Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Meet the New Bob

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  • Ben Austin,

    I'd like a category for worst name of a block of flats or houses.

    And you had your chance to suggest that back in October!

    Well you just walk down Hill Street and see how you feel about it then Joanna. Then we will talk about "October" and "suggest".

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Though if $50,000 is correct, then I'll take over organising his marches for him. I could do it for a quarter of that no problem, and keep the difference. *sells soul*

    Now that's an idea... Matthews & Ranapia, Rent-A-Rabble 4 Less (This Week Only, Bonus Fly Buy Points!)

    Still, I guess if (as seems probable) that the restrictions are going to last the whole of election year, I'd love to be running a PR/lobbying shop. Because it sure looks like getting 'free media' (access to friendly and uncritical journos, columnists who will push your spin on an issue etc.) is going to be even more critical - and the best spin wins.

    Yeah, I've been trying to form my thoughts around this: I like I'd appreciate the ability to know a bit more about these groups.

    To play the devil's advocate for a moment, isn't a shit idea a shit idea who matter who is 'behind it', or how slick and well-financed the spin effort is? IMO, the best remedy to bad speech is more - and better speech - not trying to shut it down. Perhaps I'm a naive old whoopsie, but I actually have a little more faith in the good nature and bullshit detection skills of the peasantry that most politicians.

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

  • Neil Morrison,

    He has spent $50k campaigning against the EFB

    the joys of Post-Modern politics.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Wellingtonista-Public Address Christmas Party at Welington's Mighty Mighty on Thursday, December 6.

    Damn. I'm off to the Family First Fun Evening that day. I've already got my walk shorts ironed and a new pair of knee socks and sandles.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    Who Would Tim Finn Thank?"

    er ... Neil?

    Wellingtonista-Public Address Christmas Party at Welington's Mighty Mighty on Thursday, December 6

    anything planned for Auckland? I'll have to wear a mask of course ... (or maybe just Snake Pilsen's eye patch)

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Meet the New Bob

    For a brief moment, I thought this was going to be another post about David's poor viciously-slandered baby.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    Heh. When I worked at a stockbroker, a content filtering system was put in on mail that excluded exactly 4 words f-word, c-word, sl-word, wh-word.

    IIRC, the good burghers of Scunthorpe have no end of troubles with such filters...

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    (or maybe just Snake Pilsen's eye patch)

    I think Daryl Hannah already nicked it off him...

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Righto, here's Radio NZ's report:

    A Parliamentary select committee has recommended substantial changes be made to the Electoral Finance Bill.

    Parliament's Justice and Electoral Committee has tabled its report on the bill, saying clauses on the definition of third party advertising should be removed because they are too broad and confusing.

    The committee says the bill is not intended to capture all issues-based advertising and promotions and deleting the specific clauses will make that clear.

    It also recommends increasing the spending limit on those groups still caught by third party advertising rules from $60,000 to $120,000.

    The report also suggests a new clause to make it clear that Government agencies are not entitled to engage in election advertising, a concern that was raised by the National Party.

    The report also says amendments should be made to require that a person who contributes more than $1000 to a political party must identify themselves to the party or their financial agent.

    If they make multiple donations which exceed $10,000, the party must disclose that person's identity.
    Overseas donations must not exceed $NZ1000 unless the donor is a New Zealand citizen or registered to vote.

    But the Government's intention to have campaign finance rules apply from January, rather than for just three months before an election, is unchanged.

    In a minority report, National opposes the committee's view.

    National says it opposes the bill because it has not been developed with cross-party support, it potentially breaches the Bill of Rights and many of its clauses - particularly extending the election period for the whole year - are flawed.

    The ACT Party also makes a minority report in which it states its opposition to the Bill.

    In a third minority report, the Green Party says the recommended regime for anonymous donations is too loose.

    I'm inclined to agree with the Greens, although it's interesting how much of the supposedly well-informed speculation in the newspapers turns out to be correct.

    Meanwhile, here's the NZPA story after the Herald's done its job on it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • linger,

    When I worked at a stockbroker, a content filtering system was put in on mail that excluded exactly 4 words f-word, c-word, sl-word, wh-word.

    i.e.: family, community, social, whanau?
    Yep, I can see how those'd be unacceptable around stockbrokers.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    In a minority report, National opposes the committee's view.

    The ACT Party also makes a minority report...

    In a third minority report, the Green Party...

    I thought Mission Impossible were the only Tom Cruise movies that went to trilogies (da boom ching!)

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • DPF,

    One should read the bill, not the PR exercise known as the report which has no status in law.

    The bill actually extends the definition of publishing to include using a meagphone on a protest march. And this is not an accident - it is clear is is deliberate. If you shout "Down with National" into a megaphone you need to also shout your name and home address. And all the placards also need your name and address on them.

    Also if you have gotten used to making comments under an alias on the Internet - forget it. Unless the comment is on a non-commercial blog (ie not Usenet) then it also needs your name and address if you advocate for or against a party next year.

    This amended bill is a perfect example of why one should not rush these things.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 78 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Fox,

    1 fundamental question.
    Why are people / organisations affraid of identifying themselves as donors to political parties?
    1 supplementary question
    A paltry number of paranoid dickheads turn up for a rubbish protest in auckland and it makes headline news. WTF!

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    and b) as one of its much-loved sons I'm quite likely to sweep various "Best in Wellington" categories

    Heh heh, except we've rigged it.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    And all the placards also need your name and address on them.

    DPF - are you sure this is new? There have always been tight controls over that sort of material has to be attributed during election campaigns. If new, it sounds more like a clarification than a death knell.

    I am very happy with National's new stance opposing anonymous donations, maybe they could do a deal with like minded parties to force an amendment through to that affect.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    I'll also nominate "Hill Street Mews", on Hill street,

    Was it actually a mews? Which is a word that I only found out last week denotes an urban horse stable. 'Cos if it wasn't I think they should change it.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Martin,

    A paltry number of paranoid dickheads turn up for a rubbish protest in auckland and it makes headline news. WTF!

    Perhaps it is because the cause is media driven,rather than anything else.

    A headline to the effect that '1,316,700 people didn't turn up' to the protest in Auckland would hardly seem newsworthy...let alone plastered on the front page of a publication that thunders every five years or so...

    Then again one won't see the headline to the effect that 122,890 folk didn't turn up at the demo in support of Ngai Tuhoe in Dunedin yesterday...

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    DPF - just read your (very fast) analysis. You object to press political releases being attributed is in electronic format:

    Press releases that advocate for or against a party are still defined as election advertisements. If you e-mail out a press release, you’ll need to include your address on it.

    What? Why is this a problem to you?

    I can understand that there are objections to the bill as with most bills. I can believe it has areas that are badly drafted and incoherent. Seems our politicians delight in that.

    But your objections seem to be very scatter gun, I struggle to differentiate the critical from the fluff.

    Or is attributing press releases to real people really a death blow to democracy?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    I doubt it was a mews although I can't be certain. I've seen a bunch of mews about Wellington that are highly suspicious - like that one half way between Wilton and Karori.

    I actually live in a mews now, and some kind stranger (well, real estate company that specialises in mews) gave me a free book on London mews. So I deem myself an expert on mewsness and Hill Street's garish orange brick flats lack the essential stableness or cobble stones that a true mews should have.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Press releases that advocate for or against a party are still defined as election advertisements. If you e-mail out a press release, you’ll need to include your address on it.

    If I was teaching someone to write media releases, which I have done from time to time, then I would tell them that they should include full contact details on it somewhere, including their address. Apart from anything else (like making it possible for them to contact you), it helps create an image of authority in the media's mind if they at least know that you are willing to tell them where you work/live/campaign from.

    Whether or not it should be electoral finance law...

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Margaret B,

    Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, and I may well be, but wasn't it the addresses on the Exclusive Brethren leaflets that were the first tip off to who was behind the campaign? I can't remember, but I thought it was important for some reason.

    I will be interested to see what the HRC, the CTU and the Law Commission say about the amended Bill. For some strange reason I'm not all that inspired to take Farrar's criticisms at face value. He has rather a vested interest in portraying the new Bill as worse still, there needs to still be something wrong with it for National to continue to oppose it.

    Since Oct 2007 • 59 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Martin,

    there needs to still be something wrong with it for National to continue to oppose it.

    National was for it before they were against it...with the reservation about the time period being extended out to include the whole year of an election.

    I think National sees it as a wedge issue now....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 187 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Morrison,

    ...there needs to still be something wrong with it for National to continue to oppose it.

    but that wouldn't be politics

    Labour fumbled the ball and National are doing a George Gregan.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    I am very happy with National's new stance opposing anonymous donations, maybe they could do a deal with like minded parties to force an amendment through to that affect.

    Seconded. C'mon, give us your SOP!

    (Though actually, if we want it to pass, the person we really need to pressure is Winston).

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    oooo @Robyn is coming to the paaarty
    how wonderful


    and vote Craft2.0 people
    becuase maybe if it win's we'll get lovely jubbly sponsorship money and then we can have one in auckland

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

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