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JC

selective focus photography of spiderweb
NZ

Coughlan Spins a Web on Poll Numbers

The spurious 1News Verian Poll produced results of orgasmic heights of delight to journalists on the left. Maiki Sherman appeared briefly to swap her priceless Maori heritage for Irish as she jigged around our television screens while spouting as much blarney as she could think of. It was an infantile

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The Right Swim, the Left Sink
NZ

The Right Swim, the Left Sink

The gulf between the government and the opposition is becoming wider by the day. The combined mental capacity of the three parties in this government far exceeds that of the three parties on the opposition benches. The left themselves are making it more obvious by both their actions and their

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The ‘Pull the Other’ One Poll

The ‘Pull the Other’ One Poll

It is my understanding that at 6 o’clock each night Television One presents an hour of news. Anyone tuning in at 6pm on Monday to watch would have needed to check their timepieces. The lead story on their poll was more akin to a documentary than a news item.

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A Chalk and Cheese Parliament
NZ

A Chalk and Cheese Parliament

It is becoming increasingly apparent that we are witnessing the performance of a ‘chalk and cheese’ parliament. What is on show is probably the biggest chasm in ability between a government and an opposition in our lifetime. The reason for this is we have a government of people with real-

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Simon Wilson Well Wide of the Mark
NZ

Simon Wilson Well Wide of the Mark

I was browsing articles on the Herald website when I came across a headline: ‘Strong Leaders’, a ‘rigged’ economy and ‘poll of doom’. The writer was none other than our old friend Simon Wilson. Because the Herald holds Simon in such high regard (goodness knows why), it was a premium

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PM Needs to Don His Hard Hat
NZ

PM Needs to Don His Hard Hat

First, let me say I think overall the Prime Minister is doing a good job. He didn’t disappoint in executing his 100-day plan. He and his ministers have been getting on with the job, and publishing a plan for the next few months was a good move. I

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You Wouldn’t Read About It

You Wouldn’t Read About It

If anyone thinks Stuff producing the 6pm news bulletin on Three is the answer to viewers’ prayers they are dreaming. This is a marriage made in heaven if you want a continuation of the very reasons Newshub finds itself in the position it is in. If you were one hoping

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Journos Find They Are Not Immune

Journos Find They Are Not Immune

I have some empathy for the journalists who have lost their jobs, but no more than for a tradie or a staffer in the back office of a government department. Having worked in the media for a lengthy period, I can understand the disappointment and no doubt frustration they are

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Past PMs Should Butt Out
NZ

Past PMs Should Butt Out

There are too many past Prime Ministers who, having left office, continue to interfere in the politics of the present time. Current Prime Ministers who have been elected to do a job do not need constant input from their predecessors. Their jobs are hard enough without past ‘know it alls’

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Carmel and Chloe Are Cot Cases
NZ

Carmel and Chloe Are Cot Cases

The Collins English Dictionary’s definition of a cot case in Australia and New Zealand is someone who is either to ill to get out of bed or too incapacitated by drink. The Oxford English Dictionary also defines the term as a person or thing regarded as useless or unable

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We Should Be Sailing Away
NZ

We Should Be Sailing Away

Who remembers the song “Sailing Away”, the song that became the anthem for our hopes of winning the America’s Cup in 1987? The song, sung to the tune of “Pokarekare Ana” by many local singers and personalities, was number one on the singles charts for nine weeks: a record

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woman in black and gray crew neck shirt
NZ

The Government Has the Left in Shock

Those who vote for a government have every right to expect it to carry out what it campaigned on, certainly its main policy planks. In the past there has been no end of criticism of governments who have failed to do so or, worse, have done something entirely different. This

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Kiwis Don’t Use MSM for News

Kiwis Don’t Use MSM for News

The headline to this article will probably surprise very few. For quite some time now the news media in this country have decided that they are not interested in providing or presenting news in a way that is digestible for the majority of Kiwis. Their aim is to polarise the

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A PR Offensive Won’t Save Their Jobs

A PR Offensive Won’t Save Their Jobs

According to Herald Media Insider, Shayne Currie, a number of well-known TVNZ faces, including Miriama Kamo, Jack Tame, Indira Stewart and Anna Burns-Francis feature in an E tu union publicity campaign – all lending support to the importance of news and current affairs. This, to my mind, is a

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turned-on flat screen television

TV One Needs a Reboot

What should be done with TV One? In my view, the answer is an easy one. You have to look no further than across the ditch to Sky News Australia. In a country with a population of 25.69 million, 42 per cent, 11.1 million watch the channel during

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The State of the State (Public Service)
NZ

The State of the State (Public Service)

The Weekend Herald article entitled ‘Inside the ‘unsettling’ efforts to cut costs’ was a revealing read in terms of the various government departments, their headcount and consultancy spending. The information was gained under the Official Information Act and not all had responded by the time the paper went to print.

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