Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dirty Politics

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  • Paul Williams, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    From failing to acknowledge John Bishop as a hard right activist it is a ethically lazy short step to using Farrar and Slater as a news source, and we now know that leads directly to collusion and collaboration with National's two tier PR agenda.

    Tom, firstly, I don't listen to Mora often so can't argue the issue of his 'balance' or his approach specifically. I also agree that it's reasonable to conflate choices over panelists with the issue of sources more generally. I don't know of Bishop but know of the Taxpayers union and agree, they're shell-entity that should be avoided in preference for legit organisations (although that's a little fraught I suspect). All that said, I'd be interested to know the view of commenters here from the media as I suspect one of the problems is finding competent 'talent' without bias (and though I think little of the far right, excluding them isn't an option).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Some behind-the-scenes work from the police or others has seen the Whaledump Twitter account shut down. Fairfax have a quote from Slater saying "good job."

    I get the impression that some on the loony right are hoping they've killed the messenger. Will taking out one Twitter account stop the hacker from releasing more information? Nah!

    Come in Porcupine Farm!

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Fairfax are reporting Key's suspicious prior knowledge of a "very big" advertising campaign scheduled to run in two weeks time, just before election day.

    A Christchurch commercial real estate company has been dragged into political controversy after Prime Minister John Key used its plans for a big advertising campaign to score political points.

    During The Press leaders debate on Tuesday, Key referred to an upcoming advertising supplement in The Press to rebut a question from editor Joanna Norris about progress on the rebuild stalling.

    "Your newspaper, either this week or probably now next week, is going to deliver in the newspaper a very big supplement, that's going to sell I'm sure extremely well, which points out there are two hundred buildings in the CBD alone that are basically completed."

    Key was referring to an advertising promotion by commercial real estate firm Colliers which is due to run in The Press before the election.

    His knowledge of the advertising campaign has raised questions about whether it would advantage National in the lead up to the election.

    Did someone say brethren?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Dismal Soyanz, in reply to Alfie,

    some on the loony right are hoping they’ve killed the messenger

    Not to mention the Ostrich Brigade.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2010 • 310 posts Report Reply

  • CJM, in reply to Paul Williams,

    Josie McNaught was on here just the other day:

    I used to do the panel regularly (goodness knows they could do with a few more women regardless) but after having a couple of swipes at Key, I ended up way down the list – and heard unofficially that the govt media team didn’t like the cut of my jib – but that might also be the fact that RNZ only want Jane Clifton (and the other Josie who inhabits that murky world between “communications and journalism” ) to talk politics. Because I do arts stuff I’m not allowed to step over the line into big boy politics stuff. I recently heard they had a new chick on – she runs a PR firm – but did she tell the listeners who her clients are??? No way. You’ll just have to work that out from who she “promotes” on the show

    Auckland • Since Aug 2014 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to CJM,

    I missed this - thanks. It does tend to confirm Tom's point of bias. Perhaps I was being naive.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Labour should really try to schmooze Peters' vanity in this regard: "So, how'd you like your legacy to be as Sir Winston Peters, the man who cleaned NZ politics up...?"

    Then again, that just be, er, bribery, and, er, a bit unethical.

    Still, I bet Labour's keener to massage his ego than National.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to CJM,

    after having a couple of swipes at Key, I ended up way down the list – and heard unofficially that the govt media team didn’t like the cut of my jib

    In fact it goes beyond political bias - if it's true, it's this govt doing exactly what Craig hopes

    an incoming government wouldn’t be so stupid as to engage in

    That is-

    blatant political [interference that] compromises the basic editorial independence of public broadcasters

    Wrong in so many ways. And until I'd read Dirty Politics, I probably wouldn't have believed it. But now it feels like 'the govt media team' are in fact our government. :(

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Alfie,

    Some behind-the-scenes work from the police or others has seen the Whaledump Twitter account shut down. Fairfax have a quote from Slater saying “good job.”

    And intimating that it was his complaints that did it. Idiot. Maybe he thinks they won't dare hack him again.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Whaledump2 appears to be the bona fide follow on account to Whaledump.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Kim_Wright,

    The panel is the least profession programme on Radio NZ National. After seeing so many similar comments, can I suggest that all who are concerned with: the use of commentators from the taxpayers union and similar shills; the edging out of anti-government commentators (e.g. Josie McNaught); and, the failure to disclose allegiances etc.; write directly to Paul Thomson the CEO of Radio NZ. They seem to be sailing close to the wind with regards to their charter 1(g). I am quite often commuting when the panel is on and although I love National radio I more often than not turn the dial off in disgust at Jim Mora's complicity (my abhorrence reinforced significantly after more so after reading Dirty Politics).
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/about/charter

    Wellington • Since May 2009 • 57 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    And he’s back at @whaledump2 which I/S reports has been verified by Nippert.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Yep. Whaledump2 is for real and the dumps are, er, flowing.

    The most interesting one relates to pp92-95 of Dirty Politics, the campaign otchestrated by Carrick Graham against the cleaning trade body Building Services Contractors Association of New Zealand, who required new and better labour standards of members -- and government agencies were required to do their procurement from those members.

    It was successful. Working, it appears, through Collins, they got the rule scrapped.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Okay, shit has officially broken loose with the Herald story just published.

    Under-fire politician Judith Collins and blogger Cameron Slater appeared to have frequent contact over the entire time she served in John Key's Cabinet, according to electronic files obtained by the hacker Rawshark.

    The Herald has seen email records which appear to cover 2009 through to 2014.

    The records and the level of detail in the records are a stark contrast to earlier claims Ms Collins and Slater made about Facebook conversations being faked.

    Ms Collins said the previously released information were "likely forgeries" and threatened a complaint to the police. Police have confirmed no complaint has yet been made -- and Ms Collins has not responded to subsequent inquiries from the Herald.

    Requests to Slater resulted only in an obscenity.

    The information supplied to the Herald by the hacker Rawshark show a range of contact, from personal messages to discussion about government information -- and appear to include incidences in which Ms Collins passed on information which Slater then used to attack political opponents.

    The Bain case, set-up OIAs, the works. This is shocking.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    She may have been dumped as a distraction, but she's toast now.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to nzlemming,

    She may have been dumped as a distraction, but she's toast now.

    It's not Collins anymore, it's systemic favouritism and rort equating to maladministration. Key's management of his Cabinet appears to follow the Lange playbook.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    Surely there'd be grounds for prosecution somewhere in there?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    I'd have to read the actual emails to judge that, but I wouldn't be surprised.

    What is very interesting is that Williams, in asking Slater about his cost structure, is doing so while working for Stephen Franks and says that he'll have to get Franks' okay to move forward for a client. Dragging Franks into the shit means it won't just be ADLS looking at its members...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Dragging Franks into the shit means it won’t just be ADLS looking at its members…

    It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.


    Idiot/Savant spells it out for the taxpayer in terms of the revelations about David Bain:

    So, just to make that clear, the Justice Minister used a blogger to smear someone when she was considering their case for compensation for a miscarriage of justice. Which would seem to be a textbook case of bias and predetermination, and to hand Bain his judicial review on a plate. If you don't think Bain deserves compensation, you might want to get angry at Collins about that.

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

  • Idiot Savant, in reply to nzlemming,

    And he’s back at @whaledump2 which I/S reports has been verified by Nippert.

    Actually I verified it myself using the PGP signature. But Stuff says that Nippert has also verified it based on content (rather than encryption).

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Rob S,

    I need a Geddis analysis pronto, Andrew?

    Would like to know what else our Mr Whaledump is holding in his back pocket and how well insulated he is from being discovered also what any court case would turn into if he was caught.

    I want to see a full Royal Commission looking into all of the matters arising from dirty politics and subsequent whaledump releases. This is so necessary!

    Is iPredict taking bets on Collins being convicted?

    Can National enter Parliament on current polling without Winston First?

    Schadenfreude seems to be my current setting.

    Since Apr 2010 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    As side note, the claim that Josie Pagani had been hunting with Slater um... surprised me.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    As side note, the claim that Josie Pagani had been hunting with Slater um… surprised me.

    I'm not overly fond of Pagani's approach, but, yeah, that's a remarkable error of judgment. Presumably this is in the latest dump as I've not seen media mention of it yet?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    Actually I verified it myself using the PGP signature. But Stuff says that Nippert has also verified it based on content (rather than encryption).

    Ah, right. Thanks.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    As side note, the claim that Josie Pagani had been hunting with Slater um… surprised me.

    Nothing either Pagani does would surprise me. I often wondered if they wandered into a Labour Party party and decided that the factions were easier to manipulate.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

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