Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: How many children with cancer would an editor's salary cure?

151 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 Newer→ Last

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    RNZ had Christine Rankin on 'The Panel'.
    OMG so bold, so shameless, each sentence contradicting the privious before the next breath was taken.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    The Herald appear to have been stung by this criticism and have added some research-like components to their story

    and stung they should be. both government and opposition are doing their jobs. the herald on the other hand is just leaving itself open to accusations of being a mouthpiece.

    the day the fourth estate starts regurgitating media releases uncritically in order to sell copy is the day i switch them off.

    oh. wait. i already did.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Dot .,

    Lost your way, "Dot"?. You want Kiwiblog (do a U-turn and it's last on the right).

    Oh apologies, I didn't realise this blog was only for like minded liberals

    Move along, nothing to see

    Kupe St, Orakei • Since May 2008 • 2 posts Report

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    The Herald appear to have been stung by this criticism and have added some research-like components to their story:

    I don't know which is worse: uncritically regurgitating media releases, or resorting to reporting website puffery.

    Speaking of uncritical regurgitation, I heard John Key with Havoc on bfm this morning. He actually believes that, pre-invasion, there was solid evidence that Iraq had WMDs and that it was a platform for international terrorism. The implications are simply scary.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    The interweb is a marvelous resource if you've got the nous for Google.

    Have you seen the website? I mean, that dining room isn't exactly the langham.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Paul Rowe,

    I don't know which is worse: uncritically regurgitating media releases, or resorting to reporting website puffery.

    When I'm not fighting crime by night I'm a mild-mannered researcher during the day. Even I wouldn't be caught cutting and pasting like that. it only takes a second to delete the puffery and make the content look like you've given it some thought.

    I mean - "Nestled in the Mangatawhiri Valley"? What's wrong with "situated"?

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Oh apologies, I didn't realise this blog was only for like minded liberals

    It's not. But I suggest you stop purporting to be someone you're not.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Then again, there's part of me that has to give Street and Wilkinson Priscilla snaps up for fronting in the House, rather than finding a blank Sudoku in their desk drawer requiring urgent attention.

    can see the headlines already.MPs wasting tax payers money playing sudoku!:-)

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    Did anybody else think it strange that a resident of Kupe Street was used as an example of a state house tennant?

    The houses subsequently vested in the Ngati Whatua of Orakei Maori Trust Board by the 1978 Act

    From Here

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    is kupe street the same one that was burned to the ground before the 5[summin'] royal visit?

    you know, to stop the queen having to see "the maoris" living in squalor?

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    is kupe street the same one that was burned to the ground before the 5[summin'] royal visit?

    1953 Royal visit. Hmm I've heard of somthing like that but can't find any reference to Orakei. I did find this.

    "The Queen had been in the country less than 40 hours when a terrible disaster occurred at Tangiwai in the central North Island."
    Who can we blame that on.?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Ok I found this

    "Reports of an old man being dragged from the fire are wrong. He actually cast himself into the holocaust of his home. I remember vividly the wailing of the wahine and the confused shouts of the young. It could be clearly heard on the harbour." (John Broadbent, Auckland yachtsman, reporting on the burning of Orakei village and eviction of its inhabitants prior to the Queen’s visit in 1952. Orakei Report 1987)

    From Here
    and this.

    The issue became one of law and order.

    Some thought the Crown burnt the meeting house. Others suspected it was
    one of their own. The Crown proposed re-erection of the meeting house at
    Helensville but the people knew where the ancestral house belonged and
    there is a custom of burning such houses when threatened with desecration
    by a foe. It was not until 1977 that Prince Reweti announced his long deceased
    great grand-uncle did it so that the ashes would stay where the building was
    meant to be (New Zealand Herald 28.6.77).

    Those left had to be burnt out and physically carried from their homes. It
    seemed necessary that that should not be delayed. Her Majesty Queen
    Elizabeth II was to visit Auckland in the coming summer 1952-1953. The
    procession route, it was first thought, would follow Tamaki Drive past the
    'unsightly Orakei shacks' and since this was to be the first time a reigning
    Monarch would see Auckland, Auckland wished to be seen well. Ironically,
    the visit was almost 100 years to the day after Te Kawau had farewelled
    Governor Grey from Auckland, saying

    Friend, when you arrive on the other side tell the Queen about the good
    arrangements you have made in regard to the formation of a township on our land
    and let this land (Orakei) be reserved for our own use forever...

    From Here
    So yes. I think it was. ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Andrew Paul Wood,

    My heart goes out to Street. Helen's blatant pandering to knee-jerk public reaction just about broke my heart. I have no one left to vote for :(

    Christchurch • Since Jan 2007 • 175 posts Report

  • Andrew Paul Wood,

    Christchurch • Since Jan 2007 • 175 posts Report

  • slarty,

    Saying that you are GST auditors from IRD on a fraud training course has always been a favourite.

    Yes! Please - everyone, can you do this from now on?

    Che, sorry mate but sounds like you just never got invited to the right parties :)

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Stalag Fairfax isn't behaving much better

    It's worth noting that that story is actually quite different from last night's version of the report, which had the entire budget loaded into an "overnight retreat", which made it seem pretty steep.

    But now we find out that it was a two-day conference.

    Staff in its property development team racked up a bill of nearly $36,000 for a two-day conference at the Hotel and Spa de Vin in South Auckland in 2003 - part of what Housing NZ boss Lesley McTurk says was a pattern of "inappropriate" venues.

    The lodge at Pokeno boasts 48 chalets, fine dining and wines, and a range of plush beauty treatments.

    OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!

    I've been to this place. It has basic leisure and conference facilities, but it's not that flash. And the chalets certainly aren't.

    But too flash, I gather, for appearances. Especially when you're "racking up a bill" rather than simply paying for meals and accomodation and conferebce facilities.

    And this is what we're down to. Henceforth, internal conference organisers will be expected to find the shittiest possible venue for the price.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    Che, sorry mate but sounds like you just never got invited to the right parties :)

    heh. it's funny 'cause it's true.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    But too flash, I gather, for appearances. Especially when you're "racking up a bill" rather than simply paying for meals and accomodation and conferebce facilities.

    All future HNZC retreats will be held in unrefurbished, vacant rural houses.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Andrew Paul Wood,

    No, all future HNZC retreats will be held here

    Christchurch • Since Jan 2007 • 175 posts Report

  • Andrew Paul Wood,

    Just reading around the interwebs, this whole business has highlighted a division between the blue collar/small business/beneficiary bloc who seem to have no comprehension of the expectations and minimum requirements for white collar/knowledge/management-admnin bloc workers in large organisations. Is it the first salvo in a class war.

    I slogged my guts out at uni, have a student loan out the wazzoo (try paying that and kiwisaver on a limited income), and have no dependants so can't take advantage of Working for Families (totally discriminating against non-breeders, the ugly, the lonely and teh gaze) and the very least I fucking want is a weekend where I don't have to do the dishes or cook while I sort the country's shit out. The whingers can take their finger sandwidges and church hall and shove them up their bleating kiwi-battler arses.

    Christchurch • Since Jan 2007 • 175 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    APW: I'm inclined to agree here. It's bare-faced anti-intellectualism. And the same people who complain that tall-poppy syndrome is holding us back are quite happy to pull out the scythe when it suits them.

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

  • Neil Morrison,

    Is it the first salvo in a class war.

    I read it more as how a lot of people like to feel scandalised. There’s a nicely visceral pay-off to be had with faux scandals. Has the added bonus of not requiring time consuming attention to details.

    Instant opinion and so certain.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report

  • Nat Torkington,

    The answer's obvious: the government will have to build and maintain conference facilities to ensure that there are no untoward line items.

    Ti Point • Since Nov 2006 • 100 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Good lord. I agree with Ralston.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Steve Parks,

    Oh apologies, I didn't realise this blog was only for like minded liberals

    Yeah, because Craig and Russell have been real like minded on this topic.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

This topic is closed.