Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Morning in Auckland

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  • Idiot Savant,

    Key is a woofter for not denouncing him

    Can you spare us the homophobia please?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Radio seems much more suited to multi-tasking: you can get updated on the day's news while going about your ablutions, making breakfast etc.

    Newspapers aren't suited to multitaking either, but plenty sit down and read the paper as part of their morning ritual.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    and I'll add that Mr R Brown works there too and certainly doesn't seem to be secretly thinking that. He is being quite loud about the exact opposite.

    Er, I don't work at TVNZ, although I'm there for two or three hours a week. I contract to a company that has a contract to make a programme for TVNZ 7. Waddaya want? A boycott? </hobbitjoke>

    But seriously, I can affirm that the vast majority of people who do work at TVNZ are not twatcocks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Newspapers aren't suited to multitaking either, but plenty sit down and read the paper as part of their morning ritual.

    Ah, but you can listen to the radio while you read a newspaper (or the internet). You can't properly do either while you're watching TV.

    I've never quite got the Breakfast TV thing myself, and I used to be on it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    this is not true.

    Goodness. Are you saying Andi Brotherston was wrong? She did say that Paul Henry says "the things we quietly think" and she's an official spokesperson.

    Yeah, I know there are shining exceptions. I was just piling on with the sentiment that Brotherston was digging the hole deeper.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Reid,

    Key is a woofter for not denouncing him

    Can you spare us the homophobia please?

    Whoops. Apologies. Meant it along the lines of wussy, not as rhyming slang for poofter.

    South Africa • Since Nov 2006 • 80 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    But he should be expected to think on his feet in this circle of competence. As PM that circle is quite broad

    He's never really been tested hard, but.

    I've never quite got the Breakfast TV thing myself, and I used to be on it.

    I think it's something that's aptly named. I have it on when my hands are too full of breakfast or children-wrangling for papers or internet. I guess the radio is possible, I have just never got into it, I can't stand the ads.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    This just in:

    PAUL HENRY SUSPENDED

    TVNZ has today suspended Breakfast host Paul Henry.

    TVNZ CEO Rick Ellis said that Mr Henry’s recent remarks about Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand were inappropriate for anyone in the company to make.

    “I have met with Paul and told him that while his apologies were the right thing to do and that I believe he is sincere in his regret, I still consider his remarks unacceptable for any employee of TVNZ to make.

    “TVNZ is a multi-cultural company that is representative of modern New Zealand’s rich ethnic diversity.

    “We give Paul a lot of freedom with the Breakfast programme and he does a magnificent job. But as we have said before, with that freedom comes responsibility.

    “Paul is one of New Zealand’s best broadcasters. He is a provocative host who speaks his mind and that is what many New Zealanders like about him. He often pushes the boundaries and that’s important in a country that values freedom of speech. But I consider his latest remarks to have well and truly crossed that line.

    “As Editor-In-Chief I have today suspended Paul without pay effective immediately. He will return on air on Monday 18 October.

    “When Sir Anand returns from the Commonwealth Games I will be personally apologising to him.”


    Megan Richards
    TVNZ Corporate Affairs

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Breaking news
    OK so RB beat me. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    Interesting that Spartacus is looking for a Caucasian male - now there's a word one doesn't hear these days - caucasian. I see in the dictionary online that it is no longer a technical term, and can't remember when it faded out. You'd hear it used in describing (usually) an offender, or missing person, but I haven't registered it being used for ages. Nowadays it all seems to be "maori or Pacific Islander" being looked for. Maybe it's because all caucasians are good people, safe at home? ;)

    This, in response to mentions of "New Zealander" rather than "European" further up thread, I should say.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Ben Gracewood, my hat off to you. I think your gesture made a difference.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Breaking news
    OK so RB beat me. :)

    I confess, I tweeted it first ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome,

    The Logic of the Conditional Apology

    Any apology in conditional form expresses a relationship of necessity and sufficiency with respect to antecdent and consequent claims. In the conditional apology the apology itself is the necessary consequent of some antecedent which suffices for an apology.

    Valid forms of the Conditional Apology are:

    Affirming the Antecedent

    P1. If you are offended, then I am sorry.
    P2. You are offended.
    Therefore,
    C. I am sorry.

    Denying the Consequent

    P1. If you are offended, then I am sorry.
    P2. I am not sorry.
    Therefore,
    C. You are not offended.

    Invalid forms of the Conditional Apology are:

    Denying the Antecedent

    P1. If you are offended, then I am sorry.
    P2. You are not offended.
    Therefore,
    C. I am not sorry

    Fallacious Affirming the Consequent

    P1. If you are offended, then I am sorry.
    P2. I am sorry.
    Therefore,
    C. You are offended

    The rarely used Biconditional Apology is also an option:

    "I am sorry if and only if you are offended"

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    TVNZ has today suspended Breakfast host Paul Henry.

    That's an interesting step. Previously he's largely got away with doing nothing or an apology and a tap on the wrist. This is an actual punishment. I wonder what else it carries with it in terms of 'warning', 'final warning', do anything like that again you'll be out etc. Be nice to think we were at least making progress to getting rid of him.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I confess, I tweeted it first ...

    So what, now you're showing off? ;-)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    Apart from the actual ill-judged comments, I'd love to know why TVNZ have suspended him. In the past they've let his comments pass, but I'd love to know what made push come to shove.

    Maybe there's been a few companies threatening to pull their advertising ? Money talks and all that...

    Or maybe it's just spin and PR as usual. *sighs*.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Brewer,

    I wonder what else it carries with it in terms of 'warning', 'final warning', do anything like that again you'll be out etc. Be nice to think we were at least making progress to getting rid of him.

    Just like getting rid of 'troublesome' employees in the real world. Although I think Paul has been at TVNZ a bit longer than the 90 days.

    Part gypsy myself - the original statement and the apology both offended me...

    Wellington • Since Oct 2010 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Goodoh,

    Of course the suspension is PR spin. My guess is that advertisers got worried about boycott talk all over Facebook etc. It won't be anything to do with good sense or decent TV.

    Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Ah, but you can listen to the radio while you read a newspaper (or the internet). You can't properly do either while you're watching TV.

    Actually, my freeview thing has radio nz on it. 'Though the picture is kinda boring.

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

  • andin,

    or the hapless middle classes of the North Shore would find themselves welcoming their new southern overlords.

    As long as they can come up with a coherent and reasonable building code for the whole of AK. That actually reflects the way people live nowdays, they can come from Mordor, or the fucking Shire. For all I care.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Ben Gracewood, hats off to you. Firstly for having a heart that you listen to, and secondly for having the spine to actually do what it's telling you to do.

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

  • Andre Alessi,

    Interesting that Spartacus is looking for a Caucasian male - now there's a word one doesn't hear these days - caucasian.

    I find that a little odd. Given the nature of the role, a Polynesian (or for that matter, an Arab, a North African or a Latino) would be a perfect fit looks-wise. Ah well, usual story-the producers are looking to "make things easy" on a white North American audience. Wouldn't be surprised if actors of other ethnicities gave it a shot anyway.

    As for Paul Henry's comments-it's that attitude of "We'll he's not a real New Zealander" that has always made me uncomfortable when (usually) white New Zealanders describe themselves as "New Zealanders" without qualification. It's the underlying assumption that being a New Zealander means belonging to a very specific ethnic background that is nevertheless only ever implied. I still get pissed off remembering all the times I was asked to provide "proof that [I was] a New Zealand citizen" when applying for jobs for no other reason than the way my name sounds.

    OT, but still in tune with the ridiculousness of the T: Did anyone else catch that letter writer on Granny Herald's letter page today (in the "Brevities" section) insisting that the reduction in violent crime statistics was only further proof that society was getting more violent? I can't even tell who's trolling anymore.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • John Armstrong,

    I still think one of the sanest discussions about nationalism ever written in this country is this one by historian Peter Gibbons. Should be obligatory reading:

    www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/webdav/site/arts/shared/Departments/documents-publications/PeterGibbons-The-Far-Side-of-the-Search-for-Identity.pdf

    I won't try and summarise a highly nuanced argument, but I will say that it has made me deeply suspicious whenever I hear anyone - Don Brash or lefty blogger - invoke the term 'New Zealander' as if it is a term with any real or universal meaning. To steal Gibbons' phrase, it's little more than 'a shorthand device . . . for a multiplicity of places, peoples, products, practices and histories.' Attempts to define the qualities of the essentialised 'New Zealander' are discursive sideshows. Far more important to talk about the ways in which the term is used to justify a whole raft of dodgy thought and policy.

    Hamilton • Since Nov 2007 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • sally jones,

    Hey, I just think it's horribly unfair to blameless vaginas everywhere to mention them in the same sentence as Paul Henry.

    All due respect to you Craig, I'm not sure I'm any less uncomfortable being a 'blameless vagina' than a 'twat'. If you want to stand up for me - and my kind - you might try calling me a woman - ideally, a blameless woman.
    The fact that, according to Oxford, 'twat' means 1. 'a woman's genitals' and 2.'a stupid or obnoxious person', is doubtless regrettable..., but def 2. is undoubtedly a perfect fit in the case of PH.

    And for the record, I reckon Clark would have a) declined to be interviewed by that particular twat and b), if forced for some reason, would have reacted with instant and sharp condemnation of his blatantly racist, stupid and obnoxious comment.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2010 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    And for the record, I reckon Clark would have a) declined to be interviewed by that particular twat and b), if forced for some reason, would have reacted with instant and sharp condemnation of his blatantly racist, stupid and obnoxious comment.

    I suspect that Helen would 'own' the interview to a degree that Henry would never make that kind of comment.

    Henry is really a professional fourth former who thinks that any other male just like him in appearance is also a PFF, for example, John Key, which is why he was able to ask the question of Key. Band of brothers etc.

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

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