Cracker by Damian Christie

Read Post

Cracker: The Happy Hikoi

29 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 Newer→ Last

  • Rich of Observationz,

    That afternoon show with the "panel" seems to suffer from a need to have two crazy wingnuts to balance one reasonable liberal (David Slack on the episode I heard). Maybe they feel they need to move to the right to secure funding under NACT.

    I'd rate our media soundness on a scale of 1-10 as:
    RadioActive: 10
    bFM: 9 (some of Havo's nuttier ideas let it down)
    Nat Radio: 5 (probably reasonable for a state owned broadcaster)
    TV3: 4 (better than you might expect for a right-wing overseas multinational)
    TV1: 1 (believes violence is ok when white males are the perpetrator)
    Radio Live, Newstalk ZB: minus infinity

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    I watched "coverage" of the hikoi on TV3 news last night, and I was struck by how many interviews they did, and showed, with people at the fringes of the march. IMHO these people were not the best people to get the thinking behind the march, what was hoped to achieve etc. There were plenty of spokespeople out there who could have given a better quote and made more sense of it.
    It seemed to me that TV3 were going out of their way to give ammunition to the people who don't want to take the hikoi seriously; the people who said it was just dole-bludgers and rent-a-crowd.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    No surprise perhaps to find out that the panellist in question was NBR's Nevil Gibson, who I haven't heard much from before, but clearly isn't exactly breaking the mould of NBR's grumpy old white men.

    I've known Nevil for years, and I like him personally, but his public commentary lately has verged on the batshit.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    I watched "coverage" of the hikoi on TV3 news last night, and I was struck by how many interviews they did, and showed, with people at the fringes of the march.

    One News did that too - it's pretty standard to get the voice of the people rather than just the organisers - but Tini Molyneux also did a separate item on hikoi organiser Ngarimu Blair, which I thought was pretty valuable.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    It just seemd a bit disproportionate to me. I'm good with having the voice of the people, as it were, but I'd also like someone from the front to be given the time to give the viewers a good, solid representation of what was happening and why.

    As you say, maybe I should have been watching TV1 last night instead.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    See ing the Iwi merge together at the Downtown insterection sorta summed up the feeling of that final sretch up Queen Street.

    Outside the sushi shop where the geisha dressed saleswoman had her friends take photos of her hugging a couple of Hikoi marchers. Intimidated? I don't think so.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    Oh, and it seemes more than 7000 but it was harder than usual to tell as, with Aotea Square under repair, it ended at the intersection in front of the Town Hall with the crowd spead out and down the streets...

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Tini Molyneux also did a separate item on hikoi organiser Ngarimu Blair

    3m streaming clip - Ngarimu from 1m20 onwards.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    You know with all those people there and fairly large turnout on Sunday on the bridge I'd say there is a healthy group pf people thinking on their feet and not taking that much notice of grumpy old media figureheads.

    Im probably still a minority group but I haven't taken that much notice of main stream media on TV or newspapers for the best part of 10 years now. I do like radio because they actually have analysts on to talk about the subject rather than themselves.

    I watched a Paul Henry clip the other night and I just couldn't believe he wasn't taking the piss. Apparently he is like that most of the time.

    Presenters are not the story - somehow radio seems way better than TV in that regard.

    I read more in depth coverage from other sources on most topics and I'll just talk to people who were at the event or check their blog posts, twitter streams, facebooks or other.

    The photos you have here are just great. Keep that camera snapping. And I'll check the radio clips as well.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • kmont,

    Cheers Damian, those are some great images. I am looking forward to catching up on some real coverage of this event when I have the time.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 485 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Radio Live, Newstalk ZB: minus infinity

    Newstalk ZB seems like a black hole of stupidity. But Radio Live just throws all manner of things at you, seems like there is no overarching editorial direction at all, which is good I think.
    Theres' the stupidoids, Michael Laws, Wille Jackson.
    The populists Marcus Lush, Tamihere.
    And the listen and council those late night callers,(90% of who sounds as if they are on meds) Hay & Fagen.
    And some weird fuckers I've never heard of who must have made as name for themselves somehow. ?Mark Stewart,Some Hooton dick, Crump, oh must be a descendant.

    My favorite has to be Graeme Hill tho.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    Presenters are not the story - somehow radio seems way better than TV in that regard.
    I read more in depth coverage from other sources on most topics and I'll just talk to people who were at the event or check their blog posts, twitter streams, facebooks or other.

    As someone who spends more days of the week making TV than any other medium, but also a fair chunk on radio/print/blogs, I often find myself defending the telly.

    There's always going to be an argument/desire for more 'highbrow' television, more analysis, longer interviews etc, and I think we're starting to see that with some of the programming on TVNZ 7. But it "is what it is", and what it is, is commercial telly. It's ratings driven, revenue driven, and until we have a commercial-free public broadcaster we're not going to be the BBC, or whatever the ideal model is.

    In the meantime, I suggest using telly to get the pictures, and supplement this with radio and print/net analysis. That's what telly is best at, the pictures. Big sweeping helicopter shots of the various hikoi components merging. Incredible footage of the fires in Australia. The lamington (or is it lemmington?) being smacked down on John Boscowan's head at the Mt Albert rally. That's where TV comes into its own, not acres of analysis.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    But Radio Live just throws all manner of things at you, seems like there is no overarching editorial direction at all, which is good I think.

    And of course it's the home of Public Address radio, 5-6pm Saturdays....

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Public Servant on a tea-break.,

    <I've known Nevil for years, and I like him personally, but his public commentary lately has verged on the batshit.>

    I think you are being too kind there Russell, unless you are talking about his comments verging on the other side of the line of batshit.

    I'd personally judge the 'misjudged' comments I have caught out of him of late as being armpit deep in a Wishartian level of batshit.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 67 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    A friend of mine has put up a really good photo-set of the Hikoi. Worth a look.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    My own snapshot:

    Cop: (laughing) aw, mate! You!
    Hikoi-marcher: (lalso laughing) Eeh, man. Howzit?
    Cop: (grinning, raising eyebrows) Sweet. Yeah.
    Hikoi-marcher: Hey! What happened to the warriors in the weekend?
    Cop: Ha ha ha. Couldn't believe it, man. Don't blame me.

    In my experience, English language does not contain the coloquialism: "as threatening as a couple of guys discussing a sports team."

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    A friend of mine has put up a really good photo-set of the Hikoi

    Aw thanks George, show me up why don't ya... ;)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    A friend of mine has put up a really good photo-set of the Hikoi. Worth a look.

    That's a brilliant set of photos.

    But am I the only one who's not greatly comfortable with people wearing scarves over their faces? If you're going to march in a protest, put your damn face to it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    people wearing scarves over their faces?

    Does the public highway have a dress code?

    Also, they might have an employer who doesn't like them marching, or a bail condition, or zits.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I can remember how intense the 2004 Hikoi was, and what a rush of feeling there was. A feeling of power and resistance, anger and calm, under soft warm rain. It was fairly indescribable (at least beyond my modest means). I can only imagine this one was somewhat similar.

    But am I the only one who's not greatly comfortable with people wearing scarves over their faces?

    I don't think you are. It can be pretty poorly received, and dilute the impact by distancing the people from the public - sometimes that's the intention. Ultimately however it's up to people to make their own decisions about how to present themselves, and what to wear. It's a public protest after all.

    What's interesting is how taiaha aren't considered threatening, despite being fairly lethal weapons. You wouldn't get the same reaction carrying a baseball bat to a protest and I guess they're seen as merely ceremonial and symbolic.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Does the public highway have a dress code?

    Don't suggest it. The Crusher might get ideas.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    What's interesting is how taiaha aren't considered threatening, despite being fairly lethal weapons. You wouldn't get the same reaction carrying a baseball bat to a protest and I guess they're seen as merely ceremonial and symbolic.

    I have thought of that before and come to several questions.
    Is it more of a weapon than a handbag or a walking stick? are people who say it is a weapon being racist? Could an Afghani marching down Queen Street with an AK47 claim it was a cultural right?
    It would certainly be an interesting debate.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    If they were only used for ceremonial pirposes? Maybe yes. But I think an iwi's relationship to a taiaha may be different then a tribe's relationship to an AK47 so they aren't interchangable.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    And can I as a Scotsman have a skian dubh down me sock? and if so do I have to be wearing the full gear? and what is the full gear? Here in Dundee the young guys are into boots, long socks (with a skian), kilt and a tight t-shirt.

    If I can ever afford my own kilt (Dunedin tartan naturally), I fancy it with one of those loose shirts that lace up to the neck.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Is Dunedin a clan? Did not know that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.