Let's see if anyone else in the media (esp. C4) reads PA ...

begins 17 JULY. you can has a archive, but that would be about all we know

(But probably also because HNZ have a mandate to house people in need – if the Salt's can prove they're 'in need' how do you terminate?)

I think you might be right there. I do know that they serve quite a few eviction notices, but follow through on very few…

So why didn't HNZ issue a completely legal 90 day notice of termination?

Are you sure they didn't?

Pretty sure, because if they had of then the Salt family tenancy would be terminated with 90 days notice. And if they had tried it already (but failed), it would have been…

I said to my wife ,overseas in some places the neighbours would have burnt the house down, like in Iraq a thought ,positive direct action,burn…

Is this the work of Dr McTurk who made such a splash at the Christchurch City Council?

Sorry to repeat myself but,
Why do we know about the…

>That's rather prime ministerial, and very political from where I'm sitting.

Yes, and I wasn't too impressed upon reading this gem from Housing Minister Chris Carter in The Herald:

Housing Minister Chris Carter thought the adjudicator had not paid enough regard to the distress of other neighbours on the street…

Helen is doing a lot of undignified snapping. Surely a plan for the future, a clear direction is better than Cpt Blighs cat of nine tails.

Well, I'm sure they do have a plan for the future, and it wouldn't surprise me if part of it is 'coming down on…

a bit unfair on Clark I think. That state house is in her electorate so as an MP she has to take some action and I'd be very surprised if she didn't know the back-story to it all.

Well, I've no problem with any MP advocating on behalf of their…

"It is no help for democracy, and the necessary public participation, to have yet more, typically, concentration by the media on peripheral behaviours."

I can't see that it's any particular hindrance to democracy either. If you don't trust the papers, read the blogosphere or the raw material. But don't…

So why didn't HNZ issue a completely legal 90 day notice of termination?

Are you sure they didn't?

Could it be that it doesn't 'fit' with the ethos of State Housing ie tenants can stay as long as they like for as long as they want to?

Probably not, they…

Corrections is primarily a failure as a result of Labours 'successful' lock'em up and don't spare the years.
Aside from the pay-for-opinion surveys…

Aunty Helens started beneficary Bashing as well jumping in on a housing corp house eviction.

I'd guess that there's some Labour political strategists who have looked back over Mr Field, Bradford's bill, Corrections, Police etc, and come to the conclusion that they've had a pretty crap year. It's showing in…

Yeah, but you have to admit it's kinda funny that the Government that has championed tenants rights over landlords now finds itself in…

I don't like Cricket – oh no – I hate it. apologies to 10cc

Surf Life Saving & Beach Volley Ball win…

1) Behaviour during Question Time tends to be fractious at the best of times (though Thursdays are often quiet). However this does not mean things improve during debates on legislation. Some of the more extreme stuff I've witnessed has…

Yes, sorry to put the kibosh on the lads. I've been in a tailspin since Saturday night, reflected in that post. *They're allowed* to be human.

We are even less allowed to see the way in which the decisions as to what to vote are made, the whipping, the threats, the negotiations, the endless board meetings, the focus groups etc.

Good point. I guess what I'd say is this:

Parliament is made of people with divergent…

"That is what is a circus about it. I'm not even referring to the ridiculous behaviour in the house, the gesturing, yelling over the top, falling asleep, yawning dramatically, slandering people etc. That's all normal human behaviour..."

Dear I say it – that is not NORMAL human behaviour…

No-one from Act spoke, or was present during the debate. Indeed, only one member of the press gallery sat through the whole thing.

(a) I know it must be difficult with a caucus of two, but when you've expressed a view to media, isn't it just good form to actually…

On the substantive point, it is worthwhile to note the overseas experience. Our rules are pretty liberal.

Even in the US – rightly regarded as an upholder of free speech – video footage of Congress is provided by the Speaker…

Like Mr Rodney Hide, my personal view is that people should be able to film what they like.

... i had the impression someone had interjected just then and thought it was rodders.

I don't know if…

I do, but I have to wonder why. It's never made the slightest difference to NZ or me. Old habits I guess.

And yes it can be both trivial and the only thing worth televising.…

The result is that Ron Mark goes out on digital high-rotation

Always with the finger jokes...

As Peter Bromhead noted on Agenda, Farce is not included in their guidelines :)

Or indeed bathos.

Anywhere where you would have used footage of parliament, you instead re-enact the scene with figerpuppets and silly voices.

This would continue until politicians realise allowing free use of the feed is not the worst option.

I would…

Should I? What's actually happening in there that is more important or interesting than bad clowning? Does it actually affect me any more than exclusive interviews with Paris Hilton? It's certainly a lot less interesting.

So it's completely trivial and the only thing worth televising? Do you bother voting, Ben?…

I think that's the key point people. Maybe if we had more substantive reporting then they'd tolerate the 'lite' stuff, but as RB points out most of it is just cheapshots.

But then again ... we all…

For the most part, parliaments want to control coverage. Guidelines on the use of file footage of proceedings issued by Australia's Joint Committee…

Should I? What's actually happening in there that is more important or interesting than bad…

That it trivializes what is already trivial is merely honesty. Which should *always* be allowed. Parliament has been a ridiculous circus full of bad clowns playacting for a long time, and for the public to see it is important.

Well, your view is not an uncommon one, and MPs have…

the new provisions were passed with only the Greens objecting.

The new provisions passed unanimously.

Well, Weston, with all due disrespect to the great and the good, I think I'm capable of deciding for myself what constitutes 'worthwhile coverage' of politics, and adjusting my viewing/reading accordingly

If what I said strikes you as patronising elitism, I guess I'm guilty. Its all about who will guard…

"The result is that the television news cannot be relied upon to provide worthwhile coverage of what happens in Parliament."

That doesn't mean it should be stopped. I personally think coverage of Paris Hilton *is* more worthwhile than Parliamentary footage, but the conclusion of that is not that Parliamentary…

The result is that the television news cannot be relied upon to provide worthwhile coverage of what happens in Parliament

Well, Weston, with all due disrespect to the great and the good, I think I'm capable of deciding for myself what constitutes 'worthwhile coverage' of politics, and adjusting my viewing/reading…

The first reality is that television news coverage is brief and of a low quality. "One News gives you a full report" often translates as 5 or 10…

Not that I'm the least…

There are a reasonable number of people who when they're at work, are always on camera, and don't get to set limits on what ends…

Why not insist that if broadcaster spends 5 minutes on satire or ridicule then they need to spend 5 minutes on considered analysis of the proceedings.

I don't believe being an MP is necessarily an easy…

No, I am not without sympathy for our MPs. The New Zealand news media's coverage of Parliament is often superficial. A sleeping-MP gotcha will lead the news while important legislative events go unexplained.

Well, I'd only extend my sympathy up to a point, Lord Copper. If political coverage has become…