Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Onwards and upwards

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  • Bruce Thorpe,

    Helen is well on the way to being the most distinguished political figure in our history.

    Hokianga • Since May 2007 • 52 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    What with Henry and Holmes, one wonders what you have to do to be put out to pasture at TVNZ. Or better still, just not hired in the first place.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    New Zealand is idealised by even smart and well educated people

    I still have a letter I received from Phillip Adams some years ago (in his The Australian columnist days), where he writes of New Zealand as a 'socialist paradise'.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    The more I think about that Paul Henry thing the more buttons it pushes and the more furious it makes me. For a start, it is appalling rude to abuse a guest on your TV show in such a public way. Common standards of decency and courtesy alone should tell him that.

    In the online discussions I have been following about this awful behaviour from Paul Henry no one has thought to comment on the substance or otherwise of the issue this woman from Greenpeace was on TV to talk about. I have no idea what she was talking about because I refuse to watch Paul Henry's grostesque "humour" and the discussion that followed was nothing about what she had to say. Instead, her physical appearance was used to humiliate and belittle her. It seems to me that the clear point of her humiliation is a woman is worth nothing except as a mere object, whose physical appearance is of more importance than what she has to say. Disgusting in 1909, let alone in 2009.

    If it was in a schoolyard it would be called what is really is - a bully taunting his victim.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    For a start, it is appalling rude to abuse a guest on your TV show in such a public way. Common standards of decency and courtesy alone should tell him that.

    I suppose by the same token there are constraints on what it's proper for me to say about someone who broadcasts with the same company as me, but let me say that this is an extremely salient point.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    The rumour from "Labour Party sources" was that Cullen intends to resign before May 2009 budget to be an Iwi Treaty Negotiator.

    Yeah, I've heard that as well.

    Which would be interesting. You'd think he could do 'better' in terms of profile and working internationally, but he might be choosing to work in a very difficult area here in New Zealand. Which is a nice commitment.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Which would be interesting. You'd think he could do 'better' in terms of profile and working internationally, but he might be choosing to work in a very difficult area here in New Zealand. Which is a nice commitment.

    It is. It allows him to do a job that he enjoys and in which is he is impeccably briefed -- and in which, as a bonus, he has endless opportunities to get right up the nose of the present government.

    It's perfect, basically.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    BTW - Andrew Little for Mt. Albert anyone? Just saying.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    If it was in a schoolyard it would be called what is really is - a bully taunting his victim.

    Oh, boo fucking hoo. Here's where your analogy falls down: Children have no choice about whether they go to school or not. Nobody is forced to go on any television show at gunpoint, and who wants to bet Paul Henry would be put on a very short choke chain if he had to fill a lot of dead air?

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

  • Tom Semmens,

    Actually Craig, I am sure the woman from Greenpeace thought she was going to be interviewed about some issue of public moment, not have her appearance ridiculed in public by a sneering little bully.

    I think if she had told what the post interview discussion was going to be about she may have reconsidered her appearance.

    I believe TVNZ owes the woman an apology, and Paul Henry deserves at least a suspension.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Tom's right, Craig. It's a significant breach of faith.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Tom:

    If Greenpeace doesn't have a pretty fair idea of Henry's m.o., then I've severely over-estimated how media savvy the organisation is.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Tom's right, Craig. It's a significant breach of faith.

    As opposed to all the insignificant ones where he's treated current affairs like a third rate stand-up act? I'm not carrying any water for the man, but I don't understand why people and organisations who should know better keep throwing themselves into the grinder of his ego...

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I'm not carrying any water for the man, but I don't understand why people and organisations who should know better keep throwing themselves into the grinder of his ego...

    The vague hope that TVNZ might cover news on its news shows, rather than having guests on and then harassing them about their appearance? The fact that he's been a dick in the past shouldn't mean that he should continue to be a dick and TVNZ not do anything about it. A bit hopeful I know.

    Also probably some commitment to their cause which involves getting issues out in front of the population, which is going to often involve the media.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Wait. You're blaming this woman for being harassed because she should have known better than to go on the show in the first place?

    Gosh. That line of reasoning sounds incredibly familiar. I wonder where I've heard it before...

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    That Henry clip is indeed a shocker, even by his very low standards. But who produces that show? Does anyone? "Everyone is saying don't read it out," he says, and he goes on to read it out, against the advice of his co-host and the people talking in his ear. That shouldn't happen.

    But I felt Alison Mau handled it well; her revulsion was pretty clear. Pippa Wetzel probably wouldn't have said a word.

    Bring back Tim Wilson ...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    BTW - Andrew Little for Mt. Albert anyone? Just saying.

    Actually, he's Welly-based, so more likely Rongotai if Annette King retires.

    But I felt Alison Mau handled it well; her revulsion was pretty clear. Pippa Wetzel probably wouldn't have said a word.

    Kay Gregory had the right idea when she split with Mr Henry.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Wait. You're blaming this woman for being harassed because she should have known better than to go on the show in the first place?

    Yes. We should demand less and less of our media, dammit! Let's all stay home and write excoriatingly in Internet forums - the true recipe for change.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Wait. You're blaming this woman for being harassed because she should have known better than to go on the show in the first place?

    *sigh* No. I don't understand why anyone (male or female) would bother with someone who has a long-standing pattern of obnoxious and unprofessional behaviour. And I thought I made an entirely reasonable suggestion that if Henry found it rather difficult to get guests, he might be forced to clean up his act -- dead air making pretty shit television and all.

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

  • andin,

    Hope that Henry is one of those, soon to be recipients of a redundancy notice people at TVNZ.

    As for H Clark congrats to her, but it was always going to happen.
    While on the domestic front I thought they did a great job. Foreign matters I just not sure if they got it right very often. I dont know what input HC had into Foreign policy or if she was just the person, at times, articulating it.
    At times pragmatic when some idealism was the better option, eg. The whole war on terror thing. And idealistic when pragmatism would have been better. IMO Fiji.
    But dealing with Little Johnny & Co from Oztraleea a swift kick in the hooter seemed the best option. Too bad it was off teh table so to speak.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    DeepRed - True, true. but to be prime minister these days you must be an Auckland based MP IMHO.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh, and Deborah, I was pretty clear last year that I couldn't understand why both Helen Clark and John Key felt obliged to waste time as straight men to Henry's bizarre monologues. They weren't informative, and generally only entertaining if you were the kind of freak turned on by dog fights.

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

  • FletcherB,

    Craig, While I agree both of them could say I'll be interviewed on Breakfast, but not by XYZ. if they chose to..... they'd be immediately shot down as Muldoonist power-wielding freaks (or similar).

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Wow, what a revolting clip.

    Whilst I appreciate Craig's argument, some people are professionally obliged to seek public exposure (as a spokesperson), and thus might be willing to take the risk of a roasting if it gets their issue onto national TV.

    And whilst people should be careful about wading into trash media traps, I don't think anyone appearing on a news show produced by our national broadcaster should be blamed for not factoring in the possibility that Paul Henry might turn the ten minutes immediately following into hysterical ridicule over her facial hair. I think that is way outside what a reasonable person could expect to be subjected to on live TV.

    I don't regularly watch Breakfast, but if this is more or less the standard that Henry works to (as other posters have suggested), it's a very curious situation, no? I'll be prudent here and assume that the whole gibbering idiot thing is just an occasional on-air persona. Is this what people ought to expect from morning TV?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Wow, what a revolting clip.

    I just realised who he reminds me of, particularly when he says 'start a group' at the end there. It's David Brent. Who is meant to be a horrifying *caricature* of a complete arse. Not, like, an actual person.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

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