Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Veitch

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  • Michael Savidge,

    How this whole thing has played out represents everything I abhor about the media, PR, the place of sport in NZ, lawyers, "celebrities" and the refusal of bullies to own their actions and the repercussions thereof.

    A plague (a really nasty one that makes them poo themselves relentlessly) on all their houses.

    Somewhere near Wellington… • Since Nov 2006 • 324 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    On Checkpoint, Mary Wilson spoke to Stuart Grieve QC, Veitch's lawyer. He spoke of his side's thwarted desire for a defended trial, saying that they wanted a "rumble" and that there would have been "blood on the carpet."

    Given the nature of his client's offence, his choice of language was at best insensitive. At worst, one wonders whether Grieve is as much a thug as Veitch.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    The TV/radio image Veitch built up during his career was one of an immature clown.

    Apparently it wasn't just an image though.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Jonathan Maze,

    Dunne-Powell came across very well and the quotes Russell pulled out from Veitch:

    "Which I let myself be driven to that point," "If I had been allowed to walk away", "How I could be driven to a point like that."

    ...are exactly what sunk his credibility for me. Obviously they had a pretty bitter relationship but he injured her so he really has to suck it up.

    I never liked him on TV anyway and was pleased he wasn't there to spoil the Olympics, one of the only sporting contests I take any interest in. He got off too lightly for the Williams sisters "now we know where apes come from" comment. Incidently I listened to the "apology" on Radio Sport the following week on their audio archive and it went a long the lines of: "In a bantering exchange I made some remarks which some people may have taken the wrong way and sorry if they caused offence. Now on with the show..." A classic non apology.

    In a further twist the person he was talking to was Willie Jacksons mate Dean Lonergan I would interested to see what Willie would make of this as he has really been on Veitch's case.

    As for working on TV let the people decide with their remotes I doubt TV1 will have him back in a high profile role. As Judy Bailey discovered, after it was found out how much she was being paid for reading the news, it spoiled her brand somewhat that instead of looking like the "mother of the nation" she suddenly appeared to be just another grasping Dorklander driving a $150,000 car.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2007 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    hurm

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    poo themselves relentlessly

    Isn't this what they do day in, day out on our televisions, in our newpapaers and in our magazines anyway?

    Whaddaya mean, it wasn't metaphorical?

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

  • Tony Parker,

    Already Susan Devoy has come out to say she was misled about giving her character reference.

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    Too angry to write about Veitch

    What I loved about the Susan Boyle vid was her reaction to 3 yes's: gold. Who cares if the thing was setup? The hairs went up on the back of my neck. That is A Voice.

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    For several weeks on end, all three Sunday newspapers ran stories that appeared to originate with Team Veitch

    I like the way the Sunday papers ran their front page leads as 'exclusives', even though their competitors were running the same story on the same day. There are lots of interesting aspects to the Veitch saga but one of them is the apparent ease at which PR companies are able to manipulate our Sunday newspapers into printing any nonsense their clients ask them to.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Is it possible to feel nauseated, outraged, saddened and at the same time bored? Apparently, yes. This story makes me weary. It was never about Veitch and the interminable exegesis of his non-apology apologies - who cares about that little man, at the end of the day? - but always about how the public, and the people with in the spotlight would react, whether in the final analysis they would conclude that what he did was okay, or okay enough. That his team understood and it's a game they played very well. They deserve every cent of their billable time.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    I now look forward to working with the charities who I love and that is the best thing about this sentence, I can get back to working with the charities and doing my community service with charities that I am passionate about.

    Ccommunity service on the box, I'd wager - fine image-rebuilding stuff.

    Well. A nagging sense of having been screwed followed by forceful, supposedly compensatory tugs on the public heartstrings - it's the Great Media Veitcharound of 2009.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Apologies if the above soured a fun pastime for anyone.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Dan Slevin,

    From my blog post on The Governor:

    A couple of years ago, while I was running the bar at Downstage, I was lucky enough to share a couple of conversations with acting legend (and Laureate) George Henare who was playing Dracula at the time. He told us some tales of shooting the New Zealand historical epic “The Governor” back in the late 70s and I asked him why it was so difficult to actually see. He told me that the actors’ contracts stated that any further screenings meant that they got to be paid again - at the fairly extraordinary rate of 100%. I asked him whether he felt sad that so many New Zealanders wouldn’t be able to see such an important piece of work - not just the colonial history but the television history. “No,” said George, “You want to do something with it, pay me. That was the deal.”

    The rest is here.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Yes, Susan Boyle.
    I guess when the "Talent Scouts" come across someone like this it gets kept under wraps because when it gets out you want as much surprise as possible to create the perfect emotional storm.
    You start out with a self congratulatory snicker, then the fear of embarrassment and then POW. a random act of beauty.
    I sent the clip to a friend yesterday with the subject line "This will crack you up" he got back to me calling me all the bastards under the sun saying he couldn't stop blubbering all the way through. Oh Joy ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    the man need serious serious
    help
    including serious therapy with a clinical psychologist

    con selling has it's place in life, but it his current attitude is the result of counseling. then the man needs proper treatment

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    What remains utterly unclear to me is how his sentence is so light? The proven/admitted assault seems sufficiently grievous to warrant a custodial sentence. That's, of course, an inexpert view - I'd welcome advice from anyone who was familiar with the sentencing guidelines. Veitch's behaviour since the assault and now post-sentencing is sickening.

    Yes, like anyone who's convicted of a violent offence, he deserves to rehabilitate including by working again, but I'd've thought part of his rehabilitation would be, as Russell put's it, to express "real and final regret for his actions".

    Also, someone else might have already said this, but I don't see why Graeme Henry's views matter particularly - he's well known, but Veitch's own situation proves that popularity does not equate to judgment.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Already Susan Devoy has come out to say she was misled about giving her character reference.

    Isn't that Contempt of Court, or even Perjury?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    The thing that gets me is the juxtaposition of these two pieces:

    "Despite what may have been said, I never shied away from anything that happened that night over three years ago."

    "That wasn't me, and will never be me again."

    Hmm, doesn't "That wasn't me" sound a teeny bit like shying away? This would perhaps be a revealing slip if he had said the two things during an unscripted interview, but in a prepared media statement it's really a glaring demonstration of just how little he and his minders understand concepts such as remorse and responsibility.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Telfer,

    I was troubled by Veitch's continual bewilderment that it had come to this given "..the last time Kristin and I met up we were still good friends and she was talking about her wedding and I was talking about mine..."

    Read: "Given the money I paid and the emotional power I thought I had this should have been long buried"

    Auckland • Since Feb 2009 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    well Mr Vile veitch has gained online immortaity in the Urban Dictionary - will he also sue them?
    link text

    hope this posts.

    He's successfully fought to clear his name. The surname, now, that's another matter entirely.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Tony Veitch, Paul Henry, Martin Devlin - They have an audience and is there any difference except in the details between them? I can't stand any of them.

    I also suspect a setup with Susan Boyle, but after watching the video I am glad that she has finally had at least one moment of triumph in her life. Simon Cowell has already apparently said he will offer her a record contract regardless, and I am sure that hard nosed bastard isn't doing it out of altruism. I went onto google images after she sang and looked at Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone and tried to imagine how they would have looked like as unemployed 47 year olds, and wondered at what talent we must be squandering in our visu

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

  • Tom Semmens,

    *in our visual age.

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

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Isn't that Contempt of Court, or even Perjury?

    No.

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

  • Kebabette,

    an aside, did anyone see the news item on TV3 about Aorangi School doing a rap video to persuade old boy John Key to fix the building? youtube as lobbying tool indeed, but oops spot the spelling mistake in the video (sympathetic).

    Christchurch • Since Feb 2007 • 221 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    Isn't that Contempt of Court, or even Perjury?

    It isn't perjury, because all she did was write a letter - not give a sworn statement.

    And I can't see how she would be in contempt for writing a letter if she didn't know exactly what it was for. If, hypothetically (because we don't want to get sued), a letter of this kind was misused by someone's legal team, then maybe someone in that team could be found in contempt.

    But them I'm no expert on criminal law matters, so I will now STFU.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

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