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Hard News: Oh Dear ...

Posted at 10:39AM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

I see National's Judith Collins has had another bout of political Tourette's: this time attacking the Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro for her support of the Section 59 bill.

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I see National's Judith Collins has had another bout of political Tourette's: this time attacking the Children's Commissioner Cindy Kiro for her support of the Section 59 bill.

Collins issued a statement declaring Kiro to have "lost the plot" and advising the commissioner to "pay heed to the Children's Commissioner Act of 2003 and get on with her main job of dealing with complaints relating to children, and the monitoring of Child Youth and Family."

For a lawyer, Ms Collins displays a bewildering inability to read the law.

The intent of the 2003 Act was precisely to formally expand the Children's Commissioner's brief into advocacy, with particular emphasis on assisting New Zealand to fulfil its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. See, in particular, Section 3(b) : describing the Act's purpose as to "re-enact the Commissioner's functions with modifications that are consistent with the Commissioner's primary role as an advocate for children."

Collins really needs to stop insulting independent agents of the Crown and get a grip on what she's doing.

A rather better performance from a National MP - a dazzlingly good one, in fact - was to be had from the party's new arts spokesman, Chris Finlayson, on Frontseat last Saturday. In the past National has tend to chuck the arts portfolio at anyone who wasn't quick enough to get out of the way, but Finlayson looks like he not only knows what he's talking about, but cares.

You can see the video of that interview and the rest of the show here. I think Frontseat's looking really good in its new timeslot this year, but thank God (or Rupert, I guess) for MySky. Mummy and Daddy have better things to do at 8am on a Saturday than watch television.

Canadian-based expat New Zealander Richard Graydon confirms in our forums that Dr Tim Ball, the "expert" featured in The Great Global Warming Swindle is indeed continuing to tout bogus credentials:

I am a New Zealander who has lived in Winnipeg since 1972. From 1995 until 2006 I was a member of the Board of the University of Winnipeg and served as Chair of the Board for 2003-04.
Dr. Tim Ball was indeed a Professor of Geography at the U of W. I concur with the fact that at no time was he elected a Professor Emeritus. Since his retirement he has consistently denied the global warming phenomena and is considered to be a crank. Living on the Prairies I have seen the effects of global warming in our much milder winters, much reduced snow fall and dry summers. Dr. Tim Ball is really without honour in this community where he taught for so many years.

The great gay TV controversy has entered a new chapter with the announcement of the official title and likely content of TVNZ's new "obs-doc". It's called The Outlook and will be based only partly on observation of the daily lives of staff of the gay newspaper, Express, with a magazine component filled out with a "young programme makers' initiative" under which five-minute films on GLBT themes will be solicited for screening, with the producers extending screen credits and a "small fee" to the new film-makers.

TVNZ commissioner Jude Callen answered the question everyone's been asking in the GayNZ forums earlier this week: the owners and staff of Express are neither paying or being paid to appear in the programme. Callen also described the new reality format as "moving beyond the magazine style programmes of the past." I think there may have been some refinements to the format in the days before the announcement …

Waj's Virtual Nostradamus Super 14 picks are up for the week. I (largely) let Waj guide me last week and did rather well. If the Blues don't win this year with the dream draw they've had you have to wonder why.

And, by popular demand, new Colin: cat in a bag. I do wonder if stardom (21st most-viewed animals and pets video on all of YouTube on Tuesday!) is going to Colin's head a bit. Having spent recent days lurking in his bag and pouncing on any moving thing that strayed past, he was oddly reticent on camera. He's also refusing interviews.

PS: The response to my casual offer to people who might be interested in joining emusic.com to let me do the tell-a-friend thing was such that I'm probably going to have more free downloads than I know what to do with. So we're running some emusic ads now. These are cost-per-sale ads, so we only get paid if someone signs up. Most of the others you're seeing at the moment are cost-per-click, so we get paid if you click on an ad and have a squizz. The ad-serving system behind them should be prioritising the ads that get the most clicks. If you do click on one and get an "expired" message, please let me know.

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the E
From: wellington
Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 42

Posted at 10:39AM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

Chris Finlayson is a long-term supporter and patron of the arts. He has also put his money where his mouth is, including with Patronage of the 2004 NZ International Arts Festival, and sponsoring NZSO's Principal Oboeist Robert Orr.

Maybe FrontSeat's target market is Mummy and Daddy, since most artists I know are only awake at 8am on a Saturday if they've been gigging, writing or painting all night. So it's good that we're able to watch episodes via the web site!

Riddley Walker
From: AKL
Since: Feb 2007
Posts: 890

Posted at 10:52AM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

i guess Collins is attacking all these organizations that officially support the bill too:

UNICEF New Zealand, Save the Children, Barnardos NZ, Royal Plunket Society, Office of the Children's Commissioner, Families Commission, Jigsaw – Child Abuse Prevention (representing 14 member organisations), IHC, Amokura Family Violence Prevention (representing 7 iwi Chief Executives), Churches Agency on Social Issues (represents Presbyterian, Methodist, Quakers and Churches of Christ), NZ Council of Christian Social Services (represents 6 major church social agencies), National Council of Women New Zealand, NZ Federation of Business and Professional Women, National Network of Stopping Violence Services (33 members), Relationship Services NZ, Paediatric Society Of New Zealand, Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa, NZ Foster Care Federation
Women's Refuge (49 member refuges), NZ Psychotherapists Society
Parents Centre, NZ Psychological Society, NZ Child Care Association, NZ Playcentre Federation, NZ Federation of Graduate Women, CCS,
Brainwave Trust, Child Development Foundation, Pacific Foundation (founder Lesley Max), National Council for Young Catholics, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, ParentingWorks, Youth Law Project, Wellington Community Law Centre, NZ Association of Counsellors.

btw, here is a pick of HMS Collins, spooky likeness, no?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/thumb/5/5a/HMS_Collins.jpg/120px-HMS_Collins.jpg

Neil Morrison
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 640

Posted at 11:00AM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

Callen also described the new reality format as "moving beyond the magazine style programmes of the past."

If it's such a good idea then I look forward to TVNZ going this way with all of its current affairs and news programmes. Perhaps One News could base itself in the offices of Investigate Magazine.

This really does reek of the same patronising approach as Kiwifruit.

I really doubt that behind the scenes at Express is so enthralling that a weekly TV show can get enough material. Maybe that's why the sudden appearance of a "young programme makers' initiative" segment - very worthy but the easiest way to get other people to make your show on the cheap.

And what is wrong with magazine shows FFS.

Peter Darlington
From: Nelson
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 310

Posted at 11:07AM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

Mummy and Daddy have better things to do at 8am on a Saturday than watch television.

What's that then? Can we all join in?

Russell Brown
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 4925
Moderator

Posted at 11:45AM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

Mummy and Daddy have better things to do at 8am on a Saturday than watch television.
What's that then? Can we all join in?

No. Perv.

Peter Darlington
From: Nelson
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 310

Posted at 11:56AM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

No. Perv.

Harsh but fair old son, harsh but fair.

Rogan Polkinghorne
From: A-town
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 68

Posted at 12:08PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

I've got to say I'm kinda sick of the flogging this whole smacking thing has received; sure it's important, but I think there's just too much hysteria being generated from all sides for people to get a realistic grip on the issue.

What has astounded me though, is the argument put forward by some National MP's that people such as Helen Clark aren't fit to talk about this legislation because they aren't parents; does that mean that all non-pot smokers shouldn't be involved in legislation regarding cannabis? Hmmm, wouldn't that be interesting...puff puff

dc_red
From: Waitakere City
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 385

Posted at 12:38PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

does that mean that all non-pot smokers shouldn't be involved in legislation regarding cannabis? Hmmm, wouldn't that be interesting...puff puff

What a promising idea. Although it's Friday, Rogan, I suggest puffing before 4pm is a bit over the top. :)

Ben Austin
From: London
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 545

Posted at 12:46PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

Surely politicians voting on and discussing issues that they know little or nothing about is an essential part of a representative democracy?

merc
From: Styxville
Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 1278

Posted at 12:56PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

LOL, Ben get ye to a Uni Library!

Ben Austin
From: London
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 545

Posted at 1:00PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

My eyes are being truely forced open today.

What other treasured myths lie ready to be violated in a similar fashion I wonder?

merc
From: Styxville
Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 1278

Posted at 1:06PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

Beware, soon The Knowing will fade and Monday will dawn, and it will be raining, and you won't know how you got there...

Riddley Walker
From: AKL
Since: Feb 2007
Posts: 890

Posted at 2:10PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

i hear John 'Never Did Me Any Harm' Tamihere is frothing about this now. WTF? is anyone aware of the Tamihere family history?

merc
From: Styxville
Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 1278

Posted at 2:31PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

It's OK JT, you can still abandon your cats...heh, two threads in one right there, scoring today. (though I refuse to believe I've had that many posts...must be my shadow hand).

Rogan Polkinghorne
From: A-town
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 68

Posted at 3:14PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

dc, it's never too early! A little wake n bake never hurt anyone...did it?

ron
From: auckland
Since: Mar 2007
Posts: 77

Posted at 3:21PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

"What has astounded me though, is the argument put forward by some National MP's that people such as Helen Clark aren't fit to talk about this legislation because they aren't parents".

Can't say that I've heard that one. But I did hear that Helen, just prior to the last election, was dead against banning smacking. Now she says she's changed her mind. I wonder how many Labour voters have changed their mind and wished they hadn't voted Labour.

Riddley Walker
From: AKL
Since: Feb 2007
Posts: 890

Posted at 3:26PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

yeah that's a really good one rossoron.
how's your cat then?

merc
From: Styxville
Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 1278

Posted at 3:31PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

Smacking as a defence, smacking as a defence, smacking as a defence, ooh look, there's some Springfielders, woot, woot, woot...

ron
From: auckland
Since: Mar 2007
Posts: 77

Posted at 3:39PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

> is anyone aware of the Tamihere family history?

No, why don't you enlighten us.

Greg Dawson
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 28

Posted at 3:54PM on 16 Mar 07. Permalink.

But I did hear that Helen...

ohmagawd flipflopper flipflopper! we must purge the halls of parliament of people that change their minds!

actually i'm really curious as to the Tamihere family history as well.

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