Tricky Patrick Gower in NZHouse of Cards

133 comments on “Tricky Patrick Gower in NZHouse of Cards ”

• Comments are now closed

1. appleboy 1

   6 March 2014 at 11:52 am

   Surely a broadcasting standards complain re bias (misreporting, bias, leaving out info where nats are doing the same) would be easy money.
2. wyndham 2

   6 March 2014 at 11:58 am

   Steven Joyce’s old firm ? Didn’t he ,courtesy of the taxpayer, lend them mega-millions when they were in financial strife?

   Is all this heavily slanted behaviour merely pay-back time?
   • Skinny 2.1

     6 March 2014 at 2:19 pm

     Why yes of course the age old saying of “who pays the piper calls the tune.”

     It should be an election slogan for Key-National. Short, sharp and everyone clearly understands what works for National.
3. Sosoo 3

   6 March 2014 at 11:58 am

   Why are they running House of Cards? Anyone who really wanted to watch it already has Netflix.
   • weka 3.1

     6 March 2014 at 12:31 pm

     🙄
4. JustLikeTigerWoods 4

   6 March 2014 at 12:05 pm

   House Of Cards is being run from inside Labour. My sieve leaks less than that party does.

   BTW: Metro-man Cunliffe….not really working out, huh. You were told.
5. JustLikeTigerWoods 5

   6 March 2014 at 12:22 pm

   PS: Nobody f***s with ABC.
   • Enough is Enough 5.1

     6 March 2014 at 3:49 pm

     The only members of the ABC club are Gower, Garner, Whale and DPF.

     They made it up to cause trouble.

     You are a fool
     • JustLikeTigerWoods 5.1.1

       6 March 2014 at 4:27 pm

       You keep telling yourself that. I’m sure it makes one feel better.
   • Enough is Enough 5.2

     6 March 2014 at 3:50 pm

     There is no ABC club other than Gower, Garner, Whale and DPF.

     They made it up to cause trouble.

     You are a fool -be gone!!!
6. shorts 6

   6 March 2014 at 12:40 pm

   I have yet to see any proof that Patrick Gower isn’t New Zealand’s most successful comedian…
   • whatever next? 6.1

     6 March 2014 at 8:05 pm

     I sometimes fantasize it’s all a ploy, and he is just lulling Nats into a false sense of security, so that at the crucial time, he will be our hero, and expose Key. I can’t make any other sense of his behaviour, no-one is that much of a twat
     • finbar. 6.1.1

       6 March 2014 at 9:41 pm

       whatever next? I think the best thing to do is lay your cards on the table,Cunliffe should have been well aware of that,he is now paying the Price of his deception.For old fool labour believers we no he is not one of our creed,we now that,yet he in his corporate world is still playing games of hid and seek about his corporate wealth and dealings.Did he ever think that no matter how hidden a corporate cultured opposition would not find out.

       Eejit mind,
       • RedLogix 6.1.1.1

         6 March 2014 at 10:09 pm

         Not paying attention and then claiming you have been deceived is the kind of eejit game seven-year olds play.
       • whatever next? 6.1.1.2

         7 March 2014 at 9:25 am

         nooooo, I meant Gower will suddenly reveal himself as a decent human being after all, I have no concerns about DC’s intentions and integrity. It is tricky being on a socialist island in the capitalist sea that is the current government of NZ, so I do not expect to know every detail of how things are done, nor do I want to, I just want to stop NZ going to hell.
7. blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 7

   6 March 2014 at 1:04 pm

   Spot on Karol

   I am waiting for the revelations to appear on just how connected with the National or Act Party Gower is – it is really only a matter of time – and hopefully it is revealed sooner rather than later.
8. xtasy 8

   6 March 2014 at 1:10 pm

   To understand what is going on, one needs to look at who owns the media, and who does ultimately have managerial and also a degree of editorial “control” over it, and what gets reported:

   http://www.aut.ac.nz/study-at-aut/study-areas/communications/media-networks/journalism,-media-and-democracy-research-centre/centre-news

   A bit older and out of date, but a lot is still valid:
   http://www.converge.org.nz/watchdog/15/05.htm

   Most current:
   http://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/427681/JMAD-2013-Report.pdf

   “As in 2012 and 2011, APN and MediaWorks continued to have a duopoly in New Zealand’s commercial radio markets as the Sky TV, MediaWorks and TVNZ controlled television markets. Sky TV maintained near monopoly in the pay television market having 52 percent of households paying for its services. The company had 847,000 subscribers in December 2012 (Sky TV, 2013a).
   In 2013 the New Zealand print newspaper market, and the online news arena, was dominated by trans-Tasman corporates APN and Fairfax.”

   “The financialisation of New Zealand media ownership has been noticeable since 2010. Over the last three years stock market listed financial institutions such as major banks and unlisted financial institutions such as private equity firms, have increased their ownership shares within New Zealand based media companies. This is a worrying development since the financial owners “have no inherent interest in any particular media industry or sector.” (Hope & Myllylahti, 2013). The main objective of financial owners, especially private equity firms, is to maximise their returns.”

   Consequently:
   In effect the dominance of the NZ media landscape and “market” by privately owned and corporate media has led to the poorly managed and maintained public media feeling constantly pressured to compete at the lowest common level – on commercially determined terms.

   As for Pat Gower, remember what Imperator Fish once wrote, apparently more serious than some of what he sometimes writes. It was also posted on here on TS:

   http://thestandard.org.nz/imperatorfish-patrick-gower-put-on-notice-by-colleagues/

   So it is quite possible, that with some more recent changes in the ownership of TV3 there are now immense pressures on their staff to “perform” and deliver “hitting” news, no matter what. Maybe that also had to do with why Rachel Smalley left?

   Gower may be put on notice again, hence he is now pushing all boundaries, to “make” news, where there are hardly significant news. And as he seems to hold a grudge against Cunliffe, he does what he does.

   As for Cunliffe’s challenges, competing with Key, Bob Jones wrote something “interesting” in his last column on Granny Herald:

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sir-bob-jones/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503264&objectid=11213228

   “Appearance is particularly a factor with some women voters. A politics professor friend told me recently of her astonishment at finding that – literally without exception – all of her women friends, including many life-long lefties, say they won’t vote Labour this year because they don’t like David Cunliffe’s face.”

   While some will feel justifiably offended by his comments, there is scientific evidence, that people tend to TRUST persons more, who have more “symmetry” in their facial features. On that level, that may explain why Key gets away with almost anything, while David Cunliffe falls down simply based on having slightly “less symmetrical” facial features.

   Cunliffe and Labour are up against all that, a MAJOR challenge, especially that BIASED MSM!
9. rain33 9

   6 March 2014 at 1:16 pm

   Tut tut tut. Yes, all of the above could well be true, and no doubt Gower would be mighty flattered to be compared to the master manipulator Frank Underwood (anyone else noticed his initials are “FU”?…just finished series 2, stunning!) but back to business. Having to deal with a biased media is nothing new, Obama has to deal with Faux News every day. But come on guys, talk about making their job easy for them. As a Labour supporter this is what always annoys me about Labour, the ability to go into complete denial.

   Labour makes a ‘cock-up’, media exaggerates and misrepresents said ‘cock-up’, Labour blames the media for misrepresenting ‘cock-up’. You can throw as big a tanty as you like, but this was a cock-up, and if this one wasn’t, then the one before it was or the one before that. Banging on about media bias is Winston’s one trick pony. Whether media bias exists or not is completely irrelevant, and it’s not always about being right. Everyone assumes the media loves Key, correction, Key loves the media because he has figured out how to work it and use it to his advantage. So let’s quote Frank Underwood shall we….“For those of us climbing to the top of the food chain, there can be no mercy. There is but one rule: hunt or be hunted.”
   • karol 9.1

     6 March 2014 at 1:19 pm

     I’m not a Labour Party member and I party vote Green. I have a long term interest in the importance of the media to democracy. I want to see a true public service media.

     That should be an election issue.
     • rain33 9.1.1

       6 March 2014 at 1:56 pm

       Really, and who determines what constitutes a ‘true’ public service media?
       • JustLikeTigerWoods 9.1.1.1

         6 March 2014 at 1:56 pm

         Karol’s Pravda?
       • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 9.1.1.2

         6 March 2014 at 2:10 pm

         The answer to your question is not difficult Rain33

         Just because the NZ media is currently being run amok with mindless individuals who clearly don’t know the difference between propaganda, opinion, facts and analysis nor appreciate the extemely negative effect such a blurring of facts with fantasy has on sound democracy doesn’t mean there are not plenty of fair minded individuals in this country who do know the difference between these things – it is someone/a group out of these many fair minded people who should be deciding such serious matters – not the idiots in charge at present.
       • karol 9.1.1.3

         6 March 2014 at 2:15 pm

         Reith was the first person to define it for the BBC.

         These include an equal consideration of all viewpoints, probity, universality and a commitment to public service.

         Educate, inform, entertain

         Nicky Hagar has also produced his definition.

         Investigative journalism includes, for instance, the public service of investigating truthfulness in politics and of seeking facts when the truth is disputed, twisted or hidden. It can also involve a different kind of truth: trying to discover and illuminate what is right and wrong. In essence, it is about investigating and challenging the activities of the powerful,

         In NZ Peter Tompson at Vic uni has produced a lot about public service broadcasting.
       • weka 9.1.1.4

         6 March 2014 at 2:38 pm

         “Really, and who determines what constitutes a ‘true’ public service media?”

         How about the public?
         • rain33 9.1.1.4.1

           6 March 2014 at 3:01 pm

           And if the majority of the public are leaning center right?
           • Puckish Rouge 9.1.1.4.1.1

             6 March 2014 at 3:13 pm

             Thats when you need to start “re-educating” the public to think the right way
           • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 9.1.1.4.1.2

             6 March 2014 at 3:26 pm

             @ Rain33 & Puckish

             It might be a difficult concept for you to grasp – however I will try to spell it out to you:

             ‘Balanced information’ is balanced information regardless of the public’s general stance.

             If the public are given fair and accurate information and they in general end up holding ‘centre right’ views this is an entirely different situation than the scenario of a general public that hold centre right views because they don’t know any different options.
           • Puddleglum 9.1.1.4.1.3

             6 March 2014 at 8:23 pm

             It makes no difference what the ideological preferences of a population are.

             ‘Public service broadcasting‘ is devotion to what will serve the public interest. Usually, this is understood in terms of broadening people’s knowledge, understanding, awareness of the world they are in, etc.:

             The last thing I would ever want from a public service broadcaster would be for it to simply give me ‘what I want’ in a superficial manner (e.g., reinforcing what I already think or believe). That would be foolish, because ‘what I want’ are experiences I am unaware that I want and which may affect me in ways I can’t predict.
             • Bill …

               6 March 2014 at 8:39 pm

               Why not, rather than a public broadcasting system which would most likely just wind up being a monolithic BBC affair, resurrect a modern day equivalent to the free postage that allowed the free (printed) press to flourish in the US in years gone by?

               I don’t know what that equivalent leveller would be. But surely, far better to have a wide ranging cross section of views in media, with various mechanisms developed to ensure that no one ‘orthodoxy’ comes to dominate?

               Certainly, a plurality can be achieved by having (say) only state owned newspapers but with equal sized and editorially independent sections comprising the publication. I’m sure a similar, legislated scenario could be worked out for a (notionally) public TV and radio broadcaster.

               That still leaves many perspectives with no expression, but at least it would be a start and give equal prominence to both public and private perspectives within currently existing frameworks of reference.
               • RedLogix …

                 6 March 2014 at 8:45 pm

                 My preference would be for both.

                 There are many markets where the presence of a substantial (but not necessarily dominant) public sector entity provides a ‘floor’ on the market below which no private sector operator can afford to fall – either in terms of price, service or quality.

                 It was for instance the reason why the old State Insurance was set up. It served this purpose well for many decades until some pricks thought to sell it. The state doesn’t have to be the best, or the cheapest or the most innovative in any given market – just the most reliable.
                 • karol …

                   6 March 2014 at 8:52 pm

                   I would like to see a state supported, not-for-profit cross-platform service (online, TV, radio). Online would include print. Plus a return of community channels – like Triangle was for Auckland – low tech, low budget, but enables some direct interaction within local communties.

                   These days there needs to be more networked diversity than in the days when the BBC originated.
               • Puddleglum …

                 6 March 2014 at 10:49 pm

                 The link in my previous comment was to a UNESCO initiative and it defines public service broadcasting as:

                 “Public Service Broadcasting (PSB)is broadcasting made, financed and controlled by the public, for the public. It is neither commercial nor state-owned, free from political interference and pressure from commercial forces.

                 Through PSB, citizens are informed, educated and also entertained. When guaranteed with pluralism, programming diversity, editorial independence, appropriate funding, accountability and transparency, public service broadcasting can serve as a cornerstone of democracy.

                 UNESCO’s work in the field of public service broadcasting focuses on:

                 enhancing the utility of PSB as an educational and cultural vehicle, especially for disadvantaged communities
                 promoting best PSB practices and professional standards and contributing to relevant revisions of national legislation
                 strengthening PSB as a gateway to information and knowledge for all
                 fostering the indigenous content quality and technological upgrading of public service broadcasting
                 encouraging innovative and creative improvements in programming to captivate larger audiences
                 upholding discussions between media professionals, decision-makers, and other stakeholders on major PSB-related issues.”
       • Halfcrown 9.1.1.5

         6 March 2014 at 5:26 pm

         Hey R 33

         Read this quote from a very right wing writer

         “Even more worrying is the decline in what I can only call newspaper ethics. It used to be that news and comment had a great gulf betwixt them; you never never mixed fact with opinon. No longer; front pages carry hopelessly loaded “news stories”, and fair, objective reporting seems to be the thing of the past. On the Herald , as on all the great provincial newspapers of fifty years ago The Scotsman, Yorkshire Post, Manchester Guardian, Birmingham Post, Western, Liverpool Echo and all the rest- fairness was gospel. We were a Tory paper and our leader columns were sometimes to the right of Genghis Knan, but our news pages were sacrosant: I’ve seen the chief sub lay his rule on proofs to make sure that a Labour candidate got exactly the same space as his Conservative opponent”

         (from George MacDonald Frasers book The Light’s On At Signpost. War hero, author of the Flashman Books and at one stage sub editor of the Glasgow Herald )

         I think these old guys irrespective of their political colour, knew what constituted a “true” public service media
         • Stuart Munro 9.1.1.5.1

           6 March 2014 at 7:38 pm

           And there is the stick to beat the Herald and TV3 with.

           Run a column inch comparison over anti-Cunliffe and Key puff pieces – looking for fact and critical questioning.

           The pattern of bias will be so glaring even the rightwingers will admit it. Complain to international journalists – public professional shaming will bring these jackals’ careers to a richly deserved dead end.
     • OneTrack 9.1.2

       7 March 2014 at 10:57 pm

       You have got at least Radio New Zealand, the NZ Herald, John Campbell and Corin Dann. What’s the problem?
   • JustLikeTigerWoods 9.2

     6 March 2014 at 1:55 pm

     Correct Rain.

     Karol is pulling a Winston. The real cause is Cunliffe providing the ammunition and no amount of whining about the media changes it.
     • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 9.2.1

       6 March 2014 at 2:15 pm

       Nope – The real cause of a media report full of propaganda and devoid of facts is due to a piss-poor media. Full stop.
       • JustLikeTigerWoods 9.2.1.1

         6 March 2014 at 4:14 pm

         Cunliffe’s already admitted to these issues. Served up on a plate. From the very person who rallied so strongly against the use of trusts.

         What kind of total disconnect do you need to think this is the media’s fault?
         • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 9.2.1.1.1

           6 March 2014 at 4:19 pm

           How about you read the main article of this thread, rather than asking me disingenuous questions?
   • Puddleglum 9.3

     6 March 2014 at 8:12 pm

     “Frank Underwood (anyone else noticed his initials are “FU”?”

     Yes. In the British original tv series, the manipulative one was ‘Francis Urquhart’. There was a scene showing a tabloid front page (when Francis became PM??) with a huge ‘FU’ as part of the headline. It was made very clear that the initials were no accident.
10. captain hook 10

    6 March 2014 at 1:17 pm

    The media in New Zealand is totally in the hands of the Ruling Class and staffed by creepy suck ups.
    Until the troops on the left get their own micropulse radio stations then the tories will always have the advantage.
11. Saarbo 11

    6 March 2014 at 1:42 pm

    Spot on Karol.

    Patrick Gower is a sad little suck up…once Key has got what he wants out of him, he wont even know who Gower is. He’s John’s favourite little puppy at the moment.
    • Ant 11.1

      6 March 2014 at 1:50 pm

      Yep the fact he spout lines and questions that Farrar has been begging earlier in the day tells you a lot.
    • rain33 11.2

      6 March 2014 at 2:00 pm

      When will that happen Saarbo? When Key is re-elected you mean, while Labour is licking its wounds in the corner because the media was biased?
      • Naturesong 11.2.1

        6 March 2014 at 2:42 pm

        You still think it’s a football match?

        Have a look through the National party leglislative agenda during the last five years, there are clear patterns;
        – removing democratic representation
        – handing over taxpayer money large to overseas corporations at the expense of all New Zealanders
        – corruption of process and people
        – issues with basic competance in both writing legislation and implementation of policies
        – willingness to trash New Zealands environment (our home, yours and mine) and our image as a clean green place
        – the preference of truthiness over truthfullness
        – concentration of power to Central government at the expense of local representation and decision making
        – lack of accountability of ministers and their departments
        – massive increase of surveilance of New Zealanders by both military institutions (GCSB) and civil insitutions (SIS, Police), as well as new security departments being set up
        … the list goes on.

        You should pay attention. It’s not a game.

        The rhetoric from Labour is that National have been a “hands off” government.
        I have no idea why they have kept saying that as it’s clear that this is one of the most transformative governments since the forth Labour government.
        • Puddleglum 11.2.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 9:13 pm

          “The rhetoric from Labour is that National have been a “hands off” government.”

          I imagine that line – quite accurately – was designed to suggest that whatever may be happening, in a positive sense, in the economy has next to nothing to do with National’s policies. Allowing exploratory deep-sea drilling, harassing beneficiaries, trying their best to hand over conservation land for mining, encouraging fracking, gutting the (neo-liberal) RMA, etc. has nothing whatsoever to do with the supposed ‘Rock Star Economy’ that we are meant to be presently enjoying (obviously, since none of that has come to ‘fruition’ yet).

          The Labour-led government was frequently accused by National and its supporters of frittering away the ‘golden weather’. National has frittered away the opportunity to transform the economy in the wake of the GFC.

          Hopeless, visionless ‘management’, which would have been exposed – even for those with a conventional/economistic view of what ‘economies’ are for – without (a) record highs for commodities (especially milk powder), and (b) a massively devastating earthquake.

          Notice, on that last point (the earthquakes), that the statistic for growth – rather than debt – is being used to paint the government in a positive light. On the debt side, the government is ‘forgiven’ for the inevitable impact on debt caused by the earthquakes; on the ‘upside’ of the earthquakes (i.e., the rebuild-generated economic activity) the government gets the kudos (‘Rock Star economy’, blah, blah, blah).

          Why can’t journalists and commentators see these inconsistent deductions?
          • Saarbo 11.2.1.1.1

            6 March 2014 at 9:21 pm

            Once again spot on Puddleglum (and Naturesong)
      • Saarbo 11.2.2

        6 March 2014 at 9:16 pm

        Labour/Greens will have their DAY (3 Terms) Rain 33. Key will go and live in Hawaii and as for the poor little suck up…who cares.
12. JustLikeTigerWoods 12

    6 March 2014 at 1:50 pm

    Utter paranoia and denial.

    The media would have nothing to report if Cunliffe didn’t take the actions he did. End of story.

    As for Karol, you are being stunningly naive if you think the media will smell blood in the water and then fail to bite. That’s what the media does. It was doing it long before you were born.

    They all have bias. Everyone does. Start with Campbell. But that’s not the point. The point is you don’t let them smell blood in the water to start with.
    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 12.1

      6 March 2014 at 2:00 pm

      You miss the point, Just Like Tiger Woods

      The items on TV3 on NZ politics, such as this one being discussed, are devoid of facts

      Conclusion: Wanting to be well informed about this country’s political activities by watching this TV3 ‘News’ programme is an as effective way to achieve your goal as attempting to lose weight by eating large amounts of cream buns and chips everyday and not exercising.
      • idlegus 12.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 2:07 pm

        doesnt it also make all their other ‘news’ suspect? what else are they misrepresenting, what other bs are they feeding us, tv3 news credibility is right up there with the nz herald as far as im concerned. also had to laugh at the stuff story about informing me of the ukraine crisis, ah, no thanks, i dont think i want to be ‘entotained’ about war from stuff thank you very much. (the ukraine crisis in 30 pictures!!!)
        • Arfamo 12.1.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 2:15 pm

          Yeah I rolled through those 30 pics and concluded they left the viewer completely uninformed about the Ukraine crisis.
        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 12.1.1.2

          6 March 2014 at 2:33 pm

          Yes, I have been trying to work out if there is anyone who watches TV3 News to be informed about anything anymore.

          I occasionally watch it to view the latest spin being applied to fools who still think they are being informed by watching that crap – that is the only reason I view parts of that programme and this is infrequent.

          I suggest that advertisers should be considering:
          -the content of this TV3 ‘News-Devoid-of-Facts’ show
          -how they are ruining their image by advertising in such slots.
          -how few viewers they are connecting with by advertising in such slots i.e. how many people are switching off/over at that time slot.
          -choosing another channel or another show to advertise in amongst
    • lprent 12.2

      6 March 2014 at 3:03 pm

      They all have bias. Everyone does. Start with Campbell. But that’s not the point. The point is you don’t let them smell blood in the water to start with.

      You are a fool if you thing that it is the bias that is the problem. It is both the balance and that fact that Paddy Gower has now gone into full time knowingly lying or repeating stories from the Nat’s that he knows are lies to make his stories. It is hardly “news” to repeat Farrar making a complete dick of themselves.

      Time for him to go.

      I think it is time for me and others to start exerting some effort to make sure that happens.
      • JustLikeTigerWoods 12.2.1

        6 March 2014 at 4:18 pm

        LOL. What are you going to do – send him a strongly worded fax? Best send Campbell one, too.

        I’m sure it will be filed in the appropriate place.
    • lprent 12.3

      6 March 2014 at 3:03 pm

      They all have bias. Everyone does. Start with Campbell. But that’s not the point. The point is you don’t let them smell blood in the water to start with.

      You are a fool if you thing that it is the bias that is the problem. It is both the balance and that fact that Paddy Gower has now gone into full time knowingly lying to make his stories.

      Time for him to go. I think it is also time for me and others to start exerting some effort to make sure that happens.
      • Rosie 12.3.1

        6 March 2014 at 3:27 pm

        “Time for him to go. I think it is also time for me and others to start exerting some effort to make sure that happens.”

        Yes. Yes it is lprent. Let’s welcome your suggestions for those efforts

        As for the Broadcasting Standards Authority, I don’t know, going down this path may be like throwing soggy cotton wool at the problem. Maybe if there was a mass effort however, that may make a difference.
        • Rosie 12.3.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 4:08 pm

          I’ve changed my mind after reading Bill’s post. Going down the BSA path might be useful, especially as Gower does seem to be in breach of standards 5c (accuracy) and 6b (fairness)

          This is only ONE path to take however…………….
          • karol 12.3.1.1.1

            6 March 2014 at 6:46 pm

            Agreed. I think Gower and TV3 need to be challenged NOW, particularly over what Gower has been doing.

            But there also need sot be a longer campaign for better news and politics media. The National led government has steadily pushed out any remnants of public broadcasting in favour of private corporate media – ones that don’t value genuine and fair debate.

            A Labour led government needs to reverse that trend majorly.
13. Skinny 13

    6 March 2014 at 2:05 pm

    I have enjoyed watching TV3 News front man Mike Mc Robert’s reactions to Paddy Gower’s frothing and foaming.

     Mc Robert’s is a very accomplished award wining journalist, who can forget his  legendary coverage in war torn zones around the World. 

     And nowadays it’s like Mike is thinking out loud “what a fucking amateur clown Paddy is, does anyone take him seriously”. Mc Robert’s facial expressions give it away, that Gower is off on a tangent of his own self importance, rather than giving hard hitting stories of credibility. 

    Nice work East Coast Mike keep up your integrity!   
    • Arfamo 13.1

      6 March 2014 at 2:17 pm

      Nope. I think McRoberts just gives Gower the floor and that’s it. TV3’s political news is a complete, blatantly biased sham.
      • Skinny 13.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 2:33 pm

        If it continues there is one way to bring it to the Nation’s attention. We have a mass protest outside their Auckland broadcasting studio. The other TV Networks will take great delight in covering the protest. An easy fix bringing Nationwide attention so the people that matter have a question mark next to any anti Labour/Green propaganda coverage on TV3 News.
        • Populuxe1 13.1.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 2:43 pm

          No you don’t have a mass protest because this is the twenty-first century and no one pays attention to those any more. What you do is set up a facebook page.
        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 13.1.1.2

          6 March 2014 at 2:44 pm

          That is a good idea Skinny
        • Rosie 13.1.1.3

          6 March 2014 at 3:29 pm

          Skinny a protest outside TV3 studio’s will be excellent. They will be shamed by other media.
          • Skinny 13.1.1.3.1

            6 March 2014 at 3:48 pm

            I’m old school and revert to protests, pickets and rally’s frequently. Witty plaques and good spokespeople giving clear views of the injustice. Hitting the bricks is energising and more often then not hits the spot. Every Media outlet would flock to their oppositions misery. Of course you would back it up prior with mass social Media broadcasting. You make a catchy protest. Citizens Disgust Against TV3 News Political Broadcasting Bias.

            Or any other catch cry punters might want to recommend?
            • Rosie 13.1.1.3.1.1

              6 March 2014 at 4:02 pm

              Me too Skinny. Social media’s fine an’ all but more as a snazzy back up to on the street protesting and picketing.

              Here’s a chant

              HEY HEY!!
              HO HO!!

              GOWER
              MUST
              GO!!

              A tui style bIllboard: “TV3 upholds standard 5: Accuracy and standard 6: Fairness” Yeah right!!

              and for more background on that:

              “Broadcasters should make reasonable
              efforts to ensure that news, current
              affairs and factual programming:
              • is accurate in relation to all material
              points of fact and/or
              • does not mislead.
              Guidelines
              5a The accuracy standard does not
              apply to statements which are clearly
              distinguishable as analysis, comment
              or opinion.
              5b In the event that a material error
              of fact has occurred, broadcasters
              should correct it at the earliest
              appropriate opportunity.
              5c News must be impartial.
              STANDARD 6 – Fairness
              Broadcasters should deal fairly with
              any person or organisation taking part
              or referred to.
              Guidelines
              6a A consideration of what is fair will depend
              upon the genre of the programme (e.g.
              factual, dramatic, comedic or satirical
              programmes).
              6b Broadcasters should exercise care in
              editing programme material to ensure
              that the extracts used are not a distortion
              of the original event or the overall
              views expressed”

              http://www.mediaworks.co.nz/Portals/0/PDF/bsa-freetvcode-new.pdf

              5C and 6B are the stand out one’s here.
    • rain33 13.2

      6 March 2014 at 2:39 pm

      Perception is everything. You assume that is what McRobert’s is thinking, but he could just as easily be thinking “Who gave Labout the gun to keep shooting themselves in the foot”. That too would induce a look of incredulity.
      • Skinny 13.2.1

        6 March 2014 at 3:11 pm

        Your clutching at straws there pal. I have done the odd number with Mike and I can assure you that he doesn’t suffer fools like Gower.
        • Arfamo 13.2.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 3:21 pm

          Whether he suffers fools like Gower or not is irrelevant as long as Gower still gets to deliver his twisted & spun version of events every night.
14. You_Fool 14

    6 March 2014 at 3:32 pm

    interestingly I came to two conclusions last night watching Gower.

    1) Gower is full of shit and has a vendetta against Cunliffe

    2) Cunliffe had done nothing wrong in regards to these trusts

    As far as I could see, from Gower’s story, Cunliffe invested in a new trust then when it came time to declare he asked the question: does this trust need to be declared. Whoever it is that gets asks these legal quesions said no, no it does not. Cunliffe, either at the time or later, thought that this didn’t sound right and asked the registry. I assume, like most bureaucracies, it took some time for them to get back to Cunliffe, and the answers was meh, maybe, maybe not, if you want you know you could. Cunliffe decided to declare to be safe, now that he has done the right thing he is being lambasted about it.
    • Puckish Rouge 14.1

      6 March 2014 at 4:12 pm

      So the person he asked the legal question of originally was a bit a useless then?
      • You_Fool 14.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 6:05 pm

        That is the question to be asked, which strangely wasn’t asked.

        Why was the advice that it didn’t need to be declared.

        I am not fully up to date on what does need to be declared, but it appears that this is something that doesn’t, but maybe a bit grey. Maybe it is a small investment by DC but because the trust is so big it makes it look bad (i.e. the average that Gower was using last night.) But this hasn’t been investigated at all by TV3 as far as I can tell. Gower had an opinion that DC was trying to hide the trust and was caught out, but the facts don’t seem to support that at this stage. So if Gower knows more he needs to be a proper journalist and present the facts.
    • Stephanie Rodgers 14.2

      6 March 2014 at 10:00 pm

      I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the answer from the registry managers was “You might not have to, but you may as well”. It’s good advice, but not exactly the black-and-white situation people want to talk about.
15. Populuxe1 15

    6 March 2014 at 3:45 pm

    This would be Bombast Bradbury who failed to mention working as a consultant for both MANA and Kim Dotcom while at the same time supposedly “impartially” blogging on politics, yes?
    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 15.1

      6 March 2014 at 3:52 pm

      @ Populuxe1

      You repeat your mistake here, I shall repeat my response accordingly:

      Can you not see the difference between a blogger who makes clear his political stance writing on a political blogsite and a News information source that is expected to be conveying balanced information on current affairs having a reporter taking a political stance while working for said information source and not declaring such?

      It is a pretty clear cut difference.

      What is so hard for you in understanding this difference?
      • Populuxe1 15.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 4:24 pm

        That really depends on how one purports to present themselves and if one presents oneself as a pundit, one has a duty to say if one is also working for a party as opposed to merely supporting that party. Being clear on your political stance is a bit different to not mentioning that by the pay the party you are promoting actually employs you. I’m not saying that it’s a left/right thing so much as it’s endemic across the board in politics which is how it should be tackled.

        Karol is obviously citing Bombast as a reliable authority above – I’m merely pointing out that as such it can’t be assumed , and is probably a wee bit hypocritical on Bombast’s part.
        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 15.1.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 4:52 pm

          There is a yawning gulf in what you are accusing Bradbury of doing and what is occurring with Gower and TV3 News, Populuxe1.

          I was in no way surprised that Bradbury was active politically because he made it clear that he was politically active with regard to many events – his involvement with Mana springs to mind as a specific example.

          He also openly writes on Leftwing blogs openly promoting left wing activities. What is the problem? Do you think that a leftwing activist shouldn’t be allowed to express their opinions? Or perhaps those that express their political opinions shouldn’t be active politically?

          I am completely disgusted, however, that a purportedly ‘balanced’ News information outlet employs someone who is so clearly connected to right-wing political parties that it really is only a matter of time that this connection gets found out.

          Is it that you haven’t actually read or watched much of Bradbury’s work and therefore because [unsurprisingly] you haven’t seen or heard any of the clear disclosures Bradbury has made that you assume there were none? That wouldn’t be very intelligent of you if that is what you are doing 🙁
    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 15.2

      6 March 2014 at 3:52 pm

      @ Populuxe1

      You repeat your mistake here, I shall repeat my response accordingly:

      Can you not see the difference between a blogger who makes clear his political stance writing on a political blogsite and a News information source that is expected to be conveying balanced information on current affairs having a reporter taking a political stance while working for said information source and not declaring such?

      It is a pretty clear cut difference.

      What is so hard for you in understanding this difference?
    • Enough is Enough 15.3

      6 March 2014 at 3:52 pm

      He has never claimed to be impartial.
      • Populuxe1 15.3.1

        6 March 2014 at 4:26 pm

        Not the same as mentioning you are in the pay of a political party. PG has never claimed impartiality either, as far as I’m aware and am happy to be corrected.
        • You_Fool 15.3.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 6:07 pm

          SO it is official that TV3 is a mouth piece for the NActs and everything they say should be thought of in the same way as the rubbish spewed forth from FOX news?

          Sounds good to me.
    • Delia 15.4

      6 March 2014 at 6:48 pm

      Impartiality is not something you could accuse him of, he is openly left wing. About biased journos just ignore them.
16. McFlock 16

    6 March 2014 at 3:53 pm

    caption for the key photo – House of Cads. 🙂
17. Enough is Enough 17

    6 March 2014 at 3:54 pm

    It is becoming more and more inevitable that we, the Left, are going to lose this election.

    The reason being the corrupt media. How is the public supposed to form a view on the merits of the various options available to them if they are slammed night after night with this one sided bull shit.
    • Puckish Rouge 17.1

      6 March 2014 at 4:07 pm

      “The reason being the corrupt media”

      Might want to look at where the leaks are coming from and whos making the errors to see where to aportion blame.

      For instance:

      Did the media get the info wrong about the baby bonus or was the info on the handouts wrong?
      Did the media force Cunliffes office to send the info to Amy Adams?
      Whos tipping of the media about various Labour stuff ups?
      Did the media make Cunliffe start talking about leafy houses?
      Did the media advise Cunliffe to use a trust in the first place or not to declare another trust?

      Its not the media or Whaleoil causing Labours woes, its much closer to home not that anyone on here will take a blind bit of notice
      • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 17.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 4:16 pm

        If there was a conspiracy in amongst Labour – this doesn’t let the media off the hook at all – the media are repeating shit verbatim and reporting untruths.

        If such an imagined conspiracy was reality – shouldn’t the media be all over it reporting it?

        I don’t believe your fantastical theory Rogue – I consider you are trying to distract from the point – and am just saying that your theory doesn’t answer the point being made here and all over the political blogs today.
        • Puckish Rogue 17.1.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 4:23 pm

          Ok a conspiracy may or may not exist but (and its a pretty big but) the stories are coming from somewhere in Labour, the media is merely feeding on easy pickings

          Banks got raked over the coals
          Whyte got taken to account over his views
          Craig gets a hard time from the media

          All right or hard right politicians but Key doesn’t because, by and large, he doesn’t give the media much to go on so the media (being essentially lazy) focus on Labour because Labours making their jobs easy

          Want to stop the negative stories from the media then stop giving the media stories in the first place

          Its like putting your hand in a lions mouth and then complaining its bitten your hand off
          • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 17.1.1.1.1

            6 March 2014 at 4:43 pm

            Nope, being able to lie and spread falsehoods with no negative consequences is ‘making their job easier’ and this has nothing to do with anything members of the Labour Party do or don’t do.

            Key makes plenty of mistakes, his are neither highlighted, exaggerated or simply ‘made up’ by the TV3 Newsroom.

            This is a big difference and you don’t appear to be able to acknowledge it Puckish.
          • Populuxe1 17.1.1.1.2

            6 March 2014 at 9:30 pm

            That makes a lot of sense. Key has a very succesful media strategy:
            (1) the smarmy affibility seems to work.
            (2) National by and large runds a tighetr ship with the possible exception of the Collins challenge for leadership.
            (3) Key is always vague and never says anything overly shocking.
            (4) Key’s minders know that the media is lazy and in return for tidbits they won’t go for him.

            When the media does go for him, he is utterly hopeless, so the Nats do their utmost to prevent that.

            It definitely seems to be a Key thing specifically rather than a Right Wing thing in general.
      • You_Fool 17.1.2

        6 March 2014 at 6:17 pm

        Did the media get the info wrong about the baby bonus or was the info on the handouts wrong?

        Both, the media got it wrong as well as the info being wrong. The media then framed it as Cunliffe cocking up, which wasn’t strictly true, though close. Cunliffe then showed he was a bigger man than Key and admitted to getting it wrong other than just forgetting what happend.

        Did the media force Cunliffes office to send the info to Amy Adams?

        Has the leak actually been verified or is it just what Gower said? I haven’t looked. Also I can think of a few of John Key’s staff who have been blamed for wrong info being handed out, and as far as I remembered TV3 blamed the staffer not Key.

        Whos tipping of the media about various Labour stuff ups?

        -I would hope the media themselves, I hold onto hope that they can actually do their job.

        Did the media make Cunliffe start talking about leafy houses?

        Comment taking out of context and framed incorrectly. Also $9mill house >> $2.5mil house, so who is more out of touch?

        Did the media advise Cunliffe to use a trust in the first place or not to declare another trust?

        No his/labour’s/parliaments legal team advised him that he didn’t have too. Cunliffe decided he did have to declare both. Using a trust is useful in many suituations, so I am sure his using a trust in the first place was not about hiding stuff, unless everyone using a trust is trying to hide stuff? In which case should we persecute every MP who uses a trust?
    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 17.2

      6 March 2014 at 4:08 pm

      Look it is really easy to start concluding such things given the current conditions, however this is giving in to defeatism.

      Every time you think such things just think something like:

      Nah! We just have to push back against this shit harder or, to use a more Taoist intelligence: use these media travesties to motivate ourselves and use this negative energy of Nat propaganda against itself.

      We must not surrender so lightly!
      • JustLikeTigerWoods 17.2.1

        6 March 2014 at 4:24 pm

        Strange, because to me, TV3 looks like a left-wing love fest. I can’t stand any of their reporters, Gower included.

        In this case, their reporting reflects the fact that Labour are so completely hopeless. The knife is going in. The election has slid away from Labour and most people, including TV3, know it….

        No one wants to hug a corpse.
        • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 17.2.1.1

          6 March 2014 at 4:35 pm

          Saying black is white doesn’t make it so JLTiger Woods

          Your ‘observations’ of TV3 are disconnected from reality by any reasonable person’s standards – (just like your political stance methinks).

          What makes you think that displaying your disingenuouity for all to see helps the interests you speak up for at all?

          It doesn’t.

          I therefore suggest you carry on doing and saying what you do – suits the interests that I support just fine, thank you very much 🙂
          • JustLikeTigerWoods 17.2.1.1.1

            6 March 2014 at 5:06 pm

            The poll of polls and Cunliffe’s personal popularity rating are an adequate public proxy. You might also want to look at internal party polling, if you have access to it. Many do.

            Do also watch the wear on the knife sharpener…..
            • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 17.2.1.1.1.1

              6 March 2014 at 5:14 pm

              Ooh! Good of you to take my advice, there JLTigerWoods – that was obedient of you – Thanks and keep up digging that hole for your cause – excellent work. 😆
              • JustLikeTigerWoods …

                6 March 2014 at 7:05 pm

                I don’t have a “cause”. I do find the level of delusion amusing, however. I certainly look forward to The Standard continuing the theme and labelling Campbell an “obvious ACT neoliberal plant”.
            • drongo 17.2.1.1.1.2

              6 March 2014 at 6:40 pm

              Grant Robertson, advised behind closed doors by Annette King, Phil Goff, and Trevor Malard, must be enjoying the moment. Labour’s ABC faction is alive and kicking.
              • JustLikeTigerWoods …

                6 March 2014 at 7:06 pm

                ABC play the long game.
        • Skinny 17.2.1.2

          6 March 2014 at 4:43 pm

          Speaking of the dead, I see that Old Duck was a no show in parliament today. Bit early to be dodging bullets. Duck shooting is a while away or is it?
    • McFlock 17.3

      6 March 2014 at 4:16 pm

      A bit early for such talk, I would have thought.
18. Macro 18

    6 March 2014 at 4:42 pm

    We live in the age of Stupid..

    What happened in Australia over the last 18 months is being enacted here.

    The media “assassinated” Julia Gillard the most competent Prime Minister the country had had in decades and promoted an idiot to replace her. How anyone could have voted for Abbott, the greatest idiot of a man imaginable., beggars belief. A man who in his first month of office fired his scientific advisers because they told him things he didn’t want to know, is not a man who should be given the task of government.

    Stupidity reigns, and the herd will follow wherever they are led.

    The 4th Estate have lost the plot – they truly believe it is all about them.
    • Populuxe1 18.1

      6 March 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Not exactly. Key’s mob haven’t been able to entirely enact in 6 years, even with a raft of natural disasters, the kind of idiocy Abbott has in a mere 18 months. I suspect the Nats know that the NZ electorate would resist – hence they like to keep a tightish leash on ACT – and National isn’t anywhere near as anti-science, socially conservative, or politically naive as the Aus Liberals. Perhaps they fantasise about that kind of fascism in the wee small hours, but National is (unfortunately) looking at a third term while th eLibs will be goneburger at the next election.
19. bad12 19

    6 March 2014 at 6:29 pm

    As a kid i loved my comics, what we had in those days instead of playstation and various other devices,

    Mad Magazines were one of my favorites and Spy V Spy a must read guaranteed to have me sniggering for hours even after i had given up the jealously guarded and fought over comic to my older and larger siblings,

    Behold the first sighting of Patrick Gower on a television screen decades later and i am transported back in time to the face on the cover of Mad Magazine, the spitting image, the living embodiment of Alfred E. Nuemann the Editor of Mad Magazine,

    i am hardly tho moved to mirth by the antics of this living embodiment of the Alfred E.Nueman from years past as the current TV3 political editor although there could be a slight snigger forthcoming at the thought of just how Mad would those who manage that particular TV station have to have been to have employed Him as anything but the tea-boy,

    Broke i would suggest could have the cynics in charge making such a bizarre and ugly little choice to allow this particularly tragic example of the human race appear on our TV screens,

    Who wouldn’t connect the bailout of TV3 and the radio stations owned by Media works by Slippery’s National Government with the outright lies and overt attacks on the Labour Party and
    David Cunliffe by the Alfred E. Nuemann of television jonolism Gower,

    Broke they were at the time of Nationals cozy little 42 million dollar ‘loan’ which i see as the only ‘reason’ why the likes of Gower is allowed to continue a litany of what are Lies, and, pretty much Broke they still are, stumbling along month to month nearly, but not quite, insolvent,

    Matt,what was that stunning endorsement you gave of Gower, McCarten should have a word in wee Patrick’s ear telling Him one more Lie and the whole of TV3 is Toast,

    It will only take the funding from NZ On Air to disappear and TV3 will do exactly the same, wouldn’t it be just a crying shame if upon becoming Government Labour made an entirely logical decision that only the State broadcasters should profit from the State handing out monies via NZ On Air to broadcasters,

    If such a logical policy were to be implemented on the grounds of financial restructuring within NZ On Air and TV3 along with Media works collapsed into a pile of its own bullshit i would miss them all for 30 seconds but hell life would sure as carry on as if they were never polluting the airwaves at any time…
    • Rosie 19.1

      6 March 2014 at 7:26 pm

      Special for you bad12

      http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/alfred_e_newman.gif

      My older siblings had Mad Magazine. I never forgot that face. The “what, me worry?” line is ALL Keys though.

      I never forgot about “that”mediaworks loan either and have wondered as to the extent of its influence. What did Skinny say? “he who pays the piper plays the tune”.

      Anyway, watched One News tonight for the first time in I can’t remember. It’s probably the first time I have got through the news without my blood pressure going up. Because it was Gower free” news”. Think I may do this on a regular basis.

      Funny how one of their stories was the one about Shane Taurima and political neutrality, now that Tamati Coffey has put his hand up as the Labour candidate for Rotorua. Political neutrality? Gower might as well wear a pretty blue rosette.
      • bad12 19.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 7:40 pm

        Lolz Rosie, aint He just the cutest, thanks for the nudge to my memory, Alfred E. for prez is what i say…
20. rain33 20

    6 March 2014 at 7:34 pm

    Well there you go….quote from above ^ “It is becoming more and more inevitable that we, the Left, are going to lose this election. The reason being the corrupt media…”

    If you really believe that will be the reason for the Left’s loss, then it will become a fait accompli. To those adopting that attitude, I suggest a cup of harden the heck up and a re-read of sun tzu.
21. BEATINGTHEBOKS 21

    6 March 2014 at 7:35 pm

    You can piss and moan as much as you like about TV3, but there is no comparison between whatever his name is and Taurima, that guy takes the cake. TVNZ is owned by the people, not the labour party, and he has fucked his entire unit, total dickhead. Still an ideal canditate all bull shit aside give him a seat to contest, and get rid of some insipid encumbent. Hes got balls.
    • bad12 21.1

      6 March 2014 at 7:44 pm

      Yeah i agree with you give whats His name Rotorua to contest and get rid of a really insipid piece of dross only concerned with enriching the already wealthy…
    • karol 21.2

      6 March 2014 at 7:45 pm

      Please tell me how there is any comparison between Gower’s misrepresentation of the truth, and Taurima’s editing for TVNZ. No-one has accused Taurimo of producing bias in the programmes that went to air? His wrong doing was conducting parts his political organisation in work time.

      You’re just creating a diversion.
22. whatever next? 22

    6 March 2014 at 7:58 pm

    “Is Television New Zealand a breeding ground for Labour Party activists?” asked National MP Chris Tremain.

    Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/TVNZ-faces-questions-over-Taurima-scandal/tabid/1607/articleID/334859/Default.aspx#ixzz2vA63jp2M

    What can you say?
    • Halfcrown 22.1

      6 March 2014 at 8:01 pm

      I really don’t think Maggie Barry was left wing
23. ian 23

    6 March 2014 at 8:03 pm

    Hard to make a silk purse out of a sows ear,as the old saying goes.Don’t blame Patrick Gower,I’m sure he would love to ram one right up Key given half a chance.Cunliffe is off the scale and his inadequacies could only be ignored by his mother. The Labour Party should man up,admit they got it wrong with Cunny and give Shane Jones a go.
    • bad12 23.1

      6 March 2014 at 8:14 pm

      Give the third place getter in an open election race a go at becoming the winner in the upcoming election race, kidding right, Jones’s one hit wonder on the supermarkets has fizzled and if history is anything to judge the future upon Shane would simply not have the energy for an election campaign being likely to have exhausted Himself on acts of sexual self fulfillment on most nights leading up to the vote…
      • ian 23.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 8:34 pm

        Yeah ,I agree but I think labour needs to control damage ,try to salvage enough mana to get through to the 2017 election and maybe a new messiah may pop up.Jones with lots of help could do that. Labour also needs a very hard pruning to remove the dead wood and let the new growth come away.That Sam guy from the farmy army down in Chch is bursting into bud.Time to sort out a bit of long term strategy guys.
    • JustLikeTigerWoods 23.2

      6 March 2014 at 8:27 pm

      They picked the wrong man. Next time, listen to caucus.

      ABC caucus call the shots.
      • felix 23.2.1

        6 March 2014 at 10:36 pm

        lol you guys are so funny.

        You had your turn.
24. Sookie 24

    6 March 2014 at 8:11 pm

    While I agree that Gower is a loathsome little Gollum of a man who obviously has it in for Labour, that is no excuse for being completely bloody incompetent. There’s no point in moaning about media bias, stop embarrassing us lefties and get your bloody shit together Labour, or else we’ll be having another 3 years of Mr Derp.
    • rain33 24.1

      6 March 2014 at 8:34 pm

      Sookie, exactly right. I have been banging on about the distraction that is Gower’s bias all day To believe that he or a general media bias will be the cause of another Labour loss is a total cop-out. Gower and other journos like him are basically bloodhounds with bones, they don’t really care who they’re in a fight with, so long as they’re in the hunt and on the end of a bone. Labour, stop throwing bones…for goodness sake.
      • karol 24.1.1

        6 March 2014 at 8:44 pm

        It’s important to focus on election issues and contest media bias. But the need for media that serves the public interst IS an important election issue. We will never get a strong left wing govenment while the media is dominated by corporates that are increasing their pwoer.
      • Sookie 24.1.2

        6 March 2014 at 9:21 pm

        It’s almost like they want to get their arses kicked again, as per the so-called ABC theories, or are just incredibly clueless. In order to win a PR war with poor odds, you have to root out all dodgy deals and backstabbing ratbags, and mimimise gaffes. People always cast a more critical eye over the underdog. And oh yes, no more elitist snobbery. Shane Jones is the only useful member of Labour at the moment, but he gets little credit as he’s an uncouth bogan who likes porn. And I’ve already seen a bit of sneering about Tamati Coffey on here today. He’s perfect, the grannies and housewives will vote for him in droves. But hey, what do I know…I liked David Shearer :p
        • rain33 24.1.2.1

          6 March 2014 at 9:28 pm

          Sookie, Happy to admit I was a fan of Shearer also. Nothing people love more in this country than the real deal. Admittedly he was a poor performer in the media spotlight, but that would have no doubt improved by now, and he had a lot of personal appeal. Done away with in a premature fashion I’m afraid…but like you…what would I know.
25. rain33 25

    6 March 2014 at 9:11 pm

    The Brainwashing of My Dad……
    If you’ve not seen it I am sure many of you will find it interesting –
    • Bill 25.1

      6 March 2014 at 9:20 pm

      That looks as though it could be interesting. Thanks for flagging it.
26. burt 26

    7 March 2014 at 6:49 am

    Yes, all media which expose secret trusts operated by Labour Party people will be shut down. It’s simply not acceptable that Labour leaders are required to comply with the rules they pass for others and heads will roll for this insane attempt at democracy. There isn’t a successful dictatorship on this planet that allows this kind of open reporting and enforced accountability from dear leader.

    re- education camps for all but the special friends in TVNZ who make sure dear leader is reported favourably.
    • RedLogix 26.1

      7 March 2014 at 7:13 am

      You’ll feel better after another few cups of coffee comrade.
      • miravox 26.1.1

        7 March 2014 at 7:27 am

        Please no, coffee’ll wind him up more. A nice cup of chamomile for a de-stress might be in order for Burt.
27. xtasy 27

    7 March 2014 at 7:53 pm

    With all this discussion going on here, it pays to look at the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1989 (as at 01 Jan. 2014):

    “Programme standards

    4 Responsibility of broadcasters for programme standards
    (1) Every broadcaster is responsible for maintaining in its programmes and their presentation, standards that are consistent with—
    (a) the observance of good taste and decency; and
    (b) the maintenance of law and order; and
    (c) the privacy of the individual; and
    (d) the principle that when controversial issues of public importance are discussed, reasonable efforts are made, or reasonable opportunities are given, to present significant points of view either in the same programme or in other programmes within the period of current interest; and
    (e) any approved code of broadcasting practice applying to the programmes.”

    Also all that are genuinely concerned must bear in mind, there are totally different sets of rules applied to public broadcasters (TVNZ, Maori TV, and hear what SSC Rennie said today, and what “neutrality” means for public servants), in comparison to the sets of “rules” that privately owned and operated media are bound by.

    For instance, public servants are forced by extra laws and regulations to ensure they are always seen to be neutral, which does not necessarily apply the same for “private” media operators. Also the Official Information Act only applies to publicly owned and run media outlets, NOT to TV3 and the likes.

    On this, it seems rather clear, that there is MORE freedom available to the ones that operate, run, and work for “private” media outlets, than there is for public media outlets. That gives Gower and others and “ADVANTAGE”! It is surely and unfair advantage, especially in election year.

    Look at the above extract from the BA above, and tell me, what did Gower do to breach the Act then? He can get away with heaps more than anyone at TVNZ, and he knows it, and hence he does it.

    Only under section 4 (1) (d) could issues be raised, but hey, TV3 could always argue, that Labour and Cunliffe could put their arguments to them, if they wanted, and that is all they need to make available. Section 3 gives any media a lot a protection also.

    This is compelling evidence, that we must control private media, to bring them into the fold, to make them equally accountable, and we must restore good quality, robust, and independent public broadcasting and on-line media services, to restore a BALANCE!

    So all criticism here is morally justified, but it is without legs or clout, given the law we have! The Broadcasting Standards Authority can only enforce the Broadcasting Act, so to say. It is time to wake up and take action on this!!!
28. xtasy 28

    7 March 2014 at 8:10 pm

    The link to Legislation NZ website, with info on the Broadcasting Act:

    http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0025/latest/DLM155365.html
    • karol 28.1

      7 March 2014 at 8:25 pm

      And so you can see why Key’s government has been gradually getting rid of the last remnants of public service broadcasting, and promoting more private media. It’s easier for them to spin their BS that way.

      And that’s why Key generally doesn’t do RNZ interviews, but prefers private radio stations.
      • xtasy 28.1.1

        7 March 2014 at 8:37 pm

        Thanks karol, I am waiting for Labour and Greens to come out with their media and broadcasting policies, and they should bloody well take heed of what I just wrote!
29. xtasy 29

    7 March 2014 at 9:50 pm

    Just for the sake of fairness and transparency, I dare to challenge Patrick Gower to disclose his CONTRACT with TV3 and his employer.

    We know that private media operators are protected so they do not have to disclose info that the Official Information Act requires state broadcasters to disclose, but hey, if you want to make some points, raise issues about “Labour Party nests” in public broadcasters, come out with your damned info then, for transparency’s sake, thank you!

    What party membership do TV3 staff have, who paid you what in presents, holidays, perks or whatever, thank you, before you rant on and rubbish TVNZ or even Maori TV, thank you?!

    Come out with it, come out with the truth, who pays you to report, write and do what you are doing, Gower, have you the guts and honesty do disclose it?

    I challenge you and ALL TV3 and also SKY TV staff, all the privately, partly corporate owned media outlets, to tell us, where does ALL your income come from, and who do you work and deal with, 24/7. Play fair and DISCLOSE, thank you, do NOT hide behind the OIA that exempts you.

    Thank You, we are looking forward for your DISCLOSURE of INTERESTS!

Links to post

1. Well Done Paddy - The Standard: posted on 6 March 2014 at 1:30 pm

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS