Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Piss-poor on PEDA

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  • Russell Brown,

    Something, need I add, that Fairfax isn't beyond doing itself.

    Actually, I should also have noted that the Star Times has tiptoed quietly away from its original allegation against Brown, in Marshall's story -- that officials requested a false invoice from the restaurant to cover up spending on booze.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • James W,

    You cannot take a genuine (in their words "scientific") political opinion poll and compare it with the "survey" you've ginned up from a self-selected group of Your Views readers.

    ...

    A commenter at The Standard saw the "survey" text and said it didn't mention Banks at all, and the questions were all about perceptions of Brown. It was risible, frankly, and I wonder if Orsman wrote the story under protest.

    The Herald's "unscientific" surveys are a waste of time, agreed. However, I did this one (because I knew they'd use it in their reporting) as part of the APN Reader's Panel. I'm not a Your Views reader or contributor, believe me.

    Also, I think you've misread the Standard's comment - the survey DID mention Banks, but every question was phrased about the effect on Brown, ie. (I'm paraphrasing here) "After Len Brown's credit card scandal, who will you vote for as Super City mayor? a) Len Brown, b) John Banks, c) Other"

    Since Jul 2008 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Damn! Just realised that the editorial I attributed to yesterday's HoS was in fact from this morning's NZ Herald. Perils of not leaving the house to get a print copy before filing.

    Post amended accordingly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Tapu Misa reminds about the other likely connections here, beyond former sportsmen:

    More likely this is about English (who has Pacific connections through his wife) being well aware of the need to get some runs on the board, and allowing himself to be persuaded that J.R. Pereira and colleagues were the best for the job. He should have known better.

    Are journalists trying to establish detail about how Mary English fits into this story?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Actually, I should also have noted that the Star Times has tiptoed quietly away from its original allegation against Brown, in Marshall's story -- that officials requested a false invoice from the restaurant to cover up spending on booze.

    Fair enough too -- but as my Nana used to say: It's all very nice being sorry, but much better to have nothing to apologise for in the first place. I'm really hoping a new editor is going to see a meaningful reassertion of journalistic values where you put in the time and effort to get the story right, rather than right now. (Not for the first time, I think there was a legitimate story there that got buried by being egregiously sexed-up.)

    Are journalists trying to establish detail about how Mary English fits into this story?

    Why, because those Islanders hang together in their exotically clannish way? I get where you're trying to go, but I think the media should be pretty damn sure of their ground before trying to paint Mary English as some melanin-enhanced Lady Macbeth. But I guess in Tapu Misa's world, evil Tories don't actually know any FOBs unless they're also FWBs (friends with benefits).

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    Very strong grounds for a Press Council complaint. If that doesn't work, maybe the Commerce Commission? The Granny has basically become a law firm with a printing press.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Also, I think you've misread the Standard's comment - the survey DID mention Banks, but every question was phrased about the effect on Brown, ie. (I'm paraphrasing here) "After Len Brown's credit card scandal, who will you vote for as Super City mayor? a) Len Brown, b) John Banks, c) Other"

    Jesus. If a political party did that, they'd be guilty of push-polling, wouldn't they?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Martin,

    Are journalists trying to establish detail about how Mary English fits into this story?

    They may indeed be.Her husband alluded to it in an answer to an oral question last week :

    I resent that implication. [Interruption] If the member really wants to know, the only Pereira I knew before was Tino Pereira, whom I understand was very close to the previous Labour Government. That does not mean he did not have something to contribute to the welfare of Pacific Island people. That member will know that I have my own connections with that community by blood relationship.

    Sua William Sio has been asking questions of Te Heu Heu on this every day with Annette King in on the action too.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Why, because those Islanders hang together in their exotically clannish way?

    Uh no, because it seems that meetings took place with English rather than Te Heuheu and any connections which might shed light on that seem pretty relevant. How did the matter reach his desk?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Uh no, because it seems that meetings took place with English rather than Te Heuheu and any connections which might shed light on that seem pretty relevant. How did the matter reach his desk?

    So how exactly does anyone presume Mary English tie into that, without getting into Insinuate Magazine levels of batshitness? The last time someone insinuated Mary English had exploited her "connections" with the then-Health Minister, Trevor Mallard only escaped being sued for defamation due to parliamentary privilege.

    But, hey, if Labour or The Herald really wants to derail a legitimate (and frankly appalling enough) story into Madelaine Setchell Redux territory, so be it. I'm sure Bill would appreciate the distraction.

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

  • Sacha,

    So how exactly does Mary English tie into that?

    I don't know, do you? Maybe she doesn't and it got to her husband some other way. That's why some "investigation" might be called for. From "journalists".

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I don't know, do you? Maybe she doesn't and it got to her husband some other way. That's why some "investigation" might be called for. From "journalists".

    Oh, I'm sure Ian Wishart is on the job, and The Herald will once more sock-puppet his revelations of what a pussy-whipped tool of the radical racist PI-Papist cabal squishy old Bill is. Seriously, don't you think this story is quite bad enough without trying to cook up some Frangipani-wreathed Francis and Elizabeth Urquhart?

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

  • Russell Brown,

    I don't think it would be Wishartian to simply ask whether Bill English's "community connections" played any role.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome,

    "Wishartian." I'm going to try and get that into my thesis.

    "Richard Gage suddenly went all Wishartian..." Yep, that works.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    You'd think simple curiosity might come into play about how a seven figure item got all the way into the Budget without going through the responsible Minister or the usual tendering processes.

    I'm relieved to see the existing Pacific Business Trust funding also survived, though I'm sure they might have been interested in bidding for it to be doubled.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Actually, I think a better question to ask would be what is the PEDA initiative trying to achieve. There is no doubt we have many communities, especially in South Auckland, that are dis-empowered and disenfranchised. That someone in National might be looking at how to address these issues is interesting.

    Whilst it is nice to have an opportunity to beat up on the VRWC (vast right-wing conspiracy) I am much more fascinated in seeing how initiatives like this might work.

    So, there goes my pinko card. Sorry.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I don't know, do you? Maybe she doesn't and it got to her husband some other way. That's why some "investigation" might be called for. From "journalists".

    Those sound like reasonable questions. I just don't see how raising them here advances anything.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I am much more fascinated in seeing how initiatives like this might work.

    Same, so the faster we resolve the dodginess about the process, the better.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jan Farr,

    Thanks for an enlightening post Russell. But is someone fooling with the links?

    Nothing there for Steve Barnes’s: And then there's The PACIFIC ECONOMIC INVESTMENT GROUP LIMITED also tied up with J. R. Pereira and Mose Saitala. I ain't no journalist and don't really have the time but I pointed to this weeks ago and it still stinks.

    Or Sacha’s: Listen to Craig's thoughts about this, on Public Address Radio.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I don't think it would be Wishartian to simply ask whether Bill English's "community connections" played any role.

    No it isn't, but it would be a very Wishartian form of post hoc ergo propter hoc reasoning to insinuate that Mary English abused her relationship with a Minister of the Crown to line the pockets of her "community connections". Which, I think, is somewhere no responsible media outlet would want to go without rock solid evidence.

    So, there goes my pinko card. Sorry.

    Oh, have mine. :) I'd love to know too, but we're all guessing while we're being blithely told that they're still working out the purchase agreement. As I said on the radio yesterday, if only NZoA was so enlightened with the funding for Public Address Radio instead of demanding very detailed funding pitches (five pages of cut-and-paste waffle wouldn't cut it) and crystal clear audit lines to make sure we're not all fucking off to Prego for long liquid lunches on the public dime.

    And, of course, we're getting nowhere near 1.4 million a year for four years, and public money meant to turn around crap-tacular social dysfunction in PI communities is a little more important than funding for a radio show. (Ego wounding to admit, but true.)

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

  • Hilary Stace,

    Actually, I think a better question to ask would be what is the PEDA initiative trying to achieve. There is no doubt we have many communities, especially in South Auckland, that are dis-empowered and disenfranchised. That someone in National might be looking at how to address these issues is interesting.

    In which case, the Budget should have mentioned a sum of money for such a project and then the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs could have run the usual contestable tender process.

    I've been part of an organisation that thought it had been promised money only to see another organisation win it after a contestable process. Which is the way it has to work. The Auditor General has had strong comments to make in the past when money was promised to contractors without this process so will they be looking at PEDA?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    In which case, the Budget should have mentioned a sum of money for such a project and then the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs could have run the usual contestable tender process.

    Oh shit, Hillary, we're going to have to stop meeting like this. :) The point of a robust tender process, I thought, is that proposals are rigorously tested, and clear accountabilities and performance benchmarks are in place before the cheques are cut.

    English may have acted with the best of intentions, but the process not only sucks shit but undermines the credibility of everyone else who comes afterwards. If PEDA was the best option out there, then it should have been able to withstand a tender process at least as robust as NZOA's.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Thanks for an enlightening post Russell. But is someone fooling with the links?

    No, just coincidence.

    Steve fell afoul of the weirdness of the Companies Office website. This should work.

    And I've fixed the link to Craig's broadcast.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Hmmm, Rusty's link don't work either.
    So try Here

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

    As long as no-one finds a file, I'll be happy.

    Too late, Trevor beat that path last week

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

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