Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Cranks, self-seekers and the mayor

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  • Russell Brown,

    Bernard Orsman this morning takes a decent scoop -- that Fonterra is to be announced as naming sponsor for Shed 10 on Queen's Wharf -- and makes it a mess by shoehorning in as much of the Len angle as possible.

    Guys. Calm down, keep it simple.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’ve now confirmed independently that the security guards were hired by Auckland Transport purely for crowd control on the day. And that the Herald was very clearly told this.

    And which happens with monotonous regularity for special events (like the BDO, Christmas in The Park etc.) or when there are service disruptions (i.e. assisting passengers during scheduled line closures when trains are replaced with buses). Still, I'm sure my 68 year-old partner who has been drafted into pulling on the high-vis vest occasionally will be delighted to learn he's a "heavy".

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Guys. Calm down, keep it simple.

    Bloody oath. I still think it's also time for Orsman to either be given a column where he can editorialize at will or go on gardening leave until his contract as a reporter runs out. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but nobody is entitled to present it as news reportage.

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

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I’m sure my 68 year-old partner who has been drafted into pulling on the high-vis vest occasionally will be delighted to learn he’s a “heavy”.

    You've been giving him tips on how to be a bovver boy, I take it?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but nobody is entitled to present it as news reportage.

    Unless one works for el Granny as senior editorial staff, in which case the entitlement runs deep.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Unless one works for el Granny as senior editorial staff, in which case the entitlement runs deep.

    Well, can't argue with that. Sadly, I suspect the separation of news-and-opinion will only be re-asserted when Granny's BDS (Brown Derangement Syndrome) results in APN cutting someone a fat cheque, and costs, to settle a defamation suit.

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

  • Yamis, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    and the rest only marginally better reposts of the Independent, Observer or Daily Mail (with one about a week ago being a grossly overblown Daily Mail “OMG Beijing smog” piece of shit. It was bad on that day, but nothing like January 2013 and nowhere near as apocalyptic as the Daily Mail tried to pretend).

    Yep.

    Turns out it was an ad for a Chinese tourist destination that plays on that screen all the time.

    http://www.techinasia.com/beijing-residents-watching-fake-sunrises-giant-tvs-pollution/

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Yamis,

    an ad for a Chinese tourist destination

    Ha! Should've known. The whole thing stank so badly. Tech in Asia has the courtesy to post a bigger version of the image than the Herald had and yes, you can clearly see "Shandong" in the bottom right corner of the screen. And the Daily Mail, ermmm, scribbler lives in New York! And pulled the quote from the traffic coordinator from an unrelated AP story! About the only thing going in the Herald's favour in this farce is that they're in fairly illustrious company having reposted it.

    Conclusion: Beijing Environment Protection Bureau and Weather Bureau official Weibo feeds are more reliable than the Herald.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH, in reply to simon g,

    The protestors (and they’re barely plural) are quite useful in one regard. Their banners remind us that the Brown-haters are enraged and outraged by sex, not corruption.

    Brown should indeed be challenged on his too close relationship with Sky City, but that will remain in the background as long as the “Band of Brewers” are more interested in his private relationships instead.

    I wonder why Cameron Brewer doesn’t want to focus more on politicians being too close to corporates like Sky City …

    Brewer was trumpeting the corruption angle quite loudly until his own failure to declare gifts was reported. Now that it's clear he can't continue that line without appearing hypocritical so he's reverted to the sin angle.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Ana Simkiss,

    So has Orsman corrected his story to take account of Fonterra's clarification (to put it kindly) which has been up on NBR most of today?

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    So has Orsman corrected his story to take account of Fonterra’s clarification (to put it kindly) which has been up on NBR most of today?

    What's the gist of it, for those of us without without NBR subs?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ana Simkiss, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Cliffs notes - Fonterra has been talking with ATEED about selling its products at events. Shed 10 naming rights are not under discussion.

    NBR says "The NZ Herald today incorrectly reported...." which could hardly be more direct. I'm surprised the Herald has not commented.

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ana Simkiss,

    I’m surprised the Herald has not commented.

    That's really, really poor.

    Meanwhile, I'm not sure about the intro today saying "Len Brown has hinted at seeking a third Super City mayoral term in 2016"

    He was asked a direct question about it and replied. Here's the quote:

    "There are two things that would determine my view in terms of the role that I have here. The first is that my family support me and the second is that so long as I maintain my love and my passion for our city and our people - and I do, I love this place and I love our people in the very best and the worst of times - then I would do the job."

    "Hint" doesn't seem the right word at all. He quite clearly says that if he still has a passion for the job and the support of his family, he'd do it.

    Orsman's just tying himself up in knots with all this.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Orsman’s just tying himself up in knots with all this.

    Orsman ought to be fired for his inability to demonstrate anything vaguely close to impartiality when it comes to Brown, non-sprawl growth, or anything else that looks like a deviation from the Auckland of the last fifty years. Won't happen, of course, because there's nobody else senior who's any less blatantly partisan, but it's a nice thought.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    If someone wanted to sue the Herald for the blatant and repeated lack of truth in their reporting, I doubt claiming they're journalists will sway a jury. Is there any industry body who can take them aside and remind them of the basics of their profession?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to SteveH,

    Brewer was trumpeting the corruption angle quite loudly until his own failure to declare gifts was reported.

    Except that a subsequent article revealed that he had, indeed, declared the trip; he just said he hadn’t because he got cornered and couldn’t be sure of his own recollection.
    Moreover, the declaration was public bloody record and Granny ought to have found that before printing a big article about the supposed hypocrisy of Brewer.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Sacha,

    Is there any industry body who can take them aside and remind them of the basics of their profession?

    Yes. The Press Council. Oh, wait, APN are members of the Press Council. Scratch that.

    Nope, I've got nothing.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Except that a subsequent article revealed that he had, indeed, declared the trip; he just said he hadn’t because he got cornered and couldn’t be sure of his own recollection.

    He sort-of did, via a brief email to a council staffer. Which he seems only to have sent after being pressed on the trip by John Drinnan.

    But he still never bothered to file a proper declaration of interests and neither did Quax et al. Brown, oddly enough, did.

    Moreover, the declaration was public bloody record and Granny ought to have found that before printing a big article about the supposed hypocrisy of Brewer.

    That's the problem. The email existed and was eventually located. But it wasn't, at the time, on the public record because Brewer had ignored his obligation to put it on the public record. And then he whined about how much hassle making a declaration was.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Yes. The Press Council. Oh, wait, APN are members of the Press Council. Scratch that.

    Nope, I’ve got nothing.

    The Commerce Commission, maybe?

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Except that a subsequent article revealed that he had, indeed, declared the trip; he just said he hadn’t because he got cornered and couldn’t be sure of his own recollection.

    Aw, diddums. I'd be a little more sympathetic if, as Russell pointed out, he'd not only made the rod for his own back and downright begged for a good thrashing. Brewer failed Politics 101: Before you start posturing on the moral high ground, make sure you're not only fully dressed but your linen is impeccably clean and fragrant.

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

  • BenWilson, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    make sure you’re not only fully dressed but your linen is impeccably clean and fragrant

    Well do up your fly at least.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Brewer failed Politics 101: Before you start posturing on the moral high ground, make sure you’re not only fully dressed but your linen is impeccably clean and fragrant.

    I desperately wanted Granny to go digging into the phone bills of Brewer and Quax, ensuring that they'd carried out the requisite reimbursement exercises to account for every last cent of personal use.
    Brewer had a shaky leg to stand on over the junket from TV3, but Quax got no real investigation that I could see and there was no discussion of either of their respective compliance with the personal-use-of-cellphone policy.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    Penny Bright is well known for her disruptions to Council meetings

    "A veteran protester, who is linked with the Occupy movement, hijacked an Auckland Council meeting this morning, temporarily delaying the meeting and prompting police to be called."
    That was 2012, and then there was 2006 ( when Hubbard was mayor)

    Graeme you should get up to Auckland more often, my local Library has a security guard most afternoons

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Comment spam in eight different threads. Someone's determined.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I know "Granny H" gets it wrong on so many levels when one is considering a morning read with the latte, but sometimes it throws up wee gems that make me feel that there is still hope in our small Nation.
    Good on David Fisher

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

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