TVNZ is about to be restructured by this Government so those new channels may be about all that's left of 'serious' shows about this country and its people. Swings, roundabouts.

Well that's a bit silly Sacha. "The pie did get bigger, but it might get smaller in the future so…

Show me a different pie

The new digital channels make a bigger pie. TVNZ has brought more 'serious' shows to TV.

Media is both a social construct and a business one, bringing constraints and opportunities.…

there is limited "social issues" coverage just as there are overall systemic limits.

If you want to look at the pie that way, OK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pilG7PCV448

Ignore me if I've said this before, but you may be interested in these offerings from Radio New Zealand – although they may not be quite polemical enough for your taste, I suspect.

hah...yeah nah, its like i'm almost tempted to start a blog called

'Power to Truth'...where journos/bloggers pieces…

which you weren't discussing

Please do read what I actually said – there is limited "social issues" coverage just as there are overall systemic limits. They'll hardly shift resource from celeb chef survivor to news and docos unless there is pressure and probably funding carrots. Abundance is a feature of…

I'd call it being civilised (in the best possible way- learning from our past, determined to be more compassionate & humane.)
We do not have a civilised media -in general- in ANZ

Case in point: the Chch Star's Pegasus Post Community News reporting on an arson at a community workshop making…

there really should be some 'razzie' type media awards for the shoddiest piece of journalism to counter the qantas best of.

Ignore me if I've said this before, but you may be interested in these offerings from Radio New Zealand – although they may not be quite polemical enough for…

Naturally there'd be some hand wringing, some finger pointing and a whole lotta good copy being made, perhaps even a piece on how contrite the…

Please do explain how conventional media is not zero sum – there are hardly unlimited production or distribution resources/channels.

Because the answer to 'disability issues need more air time' doesn't have to be 'investigation of social disfunction/crime gets less'. There's plenty of crud on TV which could make way for…

I'm reminded of Liam Ashley and how that turned out when his parents though it was a good idea to educate him first hand on prison...wasn't he ASD ?

Was ADHD, which sometimes overlaps with ASD.

[Edit:. Removed the link to that vile Dirty Sesh video. Just don't want it playing through my website, sorry. RB]

fair enough but it is kind of relevent as thats the type of stuff that influences the baileys of this world....perhaps thats worthy of a thread/media 7 spot in itself…

I've been surprised how many people have been prepared to dismiss him as the undeserving bad seed

That. Plus, concerning something that Islander wrote further up

there are plenty of young people who are in vile environments and DONT take part in a robbery that led to a young man's…

As a parent of an ASD child, I'd like to see that get the full attention it deserves, thank you very much. It's not my cause against theirs, for heaven's sake.

As the parent of ASD children, I can't help but wonder how Bailey Kurariki might have turned out had…

It's not necessarily a zero sum game though. I'd much rather the media put more time into both of them and less into Rock of Love IV or Who loves New York, or whatever is on this week.

Please do explain how conventional media is not zero sum – there…

I respect your stake in this, but unless you think there are unlimited media resources then frankly, yes, there is competition for public attention.

It's not necessarily a zero sum game though. I'd much rather the media put more time into both of them and less into Rock of Love…

Any ideas for further steps?

make high school kids study every episode of 'the wire' and shame on all y'all if you haven't seen it.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Movies-TV/DVDs/TV-series/auction-280085919.htm

Series 5 is rather apt, where due to cutbacks and falling readership an unscrupulous reporter manufactures the news and puts himself at the center…

We do not have a civilised media -in general- in ANZ.Though the ODT can come pretty slose, a lot of the time...*

*disclosure: I have nothing to do with the ODT except it is now the only MSM I buy regularly-

Another stand you can make is to browse your…

We do not have a civilised media -in general- in ANZ.Though the ODT can come pretty slose, a lot of the time...*

*disclosure: I have nothing to do with…

I respect your stake in this, but unless you think there are unlimited media resources then frankly, yes, there is competition for attention.

In that case I'd have to say that their needs are more pressing and their cause more urgent, as it goes far closer to the core of…

I'm hoping we can use online to change that (one of my focuses this year), but traditional media and policy channels still shape too much discussion…

As you know, one of the groups routinely stigmatised in what little media coverage we get is disabled people.

The media treatment that (ex-)prisoners and beneficiaries get in this country is nothing short of a disgrace. As a parent of an ASD child, I'd like to see that get the…

As you know, one of the groups routinely stigmatised in what little media coverage we get is disabled people. I'd far rather see energies go into improving…

The media today is treating Bailey Kurariki like that gorilla I remember so strongly from my childhood. Unfortunately, it is easy for journos and editors to treat…

there are plenty of young people who are in vile environments and DONT take part in a robbery that led to a young man's death.

The robbery wasnt done because the offenders were hungry: it wasnt…

Not at all. Clarifying that he has acted deviantly, not been somehow abstractly labelled as such by society. There are others who deserve far more of your sympathy and attention than this guy.

I don't think it's a competition. And I do feel sorry for Bailey Junior Kurariki.

The whole…

Not at all. Clarifying that he has acted deviantly, not been somehow abstractly labelled as such by society. There are others who deserve far more of your sympathy and attention than this guy.

That seems a peculiarly un-Sacha like thing to say, if you don't mind me saying so. Kurariki…

Maybe this is what Sacha was referring to as "anonymous"

Yes – perhaps "multiply pseudonymous" might have been the better term, but that wasn't my prime concern. I hope the other thread shows why I was wary of minimising Kurariki's culpability if the arguments head down the same path -…

My argument is that the news media contributes to the nasty situation through the way it reports his actions.

Watching that Campbell Live item this week, I wondered: does everyone who doesn't show up for a court appearance in NZ get a visit from a TV3 presenter and a camera…

Hirst regurgitates anonymous arguments that we're all too familiar with here under a different name – and I'd rather not go there again thanks, given how long it took to hose them down the first time.

Anonymous?

He seems to slide past the fundamental connection that Kurariki has been "deemed…

He seems to slide past the fundamental connection that Kurariki has been "deemed to…

Wow. I'd never heard that song all the way through (my grandad had a record but it was badly scratched) – amazing what you find lurking in ancient pop culture.

Sacha, the code is wrong but the sentiment is about right...

Um... wow, Paul. That was something.

So is this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48eHkZfnGug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ytgfKBZGdU

I thoroughly enjoy the banter with Aussies at sporting events here in Sydney.

It seems like the main reason to actually go to the event, to be part of the crowd and to be heard vocally supporting your team. The quality of the cricket viewing experience is less than watching…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGCiYDWGZv4

Ozzie: I don't know what the fuck you're on about, mate
Kiwi: Language, please, there's children here
Ozzie: They should have gone to bed hours ago
Kiwi: At least it's not a stolen bed

I thoroughly enjoy the banter with Aussies at sporting events here in Sydney. Can't say I've…

Re ACT : For all that Uncle Winston was a greasy self serving git. He would have thrived in opposition to this lot.

Rodney Hide is now baselessly accusing Jim Salinger of destroying climate data, as part of some climate-denial conspiracy theory.

Act really is the party of the gibbering loon. It's just bloody unfortunate that one of the loons is being paid as a…

FFS – PLEASE LEAVE THE TOPIC ALONE!

Quite.

Robbie, for goodness sake: you've made your point over and over and over. Give it a rest.

Re the courts : Chances are they'll get name supression and he'll do time again because no one will believe him with no corroborating witness, even…

And it's not as if the point hasn't been made on this thread that the actions of the Herald might well constitute entrapment,

Ok, probably going out on a PAS tangent (I like to think) here. I don't know that what you say was made.But I am just being lazy…

I just think this is the most important issue/case relating to media in ages and all everyone wants to do is talk cricket.…

I'm more than happy to see a close questioning of the media, their tactics, their ethics and professionalism and I'd wondered what the motive of this story really was... (train-wreck journalism is an obscene indulgence)

Is said media really Too Big to Fail? If they're an Abrams tank, then the…

Beat that, suckers.

I think you missed the point of the exercise somewhere. Longer != better.

three weeks ago tomorrow. Unpacking almost finished.

Pfft. Amateurs. We finished unpacking the last of our UK boxes at Christmas. Seven years after we first touched down.

Beat that, suckers.

I totally appreciate B's efforts on the 'calling bullshit' side of things

Same, and Philip's

Keeping Geelong going is important to Ozzies, and if they have to drive Holdens and Fords, they think it's worth the price.

There's a diversity of views that in part can be resolved by checking which state you're from but generally, I think you're right. There's nothing like the obsession…

Unpacking almost finished. I've taken about four carloads of flattened cardboard to be recycled.

I'm starting to wonder if we couldn't just have built a house out of cardboard boxes.

We take possession tomorrow, have I mentioned that?

Good luck! We got in... three weeks ago tomorrow. Unpacking almost finished. I've taken about four carloads of flattened cardboard to be recycled.

Most depressing thing, the dozen or so boxes and bags of things that I had to haul up the…

if they have to drive Holdens and Fords, they think it's worth the price.

And they won't see it coming when GM and Ford get it together to shutdown simultaneously. Although the V8 racing organisers have seen the future, and it's German. This will…

I'm here when I'm not packing boxes. We take possession tomorrow, have I mentioned that?

Wow! Good luck with that. Afraid I found some of it just a little over my line, but we may have ascertained earlier that my line is a bit 'sensitive' at the best of times.…

B, there were probably a dozen or more 'PAS fellas' watching this unfold thinking D, RB, or EH would jump in, but they haven't. So, without wanting to drag things out, this is what we do I suppose. Some might call it gutless, but I'd call it a diffusion.

I'm…

In the early nineties, [the marginal rate for some beneficiaries] passed 100%. There was a thresh-hold you hit, and my memory is a bit dodgy on it now but I think it was at around 15 minimum wage hours a week, where the claw-backs were more than…

Anyhoo, anyone who hasn't read Russell's piece, linked in the original post, maybe this would be a good time to remember it. We are humans, after all.…

Hey Robbie, you know that thing you do where you think you're being all provocative and shit, especially when you're talking about women? It's played.

probably a dozen or more 'PAS fellas' watching this unfold

Ahem, some of us have intervened as best we can while not wanting to set off further futile yelling or to usurp our host or fellow guests.

I'm impressed we are all responding quite calmly and not taking the bait.…

I gave up a couple of pages ago and happily spent the time I would have used to post checking up on the cricket. Good start!

Yes, certainly more compelling than this stuff, but it shouldn't go unchallenged, and B seems a bit under attack. Need some Mods in the…

I had originally intended to comment here along the lines of "I can't wait for the Womens' XV to arrive", but I'm sure at this point they've probably had enough of this stuff, just like the rest of us.

I gave up a couple of pages ago and happily spent…

No one calls them on jack or asks us if we want to see it or if it has any relevence…

Look around phil. The media does way more vile shit and no one calls them on it and IMHO these gutless hacks deserve it...

What were you wearing that day ?

Were you showing any cleavage ?

Did you discuss anything sexually related about his time in jail ?

Did you lead him on by doing anything that might have led him to act out a fantasy ?

Why didnt you say anything to…

Yours looks like a lovely…

Ironically, Nissan had factories in Oz, up until about 1994

Not all Ozzies are total boofheads. Those who like quality vehicles will drive them. They just pay through the nose. But they always have new, which I guess is worth something.

I received a death threat for wearing a t-shirt that said "Bathurst Skyline", too. Keeping Geelong going is important to Ozzies, and if they have to drive Holdens and Fords, they think it's worth the price.

Ironically, Nissan had factories in Oz, up until about 1994. Chrysler bailed out of…

http://picasaweb.google.com/sofiebribiesca/Tattoos?feat=directlink

Ha ho! Bromeliads FTW!

(I mean, add a bit of congenial music, joketelling, good scents from a garden – that list could go on!)

amicable sharing of good good food-*

*OK, and drink et al-

enjoy fine dining *in*

That is actually what I meant Islander. The luxury of the process, the shoppin',the friends who fish, the prep, the dining ,the friends. Luxury!

OK ya got me now. show me yours and i'll show you mine :)

http://picasaweb.google.com/sofiebribiesca/Tattoos?feat=directlink

My luxuries are changing all the time. At the mo, it is the sleeve of Tattoos I am doing as a therapy.

OK ya got me now. show me yours and i'll show you mine :)

I suspect, but don't know, that there's a lot more new cars sold per annum in Australia than NZ per head of population

Yeah, I was pretty shocked at the old dunger that was all I could afford in Ozzie. I received a death threat for wearing a t-shirt that…

It, and books, are my luxuries.
Except for somewhat occasionally expensive alcohol

Ah, luxury. each to their own eh?
My luxuries are changing all the time. At the mo, it is the sleeve of Tattoos I am doing as a therapy.I also find fine dining luxury and the absolute enjoyment…

On the other…

I still swear by the economics of buying second hand cars. At least in NZ.

At least in NZ indeed.

Someone might already have made this point, but there's no import market in Australia due to the tariffs that apply. This means the market for second hand cars is much…

velcro cycling gear

As a cyclist, I'd like to say that there's no way I'd choose to venture out in velcro. It's just asking to get into a sticky situation.

But even stepping past the obvious joke – 2nd hand cycling shorts: yuk. I'd have to be pretty fucking strapped…

I still swear by the economics of buying second hand cars. At least in NZ.

Cheap garage workers. High interest rates. Big markups on new cars.

Plus, the NZ mindset is that it's better to drive a 10 year old Skyline that's a bit crap than a brand new Suzuki…

maybe cos they dont make stuff as good as they used to, or stuff costs more, or people aren't…

Rearrange the following words: Poll. Thatcher. Margaret. Tax.

Yup. But we should discuss what's likely to be coming, not 'things that Satan would impose upon us'.

The government signalled that benefits would increase to compensate for the GST increase. Assuming that they follow through on that, beneficiaries will only be…

Theres lots of rebels without causes around at the moment and revolutions needed without anything to fill the vaccuum afterwards.

I feel strangely optimistic about the future these days.

You have enough spare cash laying about that you can take advantage of "specials" or other recognizably good deals when they are available.... whereas when every dollar you come by is already committed... you dont…

I wonder whether it is in the nature of peaceful society to gradually become more rigidly hierarchical, and that violence will always be our safety valve against the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Whether that violence is internal or external.

And of course its human nature to want the best for…

Funny that Ben, but as a polynesian outside the royal breeding lines the best other way to improve your lot and marry well was to prove yourself in battle also.

I hope it's a peculiarity of the past, both for polynesians and for everyone else. But very often I wonder…

I remember reading in some dusty policy paper that the marginal rate for some beneficiaries approaches 100%

In the early nineties, it passed 100%. There was a thresh-hold you hit, and my memory is a bit dodgy on it now but I think it was at around 15 minimum wage…

Craig – all beneficiaries, including my beloved mother, pay gst on everything; a 2.5%increase in GST is a 2.5 diminshment on her income (which is pretty bloody slight anyway.)

A 2.5% increase in GST is a 2.2% diminishment in income.

Assuming that the government doesn't put in some GST compensation…

I think a certain amount of selfishness is needed to become rich but theres no need to be greedy about…

There but for fortunate genetics and an applied brain go I

I have probably said this before, but anyway...

Dad's been doing a lot of digging into the family history.

Once you get past grandparent level, the ancestors are very largely poor workers. Illiterate London bootmakers, Volga river raftsmen. Judging…

wonder if many of our decision-makers/politicians have either never been poor or chosen to forget it.

Bryce Edwards has recently made a very interesting post on this, which includes the following comment from John Minto:

"...Based on our national profile we should have about 7 MPs from amongst the unemployed…

I wonder if many of our decision-makers/politicians have either never been poor or chosen to forget it.

Not our PM though, so he tells it.

I'm not convinced that the 'former poor' are more likely to show empathy to the 'currently poor', though. Particularly not the 'formerly poor, now fantastically…

I wonder if many of our decision-makers/politicians have either never been poor or chosen to forget it.

Yes, that's what I deduced a few weeks back when, in a short queue for the burgers (mine being fish of course) I was chatting to a stranger next to me. I mentioned…

Except that the good Sergeant Vimes and I arrived at the theory independently. I do remember recognising the essential truth of it when I read it. However the good Sergeant gets one detail wrong. Cheap boots cannot be salvaged by cardboard insoles when the uppers disintegrate or part…

Oh, so you pull the entire bottom tier out of the cake shave most of it off, and that's OK because even though you can't pay for shit at least you're still screwing over the rich pricks? I'm sure there's a logical train of thought on the tracks…

Might be one or two (million) Melbournians arguing the toss after the weekend, and whoever wins the Victoria state election is going to have to bite the bullet and spend some serious cash on the city's rail infrastructure.

Given that the entire Auckland rail system has less stops and junctions…

these victims were sent to get a story knowing he was damaged goods

So, once someone's committed a crime and become "damaged goods", anyone who's subsequently been assaulted by them should have known better and therefore has no legal right of redress? Seriously, there are enough catch-22s for women wanting…

whoever wins the Victoria state election is going to have to bite the bullet and spend some serious cash on the city's rail infrastructure.

Watched a good documentary on one of the Sky channels t'other night "The Crumbling of America". It adressed the appalling conditions of American freeway infrastructure, and…

But I never grudged their taxation because it was plain that Australia has fantastic infrastructure compared to ours,

Might be one or two (million) Melbournians arguing the toss after the weekend, and whoever wins the Victoria state election is going to have to bite the bullet and spend some serious…

According to their report, when he allegedly exposed himself, the reporter didnt object and said nothing. Is it possible he, given his background, took that as a sign to continue for their benefit ?

I look forward to an exhibitionist trying this defence in court. "But they didn't run away…

It's one thing to take a newspaper to task for creating its own stories, it's a whole other thing to heap all the blame for the entire incident on the women involved.

They went into his home totally unprepared for the eventuality that Bailey might not play to their rules.…

It would mean a huge drop in the tax take, which would need to be made up somehow. There are plenty of options, and the basic idea of not taxing people who have next to…

Hey, did you see James May's Toy Stories last night? I love that programme. It is completely mad, and yet wholly enjoyable.

At last, something we can agree on. :) I enjoy it much the same way I can vastly enjoy Top Gear despite knowing nothing about cars and caring…

Lego House makes a much better ending.

Think I'll get the box set, as the chillin's haven't seen it yet. The Airfix one was so far my favourite. Although Meccano was brilliant also.

Hey, did you see James May's Toy Stories last night?

Having acquired these from Friends In England, we were a bit puzzled as to why they were numbered as Lego House then Toy Trains, but clearly had been broadcast the other way around. Then I watched Trains and it made…

I'm sure there's a logical train of thought on the tracks somewhere

Hey, did you see James May's Toy Stories last night? I love that programme. It is completely mad, and yet wholly enjoyable. The Mayor who got sick of standing around waiting for the damn model train to arrive,…

...it'll all come out in the wash, but these two gutless "victims" deserve to be publically raked across the coals IMO.
... of course they wouldn't lie to sex up a story, especially if their jobs are on the line should it be found they misled the public.

And you…

Oh, so you pull the entire bottom tier out of the cake shave most of it off, and that's OK because even though you can't pay for shit at least you're still screwing over the rich pricks?

It's called Progressive taxation. So that's where the name came from.

But yes, envy beheadings was a bit inflammatory.

Craig, from Australia;

Low Income Tax Offset

The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) is a tax rebate for individuals on lower incomes.…

How about we don't cut taxes?

Actually I think we should, but it should be by making the first 14,000 threshold tax free. And if you want to keep the rich in check, make it means tested so it stays in place if you earn over 70k (the upper threshold).…

You mean like our host, Mr R Brown? But...but....Kiwiblog told me he was a socialist?

I read on Trade Me once that I was a "hardline Marxist". Truly, I did.

But these two women are victims of an alleged indecent assault, and, as I said, I'm not about to go outing victims.

...it'll all come out in the wash, but these two gutless "victims" deserve to be publically raked across the coals IMO.

What point is there in Bailey trying…

Sorry to pick this particular quote out of the conversation, but I'd like to point out it's entirely possible to be an entrepreneur (or businessperson, or whathaveyou) without being right wing in the slightest, and I think the tendency we have to conflate the two isn't helpful.

I think the…

You started so well ... but taxes here are not high, and being a "tall poppy" doesn't stop anyone doing business (I'm buggered if I can recall any metaphorical "envy killings" either).

Look, I apologised once already. At least you got it was a metaphor ;-)

Now switching to iPhone…

Edit: Sorry for linking your opinions with my own, Gio,

On the contrary. Plus you are of Italian descent, right? I think we should form a mini-hive mind just for that.

it's entirely possible to be an entrepreneur (or businessperson, or whathaveyou) without being right wing in the slightest

You mean like our host, Mr R Brown? But...but....Kiwiblog told me he was a socialist?

You have an almost superhuman ability to always make it about you.

Yeah, and you're just going to eat shit and smile if I go on some idiotic rant about everyone on the left being tools of the Liarbore dykeocracy relentlessly indoctrinating stupid sheeple into their Stalinist, anti-male, racist, Christian-bashing…

Funnily enough often the people who stay here to fight it out against all the geographical, small market, high tax, disincentives (not to mention toll poppy envy killings that go on under the guise of socialist indignation) are the ones with some moral fortitude. Not all, but IMhO, many.

You…

Of course we should question the priorities. I have done so here myself. They are allowing themselves to be influenced by the 'wrong white crowd', but that doesn't by inference make all entrepreneurs or people who lean to the right greedy criminals.

Sorry to pick this particular quote out of…

There isn't enough money. Exactly. Would it be better if we continue to borrow ourselves into oblivion, like Greece has done, and is now paying a much higher price?

How about we don't cut taxes?

And I tell you what, if there is a single business person who has left New Zealand because they felt besieged by tall poppy envy or socialist indignation, I want to meet them so I can laugh at them in person.

Yes all right, I was being incite-ful, but Owen…

Funnily enough often the people who stay here to fight it out against all the geographical, small market, high tax, disincentives (not to mention toll poppy envy killings that go on under the guise of socialist indignation) are the ones with some moral fortitude.

Yes, like finance company directors for…

The Right always follow the money, rewarding those that have it and punishing those who do not.

Like Dick Hubbard and Stephen Tindall you mean?

Funnily enough often the people who stay here to fight it out against all the geographical, small market, high tax, disincentives…

Thanks, Peter. Always nice being condescended to as a malicious drone so early in the morning.

You have an almost superhuman ability to always make it about you.

The Right always follow the money, rewarding those that have it and punishing those who do not.

Thanks, Peter. Always nice being condescended to as a malicious drone so early in the morning. I often find it amusing how political partisans don't even bother hiding their contempt for the ideologically…

More boys than girls are born, that there are more women than men as you correctly said doesn't change that. The rule of sex ratios in the mammalia is very plastic depending on circumstances and if skewed is usually done so by mechanisms after conception.

I have known a…

Do we even have neocons in NZ?

Not really. We have plenty of neolibs, and unfortunately they're not all on the right.

Sorry, does "neocon" mean anything around here?

Well I can tell you what I meant by it. Then you can tell me that's not what it really means. But what's the point really? Were you under any doubts about what I meant, or do you just want to argue semantics?…

But I think you misunderestimate the neocon opinion on holidays and conspicuous consumption.

Sorry, does "neocon" mean anything around here? Or is it just a vaguely nasty poo word you throw at people you don't like — c.f. Master Baiter's rather novel use of "socialist" on Kiwibog to describe anyone…

To where? Expats have been coming home in droves, and not because of our headline tax rates.

Dunno, it's not my story. Expecting to even understand what 'really big money' does, and why, is beyond me. I don't even know if they mean 'leaving' the same way as I do…