Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Never mind the quality ...

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  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Pete Sime,

    Yes, fair enough. Also, there would be ways to redact it that showed WO's [limited] humanity without the detail.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • CJM, in reply to nzlemming,

    Oops! Apologies, yes, Jordan Williams.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2014 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Safe to say there’s a lot of irrelevant noise amongst the actually useful signal. Nicky Hager has just come out and said as much. As of writing this, a number of those I follow on Twitter are attempting to filter out the woffly stuff.

    Nah, I've been blocking on principle anyone posting stuff from Whaledump because I had a horrible feeling something like that would happen. And, honestly, I can't really muster much sympathy for Nicky Hager -- who I find it hard to believe is so naive he didn't see all this coming. The Law of Unintended But Entirely Predictable and Ugly Consequences is a bitch, and not just for Cameron Slater.

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

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    And, honestly, I can't really muster much sympathy for Nicky Hager -- who I find it hard to believe is so naive he didn't see all this coming.

    How's he to blame? He's not the hacker. If he hadn't written the book, do you suppose the hacker wouldn't have released the material?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Is it plausible that Key has been such a helicopter manager that he never got his hands dirty when #TeamWhaleCollins was digging dirty on ACC claimants and public servants? Sort of a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, where he'd leave ministers to their own devices while he swanned around for photo ops and golf games? He certainly seems like the type, but I don't know if it's stretching credibility beyond recovery for a PM to be that uninvolved in what's happening within the cabinet.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    How’s he to blame? He’s not the hacker. If he hadn’t written the book, do you suppose the hacker wouldn’t have released the material?

    Exactly. The hacker would have gone to someone else and/or dumped the material anyway.

    When Hager was refused access second time around, he asked his source not to post personal material. He can't do any more than that.

    The thing that's really off is a part about Cameron Slater's mother dying, but there are a couple of other things that also made me delete my link.

    I was initially amused because I'm mentioned, but there is quite a lot of considerable public interest, which is appropriately summarised by David Fisher.

    It's also worth noting that on Saturday Fran O'Sullivan was tearing into Hager for not shipping the documents to "Wikileaks or similar".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Whaledump has apologised for posting the document with the personal conversations still in it, says he "got lazy", didn't read it properly, and won't do it again.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Is it plausible that Key has been such a helicopter manager that he never got his hands dirty when #TeamWhaleCollins was digging dirty on ACC claimants and public servants?

    Not when it involves OIAs to the SIS. No.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It’s also worth noting that on Saturday Fran O’Sullivan was tearing into Hager for not shipping the documents to “Wikileaks or similar”.

    Where they would be completely unredacted, in all probability. Fan seems to be flip-flopping all over the place. I wonder what she fears will come out about her?

    [edit] Although the comments on that are brilliant.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Election commentary... yes well!
    A earner for some I guess
    Not much else to say for it.
    Jimmy Bolger gets a gig too... underwhelming

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Have there been any instances anywhere in the world, where hacktvitists have directly influenced the outcome of an election? And I mean not by breaking into e-voting systems (which haven't been put in place here yet), but by doing a WikiLeaks or Anonymous. If not, and Key loses 2014, it would be a world first for NZ.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • stephen clover, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    If not, and Key loses 2014, it would be a world first for NZ.

    Well, that would be a nice positive note for him to go out on. Something to take away from what would otherwise be a situation with few redeeming features.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    ...where hacktvitists have directly influenced
    the outcome of an election

    like a 'coup data'?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Angela Hart, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Thanks Ian, I've managed to stop laughing long enough to type now- beautiful

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Dominic Muir, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    'coup data'

    Public Address Word of the Year 2014?

    West AK • Since Oct 2007 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac, in reply to Dominic Muir,

    I vote "yes".

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    "coup data"

    Oh, well played sir, well played.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Have there been any instances anywhere in the world, where hacktvitists have directly influenced the outcome of an election?

    KDC thinks not.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    s it plausible that Key has been such a helicopter manager that he never got his hands dirty when #TeamWhaleCollins was digging dirty on ACC claimants and public servants? Sort of a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, where he’d leave ministers to their own devices while he swanned around for photo ops and golf games?

    Rock, hard place. He either knows and his hands are just as dirty, or he didn't know and he's an incompetent leader.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • tussock, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    Editor wrecked this comment, try next.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • tussock, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    Are prisoners allowed to write for newspapers?

    Well, they're not allowed to vote, so does that make them impartial ?

    Speaking of, does anyone have the numbers on how many people are excluded by that, or likely excluded because they'll be put off the roll too close to get back on even when out?

    Or how many got turfed in the last couple years and never got back on? Or data on how hard the prisoner population voted against National in the past? Obviously they don't vote Nat, or we wouldn't have the new law.

    Be interesting if it turns out a close election, which it's looking like given typical poll shifts in recent cycles.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to James George,

    her alleged emails about getting Hager hurt or even killed by angry Chinese business people are illegal

    Is it known if she'd have been in Hong Kong at the time of writing that, and would it have relevance if NZ Police investigated? I suppose Hong Kong agencies might be able to take an interest if NZ Police couldn't, but exact interpretation and consequences might vary. I've been trying to browse HK law just now, but haven't resolved anything clearly.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to tussock,

    40,000 election enrolment envelopes have been returned to the PO as wrong address. These names have now been removed from the roll.
    I don't have numbers but Arthur Taylor has mounted a legal challenge
    to win the right to vote inside.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Exactly. The hacker would have gone to someone else and/or dumped the material anyway.

    When Hager was refused access second time around, he asked his source not to post personal material. He can’t do any more than that.

    He can cut the pious hand wringing – he’s well on the record saying he got rid off all the material to avoid being sued to disclose the source, so these are the consequences. I’d bloody want to distance myself too, but let’s not be terribly surprised. As they say in Boston, politics ain’t bean bag.

    It’s also worth noting that on Saturday Fran O’Sullivan was tearing into Hager for not shipping the documents to “Wikileaks or similar”.

    And considering you know full well my opinion of Wikileaks’ approach to other people’s privacy, what’s your point? Fran O'Sullivan says something ill-considered isn't exactly a once in a century event.

    Whaledump has apologised for posting the document with the personal conversations still in it, says he “got lazy”, didn’t read it properly, and won’t do it again.

    Mistakes were made. Well, that’s alright then. I just hope if this happens again we’re all going to be a little less sang froid about it.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    He can cut the pious hand wringing – he’s well on the record saying he got rid off all the material to avoid being sued to disclose the source, so these are the consequences. I’d bloody want to distance myself too, but let’s not be terribly surprised. As they say in Boston, politics ain’t bean bag.

    Yes, he was justifiably concerned over the Winkelmann decision declaring that David Fisher’s book didn’t enjoy journalistic protections on account of being a book. He’s not “well on the record” as saying this: he has simply said it’s the case. He’s not “distancing” himself from anything either. He quite clearly stands by his work.

    I get that you’re hostile towards the book and its author. I think the contents are pretty important.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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