition. but let me take you through that, so. (chuckles)
HT: well, the-the opposition leader just the other day, Phil Goff he said “the best this government can do is now trumpet that new zealand wages are 30% below australia’s giving us a supposed competitive advantage. he used to talk about the fact we were going to close the gap’
JK: I won’t get into a political debate about the robustness of his numbers. but let me-let me take this step back for you. new zealand has had a widening wage gap with australia [why? why?] over the course of the last 40 years. primarily mineral resources base in australia. so australia’s very minerally wealthy, and china’s having a huge impact on their market. so to give you some idea of that, the capital investment going into the mining sector in australia, for the last decade, has averaged about 5 to 10 billion dollars a year. in the last 3 years alone in australia it’s been 55 billion dollars a year.
HT: i’m sure you don’t want to spend the whole interview comparing yourselves to australia, but, here is one important fact. more than a quarter of new zealand’s graduates, that is the brightest and the best that your country’s producing, are now living outside of your own country. that’s 10 times the rate for australia-born graduates, and that suggests to me that you have got a fundamental, a structual problem.
Great work. I hope you’re able to complete that process at some point! I for one would be fascinated to read the whole transcript.
Alternatively, some of the HardTalk interviews seem to be on You Tube. It’s possible that this one will make it there eventually too I guess.
Thanks Lanthanide!
I couldnt even find the full WMP, proxy or no – just the 3-minute clip. Pray tell, where does yon full WMP reside?
regards, Terry
Thanks for that, if you or someone posts the transcript somewhere, please let me know.
Nice one L, Stephen Sackur is like a terrier with a bone – he rocks
That’s fantastic! the interviewer doesn’t rate Key’s credentials at all, does he? and don’t accept/reject the proposition huh – only because he can’t deny them.
Haven’t updated this for a while but since National Ltd™ came to power:
has been caught out repeatedly lying in the run up to and during the election campaign about its real intentions in relation to the environment
celebrated the opening of the foreign-owned Pike River Coal Ltd mine on DOC land adjacent to the Paparoa National Park from which 1 megatonne of coal will be extracted per year for the next 20 years – Pike River Coal Ltd has announced that it has found additional coal in the national park
removed a proposed efficiency standard (MEPS) on incandescent lightbulbs
reversed a moratorium on building new gas/oil/coal power stations
removed the bio fuel subsidy
scrapped the scheme that would have penalised imported vehicles producing high emissions
removed regulations for water efficient new housing
renewed leases on sensitive high country farms which were meant to return to DOC
reversed restrictions on the freeholding of vast swathes of land on the edge of the Southern Lakes
arbitrarily excised 400 hectares from the brand new Oteake Conservation Park, including the most important and, ecologically, the rarest part of the new Park, the tussock and shrubland that went right down to the banks of the Manuherikia River, to enable future access to lignite
said nothing to say in regard to the World Commission on Protected areas of IUCN’s severe criticism of its intention to investigate mineral resources and mining opportunities in protected conservation areas including our three UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Te Wahi Pounamu-South West New Zealand, Tongariro National Park and the Sub Antarctic Islands
approved two prospecting permit applications lodged by Australian iron-ore giant Fortescue Metals Group subsidiary FMG Pacific lodged in June – areas covered by the two-year permits include an 8204-square-kilometre area of seabed adjoining the west coast from Cape Reinga to the Manukau Harbour and a 3798-square-kilometre prospecting area of land from Cape Reinga to the Kaipara Harbour including Ninety Mile Beach, the west side of the Aupouri Peninsula, Kaitaia and the Hokianga.
approved an additional prospecting permit for Fortesque Metals in relation to 3568sq km right next door to the Kahurangi National Park where the Heaphy Track is
was forced to release its Ministry of Economic Development (MED) report under the Official Information Act that proclaims “significant mineral potential” in the Fiordland, Kahurangi and Paparoa national parks – the report said the Waitutu area of the Fiordland National Park had sufficient petroleum reserves to be “worthy” of inclusion in a review of conservation land protected from mining
secretly granted the minerals industry the right to veto proposed National Park boundaries and permission for any such vetoes to be kept confidential – in spite of recommendations from its own officials against any such a veto
Minster of Conservation Tim Grosser, on 29 August 2009, called for caring New Zealanders to halt their “emotional hysteria” and recognise that conservation land should be mined for minerals and went on to say “Mining in a modern, technological way can have a negligible effect”
Associate Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson, in an interview in “Canterbury Farming” rubished her own department, DOC, suggesting it was incapable of looking after the high country reserves and parks under its control
gutted the home insulation scheme
pulled $300 million out of public transport, walking and cycling schemes and added it to a pot of $2 billion to ‘upgrade’ state highways
changed the law to provide billions of dollar in subsidies for polluters via the ETS casino which is now a target for scamming by international criminals
begun a process of gutting the Resource Management Act to make it difficult/impossible for the public to lodge appeals against developers
removed the ability of Auckland to introduce a fuel levy to fund planned public transport upgrades
left electrification of the national rail network up in the air without promised funding commitments
removed the Ministry for the Environment’s programme to make Government Departments ‘carbon neutral’
removed funding for public tv advertising on sustainability and energy efficiency
pulled funding for small-town public litter bin recycling schemes
cabinet ministers expressing public support the bulldozing of Fiordland
reduced Department of Conservation funding by about $50 million over three years
canceled funding for the internationally acclaimed ‘Enviroschools’ programme
usurped the democratic role of local Councils of determining policies for their citizens by requiring the abandonment of the efficient and well-established tree protection rules for urban areas
set about revamping Auckland governance in a way that is likely to greatly reduce the ‘Environmental Watchdog’ role of the the current Regional Council
removed Auckland’s metropolitan limits and opened the gateway for unfettered urban sprawl
defended internationally the importation of rain-forest-wrecking palm kernel and stood silent while Federated Farmers called Greenpeace “terrorists”
stood silent while Godfrey Bloom, a Member of the European Parliament and infamous Climate Change Denialist, publicly rejoiced in the 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior – who was doing so while standing on a dock next to the replacement vessel
took a 0% emissions reduction target to Copenhagen. Yes, seriously, that isn’t a misprint – that was the lower bound of their negotiation platform – then missed the 01/02/10 deadline for commitment to action it had agreed to – meanwhile 55 of the 80 countries which attended did make the deadline
secretly cancelled the internationally recognised scheme for the mandatory labelling of exotic woods to ensure the timber has not been taken from rain forests in direct contradiction of its own statements made at the 13th World Forestry Congress in Argentina
supported the Department of Conservation’s decision to open up the pristine Cathedral Cove to an ice-cream franchise
given the Department of Conservsation $1.7 million to further develop commercial activities on DOC land and started an “off set” plan allowing company’s to damage the conservation estate if they agree to improve land elsewhere – no monitoring regime has been suggested on put in place
left DOC director-general Al Morrison to announce that DOC is to charge for services that had been free and, to soften the public up to the idea that there will be more “energy generation schemes” operating on DOC land
taken no action to reduce existing pollution pouring into the Manawatu River and is “leaving it up to industry” to come up with solutions to heal the river which was described by the Cawthorn Institute as “one of the worst polluted in the Western world”
announced a $1.1 million industry subsidy to kick start marine farming without identifying no-go areas nor putting in place a consultation process for individiuals, communities, and other general coastal users
blamed New Zealanders after a Japanese whaling ship deliberately smashed into a smaller, more vulnerable craft in the open sea
was forced to release documents under the Official Information Act which confirm that DOC has “giving up” on ecologically valuable high-country land in the Mackenzie Basin because of funding cuts. The released documents cite “statements made by ministers”, “diminishing funding” and the Government’s new high-country policies as reasons for the changed stance – the comments from DOC were made after Land Information New Zealand (Linz), which manages the tenure review process, ignored DOC’s previous conservation recommendations for the farms
used former National Party minister and current director of Open Country Cheese – a company convicted of filthy farming practices – Wyatt Creech to head up an enquiry into Environment Canterbury which had been standing up the dairy farmers’ demands for more and more water resources and less and less regulation. The Creech report recommended the Environmental Canterbury be sacked and replaced with government appointments and the voters of Canterbury do without democracy until the water situation had been resolved. The Canterbury area holds 50 percent of New Zealand’s fresh water reserves and 50 percent of the water required for hyrdo energy. The Creech report said Environmental Centerbury put too much focus on the environment.
Despite international condemnation for knowing next to nothing about the parlous state of the New Zealand fisheries, National Ltd™ bucks international trends, pours more acid on the 100% Pure brand and increases the bluefin tuna quota.
New Zealand is subject to international criticism for its backing of commericial whaling which National Ltd supports
Government-owned company Solid Energy runs an essay competition entitled “The role of coal in sustainable energy solutions for New Zealand” for school children. First prize is a trip to New Zealand’s largest coal customer, China.
Supported access fees for entrance onto DOC walkways – fee introduced following cuts to DOC’s budget.
New Zealand’s environment would profit from mining national parks, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says.
Department of Conservation director-general Al Morrison said the conservation estate created “opportunities to do a whole lot for a lot of different people. We’ve got to get away from this idea that somehow we have to protect one-third of New Zealand for a certain constituency and put it in a jar of formaldehyde and leave it.”
State coal miner Solid Energy could get an extra slice of the action if highly sensitive conservation land is opened to gold, silver and other prospecting. Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee said Solid Energy’s work could be widened to include other minerals and resources, or it could form part of a new state-owned enterprise to maximise government returns from any mining. He did not rule out the company, which produces 80 per cent of New Zealand’s coal, having a role in mining gold and other minerals on Great Barrier Island and other conservation areas being eyed by the Government http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3519703/Golden-possibility-for-state-coal-miner
. . . there’s plenty more I need to add.
Nice work BLiP, where you been?
What felix said. And the more you can fill in your list with links to sources, the better it gets. You should send it to us as a guest post some time…
. . . there’s plenty more I need to add.
Please do and I’ll put it up as a page. In fact I really need to make it a database generating a page.
>removed a proposed efficiency standard (MEPS) on incandescent lightbulbs <
I posted a lot of mercury bombs into parliament, spreading mercury vapour throughout the postal system and parliament buildings, and it was legal, the bulbs tended to break as they went into the post box.
But it got the idiot law stopped 😉 … maybe?
Norman gave it a go
10.5.11 – Question 6: Dr Russel Norman to the Prime Minister – Part 1
But alas forgot to mention that Kiwi Saver is dependent on destroying the environment, via every means possible, as long as it makes MONEY.
@BLiP! – excellent stuff, i’ve been trying to pull together a summary like that for some time. Request permission to shamelessly borrow/promulgate.
Despite the almost non-exhaustive nature of that list, it’s pretty much a lot worse than that.
try: Sacked ECAN councillors claiming ‘dysfunctional’, but OIA documents reveal Carter, Brownlee and Key up to their eyeballs in pushing officials to get rid of ‘hurdles’ to ‘accelerating large scale water storage and irrigation in Canterbury’. Guess what the two hurdles were identified as? Water Conservation Orders and Council Processes.
What do we see come out of the toothless NPS on freshwater this week? a fund entitled “Irrigation acceleration fund”. Subtle? not very.
For those of you not up with the play, while the media spotlight played out on the sacking of ECAN councillors, the true fatal thrust to water in Canterbury was the amending of Water Conservation Orders (essentially National Park like status given to rivers that met the required tests under the RMA) so that there is no longer a right of appeal.
and NOBODY in the MSM whispered a word… sigh.
Of course, permission granted.
The comments here have spurred me into tidying the list up and adding more to it. I’ve been busy with mahi – the evil, foreign-owned multi-national I work for has decided the best way to increase productivity is to not replace staff who leave. That means the rest of us have to pick up the slack. Do you think our salaries have gone up to reflect the extra work? Like fuck.
SOMEONE needs to put this up on Youtube and pass it on to the New Zealand media or else no-one will see or hear about it except for us geeky lefties that will not vote for the brat anyway.
There is a lot more to this interview than the freely available highlights online.
I followed someone’s instructions here and downloaded it via a hidemyass proxy but i don’t know how to convert it to youtube friendly …
Try one of these http://download.cnet.com/windows/video-converters/
Also if that doesn’t work, if you don’t mind would you be able to upload it to http://www.sendspace.com and post the URL for us
http://www.sendspace.com/file/nyun3h
there’s the link for the beeb’s file. good luck trying to remove DRM.
you might be better off with a UK ip address from hidemyass.com and a screen ripper as suggested above. unless you already have a good DRM remover.
Please post the youtube/othervideosite link if you manage to! cheers.
Made total mincemeat of him. Makes you realise how pathetic NZ current affairs TV is. Can’t we get Stephen Sackur to come to NZ for the election campaign?
richard you are right. current afairs in NZ is pathetic and that is the way these people want it. they know they can stand up to the hair and teeth jobs shoulder tapped by TVNZ and the others so to save themselves the bother they just dont have any current affairs at all! very convenient and then they say that the public isnt interested. well they would be if there was some blood on the floor every now and again instead of the saccharine hucksterism that passes for investigative journalism these days.
You know that there’s something wrong with the MSM when, confronted with scientific research, they go and get a businessman to cast doubt on the scientists research.
That’s disgusting! Phil O’Reilly, one of the Hollow Men is he not?
Thats because in the early 21st century businessperson somehow makes you an oracle on any subject…
HA! Whilst I was listening to the interview in the above clip my 14 year old daughter was sitting on the sofa behind me mucking about on facebook or whatever and she suddenly piped up and said, ‘Why can’t he just answer the question!’
Yeah, he’s got an excellent mind and intelligent speaking abilities for photo-ops.
It is now on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfUozKMgA-Y&feature=player_embedded
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/user/aidanleenz#p/a/u/0/_0canC4MM9I
Robert, you the man!
Re: the question whether NZ will let Crafar being bought – I can mostly hear that slurring guy trying to buy interview time while figuring out how to answer, nay, avoid the question.
This one that NZ elected as PM in 2008 shows himself to be very mediocre, nay, an embarrassment at coming up with responses when he is interviewed.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=118540
wow at the Herald cuts…
are they the ministry for propaganda?
Cut out the explanation of the research- cut out the journalist saying you aren’t answering the questions and end with the journalist patting Key down…
ffs
John Key should be immortalised ” Compared to other countries we are 100%” compared to sum I achieved 100% in School cert English 🙂 !!!
I only wished that JK was min of education when I was at school !!!!!
This is pure magic and should be aired many times. The unfortunate thing is that this will be lost on many. Still even so late in the day nice to have a chuckle. Pure magic
Anyone know when the full interview will be on again and where. There maybe some more gems that were missed on the 3 minute clip
The BBC site now has the audio which you can listen to worldwide:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00ggyh3/Hardtalk_11_05_2011/
Another classic part is near the end, where Key goes on about NZers supporting the monarchy based on a poll that said 85% of people here supported bringing back knighthoods. Shortly afterwards, Sarkur points out that a poll he has seen says around 40% of NZers want a republic. Key responds by saying “There’s always some random poll that you can draw from but…”
OOOHHH I get it now! That is why they’ve been keeping him to photo ops!
Doh!
Everytime i watch Key’s answers my face meets the palms of my hands at regular intervals. I know NZ does have some decent journo’s but could you imagine Key getting that type of grilling with more regulararity. His tenure as PM would’ve been finished long ago. Since Muldoon’s over the top treatment of any journo’s not giving the Nats favourable treatment back in the early 80’s there seems to be an utter lack of consistent probing invesitgative journalism in NZ putting chancers like Key under real public scrutiny. That coupled with the severe scaling back in NZ based newsrooms.
Sackur is not known as one the BBC’s hardest interviewers. But he was doing what any investigative political journo does well. Puts his subject under pressure and see’s how they react. In Key’s case not very well. Sackur having dealt with the seasoned Westminster politico’s for years was always going to have done his research on Key and most of it was not going to be favourable. As oppossed to the Herald who have just gone to their default position of being the Nat’s propoganda leaflet. The Herald article almost seems to hint that the big old nasty BBC had no right to harrass NZ’s glorious leader. Plus going to a NZ business bloke to refute the claims of a respected scientist must surely be the Herald’s idea of a piss take.
Key must be asking himself “why can’t all international TV invites be as intellectually challenging as Letterman”?
Having watched the full interview, I actually think that your average viewer would think that Key does OK. Don’t get me wrong imho Key is evading questions, contradicting himself (most notably with the whole “academics and lawyers” and republic v monarchy statistics) etc
But he is very good at doing it while smiling without ever getting aggressive and taking the bait. Most people, when proven wrong like he is, a few times just in this interview (!), or when caught out lying, e.g. the whole Kiwirail shares thing before the 08 election, would go on the attack or get really flustered. He just sticks to some semi-evasive waffle, might even partially concede a point to conceal the fact that he is getting caught red-handed, and remains mild-mannered.
How does he get away with it? Well, in NZ, the casual mild-mannered approach is king. It’s a cultural thing. Politicians like Clark and Goff who are too serious, too intellectual, or too earnest invoke suspicion – they must be full of themselves if they aren’t constantly in self-deprecating humour mode or if they use technical vocabulary (tall poppy syndrome) – and are called “robots” “hapless ideologues” “ivory tower types” and so on. They are not “one of Us”. Key on the other hand is your “average white businessman familyman golfplaying aucklander” type who speaks the language of low-level corporate office. He ticks all the boxes for the Herald, most journalists, tv, etc. as being “one of Us” so he has significantly greater leeway on any subject anyway. He fits into what the Nats would see as the “mainstream NZer” mould quite nicely. Add to that his casual, friendly mild manners and our journos hesitate to attack him because they would be attacking a friendly one-of-us type bloke – they will be the ones seen as unreasonable aggressors. Even Sackur when he nailed him couldn’t bring himself to go all the way.
Invoking “pragmatism” also gets him off the hook. This is an anglo-saxon misnomer to conceal a dominant ideology in this case a watered down neo-liberal approach. Neoliberals can afford to be conservatives in NZ, in the literal sense of the term, because we are not that far off a neoliberal paradise anyway. And Key like many other politicians will avoid rocking the boat by any means possible. This “conservative” line is seen as both “moderate” and “reasonable”.
So the nicknames “teflon” “slippery” are all well-founded. Unless a respected journo nails him with an unrelenting line of questioning on prime time telly – and the PR boys will avoid that at all costs – he will remain our friendly PM whose policies go unnoticed and unchallenged behind the artificial veil that is his Image. If only they would show a few more vids on the news of him sneering and jeering nastily in the house, that could go a long way to undermining his “nice-guy-not-a-politician” persona. His honeymoon with a befuddled media is not even over yet and it’s almost election time so there is little hope of that happening…
It takes the BBC – a leading overseas media organisation – to show the true face of our useless “leader”. Again this proves the uselessness of most NZ media. Apart from a few exceptions the NZ media has become so useless and pre-occupied with “image” and “presentation” that no matters of substance are reported on in-depth. Like with our supermarkets we have something like a duopoly owning the newspapers, magazines and some TV and radio stations. Public broadcasting gets treated worse year by year.
So many in NZ are so brain-washed, they do not get a chance to see “real” questions being asked to our leading politicians. Many do not even bother informing themselves, because they have grown up in a society where commercials on radio and television take up a per centage of broadcasting times, so that any program gets fragmented and listeners and viewers constantly distracted and otherwise brainwashed to simply be “consumers”.
This interview should be a revelation of how useless John Key really is. He dodges questions all the time, contradicts himself, denies facts and make a total fool of himself. Sadly hardly anyone in NZ bothers watching or listening to Hard Talk!
So no wonder we get election results that make critical and informed people wonder how that came about.
At least one tv program showed a 45second extract of this – Media7 on TVNZ7
TVNZ7 the best news in the country at 8pm where they take time to interview people and get to the bottom of issues unlike the tabloid headlines prevalent on TV1 TV3 Prime.
TVNZ7 the channel discarded by our beloved national govt
no surprises there – Key and Coleman are conducting their own Glorious Cultural Revolution
with the motto “Kill Public Service Broadcasting”.