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Herald on Sunday journo Jonathan Milne’s narrative of how the ‘cup of tea’ media stunt got recorded and the actions following is a must-read (if you care).
See: Findings not quite Key’s cup of tea (NZ Herald)
Read it. Seriously. (Ignore the 1 April dateline.)
In the same paper, I noted that broadcaster Mike Hosking was quoted declining comment – about controversy regarding his Sky City Casinos contract and payments – to the Herald on Sunday in these terms:
Hosking is still refusing to discuss his close links to the casino, revealed in last week’s Herald on Sunday.
This week he said it was a “non-story” and he wouldn’t be commenting on it as the newspaper’s staff were “pond scum” and “reprobates“.
I know others, including former colleagues of mine, who hold equally unflattering opinions of the HoS — based on their personal experience of the at times, let’s face it, pretty seedy celebrity-hounding, privacy-stretching culture of the paper. (We discussed that here, in relation to the news media stalking people through Facebook, remember?)
But I recommend you read Jonathan Milne’s (NB: not Jonathan Marshall) article for yourself — and see what you think of their actions.
– P
“But he felt, and we felt, that we should listen to the tape and assess whether there was a public interest in reporting its contents.”
Oh, ok. But the police were wrong to feel they should listen to people running around with Molotov cocktails…
Sorry, Peter, but this is crummy ethically.
I just wish the police – and indeed the media would start taking a long close and considered look at our current government. Were the folk in the ureweras allegedly with molotovs – any more dangerous than a duplicitous lying, scheming bunch of neoliberals in sheeps clothing (Steven Joyce with his below the line bailout of Mediaworks…) – which has the potential to affect our populace and their wellbeing more.
I dont quite understand what Graeme thinks is ethically crummy – i personally couldnt give a tinkers toss about hosking – bad hair – over paid and opinionated – and merely a symptom of the corrupt little cadre of elite we have fostered in our fair land.
The teatapes – i reckon they are an innocent seeming indication of what is deeply deeply wrong with NZ at the moment.
Maybe a few more people should run around with molotovs. The cops seem better able to cope with that – than the rate of crime in South Auckland and environs. Try getting a prowl car to respond in a decent time for instance?
Unless you happen to be a teenage courier driver in the middle of some testosterone charged plods fantasy of being in a hollywood movie that is. Must have been in gods plan – to die like a dog in a ditch. Praise his unholy name.
And do we have any real idea of the implications of the police’s powers to listen – and video – and make assumptions.
No – its because in the case of the teapot tapes it was John bloody Key and his ability to shut down free speech and engagement. In the case of the Urewera folk – they are still not proved guilty – and the police were empowered to do whatever they damn well liked in running roughshod over others civil liberties.
Tuhoe never ceded sovereignty to the crown. Who the hell does anyone think they are – making moral judgements on the issue when it still up in the ear. What if the cops were surveilling you and you didnt know it??
It may yet happen.
Then see how you feel.
“read as its still up in the air” not sure where ‘ear’ came from .. maybe a freudian slip …
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