Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: In the Game

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  • giovanni tiso,

    She suggests that to get school principals to understand the autistic child and their need for things to be predictable and unchanging, is to get to school early and park in the principal's car park.

    What a brilliant suggestion!

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • DPF,

    Emma: No. People are responsible for their own words. I do not see all the comments made. There are simply far too many. If someone complains to me about a comment, I'll look at it and consider demerits, which lead to a suspension. I will sometimes do it proactively also, but again do not see all comments. I normally only check a thread out a couple of times before moving on.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 78 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    So, David, what you're saying is that you take no responsibility for what appears on your site?

    Odd that you don't have time to moderate your comments, but it seems you do have time to follow all your track-backs.

    You're responsible for your own actions, David. The commentary at Kiwiblog is a direct result of those actions, as the commentary here reflects Russell's pastoral care. Your refusal to acknowledge that when you must know it strikes me as... disingenuous really does seem to be the word.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Disingenuous seems at the polite end of the scale, if anything.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Emma. I try to be consistent with the demerits policy. The idea is that it tells people when they step over the line, and an incentive not to keep doing so. Last time I checked I have handed out demerits on several hundred occasions to around 100 different people. Most respond to it - 20 or so have carried on and been suspended.

    There's an actual policy? Because it looks as if some people are able to get away with hate speech at will, while others get hit with demerits.

    I had hoped the Crown Law Office review of potential contempt of court issues involving Kiwiblog would encourage DPF to clean out the sewer. But it appears nothing changes.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    If you're going to rag on Kiwiblog, at least have the courage to go do it on Kiwiblog...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • HORansome,

    The first rule of Kiwiblog should be 'Don't comment on Kiwiblog.' The second rule of Kiwiblog should be don't comment on Kiwiblog.

    Got to love ambiguity.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report

  • Gordon Paynter,

    Should TVNZ be allowed to bid for the RWC? They are after all just as much a state-underwritten, part advertising-funded broadcaster as Maori TV?

    If the government could forbid both TVNZ and Maori TV from bidding on those rights, what would they be worth?

    Wellington • Since Dec 2007 • 21 posts Report

  • mike jameson,

    "The fact that Maori Television only reaches 85% of viewers presents another obvious problem."

    Well that would be a problem, if it was a fact.

    MTV reaches 100% of viewers - via Freeview Satellite.
    Which is more than could have been said about Prime up until last month.

    Hate to use the "R" word. But it seems to me this wouldn't have been an issue if it was TVNZ.
    Say TVNZ had reached a deal with the govt to bid for the FTA coverage (for example by decreasing their dividend for a year) - no one bar a few NBR writers would care - but because it's "The bloody Maoris" ....
    Cue the talkback callers "... and their going to do it all in bloody Maori... we speak ENGLISH in Nu Zulund... not bloody Maori .. we're all kiwis ... we all need to talk thu same" etc

    Can't help but think Pita Sharples has tried, in some small way, to stuff one up the nats - always a good thing.

    Anyway lets remember its only a bunch of middle aged men in walk shorts and pulled up socks chasing a inflated plastic ball around for 80mins.

    Since Oct 2009 • 2 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Hate to use the "R" word. But it seems to me this wouldn't have been an issue if it was TVNZ.

    Actually, I'd really prefer you didn't waltz in here and use your first post to accuse me and others of being racist.

    It "wouldn't be an issue" with TVNZ for quite a different reason.

    That's because TVNZ, since the Olympics boondoggle with the Charter funding, has been explicitly forbidden to use public funding in such ways. And that's just money earmarked for actually making television.

    The idea that TVNZ would reach into budgets at other public entities in a secret deal with its responsible minister is so absurd it hardly bears thinking about. It would be a huge shitstorm.

    Can't help but think Pita Sharples has tried, in some small way, to stuff one up the nats - always a good thing.

    I guess the Maori initiatives that might otherwise have been in a position to receive millions of dollars in development funding would see it differently.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    If the government could forbid both TVNZ and Maori TV from bidding on those rights, what would they be worth?

    Very canny point.

    The IRB rejected the TV3 and TVNZ bids for being insufficient. It's now in a much stronger position to command a price.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Hmmm. Sharples has just been on the radio and again said that Maori Television and TPK would help iwi radio get rights to radio broadcasts of the RWC games.

    But as far as I can tell, the audio broadcast rights are a completely separate deal. Is Sharples saying MTS will outbid others for those rights too? Or is he just confused?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    If you're going to rag on Kiwiblog, at least have the courage to go do it on Kiwiblog...

    Been there, got the postcard. I don't generally bother anymore, because it just generates a shitstorm, and leaves the perpetrators feeling validated.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    And just to raise the tone ...

    Hang on, how did I miss this? Am I going blind and/or senile? Thank you, Russell! I might just put it on my cards: Giovanni Tiso, tone raiser.

    (Seriously, though: thanks.)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Hang on, how did I miss this? Am I going blind and/or senile?

    I published the rest before that last part, so if you got in the the 20-30 min window between the two ... no, you're not senile.

    Thank you, Russell! I might just put it on my cards: Giovanni Tiso, tone raiser.
    (Seriously, though: thanks.)

    No worries. It was a privilege. And it also moved Brian Easton to send me the link to this amazing poem.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    no, you're not senile.

    Relief.

    And it also moved Brian Easton to send me the link to this amazing poem.

    That made me a little teary. Okay, scratch "a little".

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Andre,

    The fact is that the Maori TV bid for the RWC will disenfranchise many kiwis. Thousands of kids won't be able to watch it because their parents can't afford sky or freeview and they live somewhere "...such as Russell, Paihia, Kaikohe, Wellsford, Warkworth, Coromandel, Whitianga and Queenstown..."
    I wouldn't have caught the rugby as a kid on that basis. Love of our national sporting team is something that binds us together as a nation. Not everyone agrees (Paul etc) but the majority do and that is why the Maori TV bid is cynical. I know that they think that it'll be great capturing viewers and making them listen to a language that (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10588555) only 18,000 kiwis actually speak for "5 to 10% of the coverage", but I think they may under-estimate the backlash generated by firstly wasting our money and secondly trying to stick their beliefs down our throats. We all use a lot of Maori in our everyday language but the fact that only 18,000 people speak Maori after decades of spending billions on special schools etc really does make it look like a language that is never going to be used much outside the select clique who curently use it.
    I think it is quite funny that Sharples has upset Key's applecart but also know that it's us paying the 3 million bucks funding their spat. Why doesn't Key just let TVNZ bid for the rights so that we can end up paying more than $3 million? That would be fun!
    And BTW I found the Maori TV Sunday movie quite interesting at times. Shy people being diagnosed with phobic disorders and fed drugs etc. I switched off fairly quickly though - it was a fairly repetitive rant - and was a bit stunned to hear it was a scientology film. Maori TV should have pointed that out but maybe they had no clue either?

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report

  • Ross Mason,

    Ouch...

    We all use a lot of Maori in our everyday language but the fact that only 18,000 people speak Maori after decades of spending billions on special schools etc really does make it look like a language that is never going to be used much outside the select clique who curently use it.

    I am reminded of this wonderful quote that there is nothing like a bit of OE (usually further than Oz) being good for the soul:

    "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

    Mark Twain. Innocents Abroad.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report

  • Andre,

    Thanks for your thoughts Ross. Since you are so enlightened I'm sure you can repeat that in Maori for me without using translation software.
    It isn't bigotry to point out facts and the salient one is that 0.004% of us speak Maori yet our biggest sporting event is going to be broadcast using the language.
    I know that there are many reasons for wanting us all to speak Maori and multiple taxpayer-funded opportunities for those who want to do so but using this event to push the agenda may attract a backlash. Calling me a bigot won't change that.

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    My chances of understanding what happens at the breakdown wouldn't be significantly diminished if the commentary ended up being in te reo.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Andre,

    The fact is we can all watch the coverage and listen to the radio commentary. Or just listen to the radio coverage if we live in the many places outside the main cities (the rugby-playing heartland BTW) unless we pay hundreds of dollars to get Sky or Freeview. Why should we go through this crap? Becase Maori TV have an agenda to push...

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Becase Maori TV have an agenda to push...

    You sure you're not pushing your own?

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    We all use a lot of Maori in our everyday language but the fact that only 18,000 people speak Maori after decades of spending billions on special schools etc really does make it look like a language that is never going to be used much outside the select clique who curently use it.

    Andre, your numbers are just plain wrong. Also, can a clique actually be "select" if it is largely made up of the self-selected?

    Say TVNZ had reached a deal with the govt to bid for the FTA coverage (for example by decreasing their dividend for a year) - no one bar a few NBR writers would care - but because it's "The bloody Maoris" ....

    OK, I'm not invoking the "R" word, but if this kind of deal had been struck (and thereby circumventing the restrictions on Charter funding), would the media have approached the story in the same way ?

    When Aotearoa TV collapsed, the media were all over it. But when TVNZ wasted (IIRC circa 5m) on that hopeless UK MTV channel (which it had to drop because it was a complete failure), it did not receive anywhere near the same level of coverage.

    I'm not convinced that Sharples has made a strong case to appropriate TPK funding for this, either, and I agree with Russell that this is an exceptional situation that needs scrutiny. However, it does seem that the Key government's standard operating approach is At The Whim of the Minister (e.g. McCully and overseas aid, Brownlee and Schedule 4). In a culture where ministers oversee personal fiefdoms, where action trumps consideration, is it any surprise to see these kinds of decisions ?

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Actually, I'd really prefer you didn't waltz in here and use your first post to accuse me and others of being racist.

    Especially when its totally unfair -- I think its fair comment to say, while its not a perfect analogy, Russell has been generally supportive of so-called 'charter' funding while not missing opportunities to raise his eyebrows at some of the execution. Especially when TVNZ has displayed a rather irritating tendency to call itself a 'public service' broadcaster when the begging bowl is extended... not so much when it comes to public scrutiny of what they actually do with public money. Then its all 'commercially sensitive' blah blah...

    Can't help but think Pita Sharples has tried, in some small way, to stuff one up the nats - always a good thing.

    Nice, Mike. That's what I pay my fucking taxes for.

    We all use a lot of Maori in our everyday language but the fact that only 18,000 people speak Maori after decades of spending billions on special schools etc really does make it look like a language that is never going to be used much outside the select clique who curently use it.

    I guess I could be uncharitable and say that English doesn't seem to used much outside a "select clique"....

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Andre,

    @ Mikaere thanks for the wikipedia heads up on the numbers - I was quoting Erima Henare, chairman of the Maori Language Commission from the NZ Herald. That seems a fairly trust-worthy source.
    If a French language channel had won the rights I'd be more worried - and so would you.
    TVNZ set up MTV to get rid of the much better and privately operated Max TV.
    I don't agree with this decision because it would have affected me personally as a child with no voice in the decision making process. Why should thousands of rugby-mad kids not be able to see our national game's biggest event that we are plowing billions into hosting because Sharples wanted to get one up on his coalition partners?

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report

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