Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Do these people even talk?

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  • Russell Brown,

    Just kicking off ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    I think listening is also a problem.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    Tight Five Part II, anybody?

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

  • Russell Brown,

    From Adam Gifford's Waatea News blog:

    Heuheu says colleagues informed of TV bid

    Associate Maori Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu is denying she failed to inform senior colleagues of Maori Television's 2011 Rugby world cup bid.

    Labour MP Shane Jones says Mrs te Heuheu needs to explain her role in the decision to spend $3 million of Maori development funds to prop up the bid for free to air broadcast rights.

    He says as the minister with delegations over Maori broadcasting, she should have told Finance Minister Bill English and Prime Minister John Key what Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples was doing.

    But Mrs te Heuheu says she wrote to Mr English on the second of September.

    “I wrote a letter to advice that the bid was imminent on the basis that my understanding was the matter had been raised earlier with the other shareholding minister,” Mrs te Heuheu says.

    She says because she is not a shareholding minister, she has no governance role over Maori Television.

    Dr Sharples has apologised to Mr English and Mr Key for not informing them earlier of the plan.

    That looks just a wee bit like she's potting Sharples ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    Let the in-fighting, back-stabbing and general political fuckery begin. This shambles could turn out to be more interesting than the discussions about the All Blacks' chances of progressing beyond the quarter-finals.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Definitely interesting. Be interesting to see the next stage in this saga.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report

  • Jim Cathcart,

    Unfortunately, I'm finding it very hard to understand how Maori stakeholders (except the ones' with the trendy media jobs; executive power; and access to the piggy bank) are actually going to benefit. Like most government-funded business in NZ, I guess this is actually a secondary consideration.

    Since Nov 2006 • 228 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    It is a wonder to behold how much public money can be thrown around for the RWC when so little is available for public services.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • Clarke,

    That's a pretty impressive piece of mana enhancement on Pita Sharples part. I mean, was it ever remotely possible that he would come out of this smelling of roses? What was he thinking?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report

  • dave crampton,

    Good piece Russell -TPK does really need to get its act together....and in terms of the TV3/TVNZ stoush - does anyone know what role the charter has in this?

    welli • Since Jan 2007 • 144 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    our government bidding against itself in a rights auction

    And the IRB is laughing all the way to the bank.

    Amid all the bullcrap being spouted about controlling government waste this happens and no heads roll?

    Nice piece Russell and nice work by the journos who figured out what was going on.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Brickley Paiste,

    Russell, I was hoping for some views on the amazing job the police did at surviving each news cycle while this toddler was missing.

    It's an Asian woman! It's a pedophile! It's a person of interest! We have no leads! She's in the drain!

    Phew.

    Gary was out there saying something like "I wouldn't be surprised if she had been stolen to order".

    Asians = baby snatchers. It's well known.

    And was Bob Harvey all over this like shit on a baby because he knew there had been so many complaints about the manhole?

    Since Mar 2009 • 164 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    It's an Asian woman! It's a pedophile! It's a person of interest! We have no leads! She's in the drain!

    Phew.

    Gary was out there saying something like "I wouldn't be surprised if she had been stolen to order".

    And is TVNZ7 still running that ad for The IFC Media Project asking why the whole world stops when a white girl goes missing?

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Chopper,

    Just the thought that TVNZ could win the bid is depressing. Whenever TVNZ shows sports coverage, I have to watch with the volume off. The commentary is appalling, especially coverage of netball and the Beijing Olympics. The only commentator I enjoy listening to at TVNZ is Geoff Bryan, and he seems to be used only as an interviewer at the tennis these days.

    Anyone, including Maori Television could do a better job than TVNZ. The thought that taxpayers are paying unnecessary millions to obtain the mediocrity that will result from TVNZ is very hard to swallow.

    Since Jul 2008 • 19 posts Report

  • Gary Hutchings,

    I think that this perfectly exemplifies the elephant in the room which is "What overall governance is there across all of the governments broadcasting/TV spending".

    I mean, TVNZ had their charter funding taken away and transmogrified into the platinum fund which was made contestable, and I am fairly sure that this issue will bring further calls for the MTS funding to be at least partially contestable.....

    But, Given that MTS is a political creation, and with the current cabinet arrangements, I suspect it will be a rock that is never lifted.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 108 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    INCOMING!

    Audrey Young has the prop that TPK belatedly gave to John Key.

    She also quotes a clearly angry Sharples.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    It wasn't good enough in the Shipley years when Murray McCully spent taxpayers' money without telling Cabinet and it's not good enough now.

    The whole saga does have a wonderfully Shipleyesque quality to it. Perhaps Pita and Muzza had dinner, but didn't talk politics? If only we could find the link to Tuariki John Delamere it would be like the late '90s all over again.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • James Littlewood*,

    The whole thing's a fiasco.

    Firstly, you can win the rights to host the event (not TV) without proving that you've got an adequate stadium or the main social gathering point figured out.

    Now, according to one of those Herald articles you posted, we're asked to contend with the fact that the final will be played on three channels simultaneously.

    If the consortium wins TVNZ and TV3 would have six games each and MTS could have up to 16.

    "Everyone will have the final that's the idea; the final, the semis and the third and fourth play-off would be on all three networks."

    Is it just me, or is that completely moronic?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    or completely democratic.

    The moronic can watch TVNZ with its inane commentary that borders on re-runs of recordings from an insane asylum, the more intelligent can watch TV3 for higher quality commentary, and da Maaaaooooori can watch rugby with Te Reo commentary.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Is it just me, or is that completely moronic?

    I guess it makes things easier for compulsive channel surfers.

    What it does show is that no-one's thinking about the viewership at all. All they're thinking about is massaging the egos of the respective broadcasters.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    A repeat of the Simpsons is likely to do well on TV2, following the All Blacks' inevitable QF exit? (Something which, itself, only attracted 1 million viewers last time around).

    Following on from the latest Audrey Young story, it's doubtful that maraes would make ideal sites for backpacker accommodation, given that, err, you can't drink on them.

    And are backpackers really the target audience here?

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    "Everyone will have the final that's the idea; the final, the semis and the third and fourth play-off would be on all three networks."

    Is it just me, or is that completely moronic?

    In that scenario the completely moronic ones would be those who watch the TV1 coverage...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    And for those of us who couldn't care a rat's arse - can we have something else on a channel somewhere?

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    I guess C4 will be doing top 100 rugby anthems, Prime will be sulking and refusing to air anything at all, which leaves the horse racing channel. Guess that channel will still be going - although watch for the race featuring horses with All Black names.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report

  • Karen White,

    What Paul C said.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 79 posts Report

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