Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Piss-poor on PEDA

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  • Michael Stevens,

    The Herald is piss-poor at most things, so no surprises there.

    Shameful to see how English basically abused te Heu heu, and has now been caught out. The whole thing smacks of the worst sort of cronyism.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    the Pacific Economic Economic Development Agency Ltd

    PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA. True dat on the credit card spending comparison. You can buy a lot of pies for that kind of cash.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA

    D'oh! Fixed now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    Bill English is increasingly shown to be a tad "fast & loose" with the truth. Not a good look for such a senior minister.

    I will await further developments in this story with interest, but the Herald's lack of reportage smacks of political bias. Admittedly, I would support Labour over the Nats, so I would say that wouldn't I?

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Withers,

    It's been obvious for several years now that the NZ Herald can't be regarded as a reliable or credible source of news on political matters. Examples are legion even off the top of my head. I'll type as long as I can without going on too long (I hope):

    1. Ignoring the cost / risks of doing nothing on climate change while talking constantly about the cost of addressing it.

    2. Almost entirely ignoring climate change as an issue until AFTER the 2008 elections.

    Both of these were clearly intended to advantage the National Party in the elections and a conservative agenda generally.

    3. The two-supplements on consecutive Saturdays before the 2008 elections paying homage to National party leader John Key. Unprecented in my 40 years of observing print media in several countries.

    Generally, the Herald can be relied upon to downplay news that is bad for the conservative agenda and play up news that is good for the conservative agenda.

    This has become so predictable that when they published a poll recently showing Len Brown leading John Banks by eleven points, I knew - and said so at the time - there would be a media-driven (mainly the NZ Herald) smear campaign against Brown intended to promote the chance of the NZ Herald's clear favourtie, John Banks.

    Similarly, when the last Colmar-Brunton polls showed a sharp dip in support for National, I knew - and said so at the time - there would me a media-driven campaign to redress that drop.

    Right on cue, the NZ Herald behaved as predicted.

    Journalists like to say if everyone hates them, they probably have it about right. In this case, it simply doesn't wash. It's not big deal to conjure up a few conservative voices to "criticise" whatever appears to present the impression of balance. lay that to one side what it is going is staringly obvious: overseas billionaire media owners are picking winners in the NZ political contest...and they will attempt to secure even more control in 2011 by villifying MMP......which in reality is the only thing standing in their way.

    They don't have to tell their local editors what to write if they hire the Right editors. Simple as that. I learned that from Rupert Murdoch years ago.

    Nothing new here. What is amazing is people's reluctance to see it for what it is: corrupt.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Nicely tied together, Russell.

    They better deliver better than what we presently receive

    And there's a story there too if media can be bothered.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Julie Fairey,

    Thanks for this post. Have you seen this:
    Ministerial Advisory Committee head resigns over PEDA issue

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    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.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

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

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

  • Fraser Gardyne,

    "Slutty Sunday sibling" - well said Russell.

    I'm also totally over the pathetic holier than thou media beat ups on credit card spending, where there were measures in place to make sure that if inappropriate spending occurred, it was re-payed.

    Frankly this looks very much like National lining up their people for the next election and the Herald perhaps understanding that the PI audience is comfortable with this behaviour and wouldn't appreciate their "leaders" coming under scrutiny.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 22 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    It's a no brainer for Granny: something embarrassing for Nats or something embarrassing for Len (and by implication, leftwing/Labour)?

    Granny's MO has been plain to see for years now, only more pronounced as time goes on and as it loses subscribers. To those who argue otherwise, I'll introduce myself as Betty Windsor.

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

  • Julie Macdonald,

    Great post - thanks Russell for putting this all together. Organisations apply for public funds all the time, and it is the job of government agencies to do their homework and allocate funds appropriately. In this instance the lack of proper process appears to be absolutely breathtaking, and we've heard words such as 'scandal' in situations much less obviously flawed. However it will be interesting to see where this particular buck stops. I have a sneaking suspicion that, as with other cases of funding to Pacific agencies (such as the 'hip hop' funding of several years back), this will end up looking (to the public) like a 'Pacific' problem rather than a government one. I totally agree that PEDA seems like an extremely odd/ dubious/ bizarre choice for a budget windfall, but it is windfall process that I would like to see the media scrutinize in more depth.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2009 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I'm also totally over the pathetic holier than thou media beat ups on credit card spending, where there were measures in place to make sure that if inappropriate spending occurred, it was re-payed.

    It's impressive that in one short post you've managed one palpable untruth, one potentially defamatory allegation Russell very carefully (and wisely) avoided because it's not supported by hard evidence, and capped it off by being, as they say on Avenue Q, a little bit racist.

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

  • Sacha,

    the PI audience is comfortable with this behaviour and wouldn't appreciate their "leaders" coming under scrutiny.

    I believe that only applies to those of established standing doesn't it?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    To be fair to the Herald, it's doubtful that a Minister or Press Sec would brief them on this and there's nothing about it on Kiwiblog or WhaleOil - how would you expect them to find out about it?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    To be fair to the Herald, it's doubtful that a Minister or Press Sec would brief them on this and there's nothing about it on Kiwiblog or WhaleOil - how would you expect them to find out about it?

    ooh burn!

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Yeah and the main players clearly haven't been spending enough time at golf courses, art auctions or gentlemen's clubs, those other intelligence gathering venues.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Fraser Gardyne,

    I believe that only applies to those of established standing doesn't it?

    Absolutely right Sacha...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2009 • 22 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    This has become so predictable that when they published a poll recently showing Len Brown leading John Banks by eleven points, I knew - and said so at the time - there would be a media-driven (mainly the NZ Herald) smear campaign against Brown intended to promote the chance of the NZ Herald's clear favourtie, John Banks.

    I don't think I'd go that far -- as i noted, they didn't break that story either, the Star Times did -- but they've clearly been thinking about their Digipoll poll a lot. It was the lead angle of the original editorial about Brown, and Orsman has cited it in his stories.

    So it was understandable that they'd want another bite. But if that's what they wanted, they should have paid for another Digipoll poll -- and not commited the act of statistical abuse that led page 3 of the Weekend Herald. 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.

    But not only was the Herald comparing two wildly different samples -- it was asking different questions. 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.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    By comparison, the Star Times went with a follow-up that added context -- a look at the expenses bills of mayors around the country, of which Brown's was not at all the highest -- and a separate story noting that Dick Quax was the highest spender of any Manukau councillor on expenses, and Jami-Lee Ross was number three.

    Quax also wasted $1500 of ratepayers money on a conference he couldn't be bothered attending, promised to pay it pack when challenged, then reneged.

    And in today's news, the pair of them seem to have been lying about their opponents:

    Howick’s Sharon Stewart is objecting to comments in an email newsletter released by Jami-Lee Ross (Howick) and Dick Quax (Pakuranga).

    Mr Ross and Mr Quax referred to discussions at the council’s accountability and performance committee meeting on May 25 in their newsletter.

    At the meeting, Manukau Water asked for a 2.34 per cent increase in water prices and a five per cent increase in the waste-water rate.

    Mr Ross’ and Mr Quax’s newsletter, emailed out on May 29, states: “Manukau Water has come in well under budget this year and we believe you should reap the benefits of this success.

    “The only local councillors to disagree and argue in favour of price increases at the meeting were David Collings (Pakuranga) and Sharon Stewart (Howick).”

    At the time, Mr Collings was reported as saying if the committee was not debating under the shadow of the super-city elections, more councillors would have endorsed Manukau Water’s recommendation.

    Mr Collings voted to hold prices, and Mrs Stewart says she did not speak – and did not vote – in favour of the rate increase.

    As I've said before, it's not so much Banks as some of the people around him that worry me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Listen to Craig's thoughts about this, on Public Address Radio.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I don't think I'd go that far -- as i noted, they didn't break that story either, the Star Times did

    Indeed, and I've got to wonder (again) if the Herald would have gone so hot and heavy on Brown's response if it didn't have the added spice of slating a direct competitor under the guise of news. Something, need I add, that Fairfax isn't beyond doing itself.

    Also, I think we've kicked around at great length the way polls are used, misused and downright abused by media outlets who find it a cheap and easy substitue for actual journalism. If only The Herald was the sole, or even the worse, offender...

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

  • steve black,

    PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

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

    Ha. Graeme beat me to it. I was at lunch (not paid for by taxpayers). As soon as I saw this discussion thread and the PEEDA, I remembered an episode of the IT Crowd where Jen gets a new boyfriend called Peter Fyle...who then gets paged in the airport.

    Is it common for a private company to have "Agency" at the end of its name? The first time this story reached me (budget day -- publicaddress.net) I wondered if the name was supposed to sound like a "Government Agency" so the unwary might not spot it in the budget.

    Thanks Russell for spotting the bogus poll statistricks. That sort of poor practice is called SLOP.

    sunny mt albert • Since Jan 2007 • 116 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX,

    English has been caught lying and should be gone.

    The matter has the odour of favours paid to set up a "thang" for which part of its purpose is, in the short and mid term, take a significant portion of the Pacific Vote from Labour.

    The lack of process is basically putting the money down before the horse and cart are in place.

    The opposition should be pressing the point.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    PEEDA sounds even worse than PEDA.

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

    Perhaps the reason for the lack of reporting at The Herald is because they're all PEDA-philes.

    Coat, getting.

    EDIT: Although, to be fair, Tapu Misa gives a summary of the issues a reasonable airing

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

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