thedailyblog--2020-07-05--The primary sector power paradox

The primary sector power paradox

Going on holiday while a pandemic still raged overseas seemed reckless – or rash .
But I went anyway .
A quick trip to my favourite holiday destination , our very own South Island .
A land and sea that ’ s an important part of my identity as a New Zealander , and a vital part of our nation ’ s economy and society , but visited in depth , by few Aucklanders .
I hoped to recreate the holidays of my past , before over-tourism spoilt so much of my traditional quiet enjoyment , and tourist commodification changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to revisit winter whales and dolphins since so much of my life involves advocacy for them and their habitat .
I was also conscious of the contribution we can make in helping local economies survive while international tourism is dead .
So I left the traffic jams , the violence and despair of my local mall , the bypass threatening my rural valley .
It was too expensive to fly – financial and climate change costs – and the Northern Explorer train wasn ’ t running , so we decided to drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ van , camped beside State Highway One when it got too late and we were too tired to drive .
Huge trucks barreled past , inflicting their own violence on small villages along the route .
The State Highway and its traffic creating monstrous disruption , noise , fumes , vibrations and a hostile barrier severing communities but providing few direct benefits for those bisected and imposed upon .
Motuapa , Hunterville , Levin , try crossing the road on foot in those places and you risk your life .
The small town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its name as is possi-bull .
Hunterville celebrates the role of the Huntaway dog – the farmer ’ s indispensable friend , known for his rangey form , his loud bark and his knowledge of the farmer ’ s will , in retrieving sheep from rugged hills .
All human settlement should acknowledge the contribution of animals to our economies and society , but few do .
The ferry was quiet , women like me knitted .
A Māori man in his gumboots traveled with his partner and small children – it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I love you dad ” , “ Dad , you ’ re my best friend ” , defying stereotypes of manual workers and their engagement with their kids .
In the hold , cows and sheep crammed into stock trucks bellowed and called , confused and frightened by the strangeness that is sea passage for any hoofed animal .
Animal welfare guidelines suggest the distances stock should be carried must be minimised , but across the Strait these unwitting animals will go .
On the wharf , while we waited for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a ring side seat overlooking the emptying of a trawler of its catch .
The trawler ’ s hold was like a pit into hell .
A streamlined system involving a double trailer truck , a crane , and many men in overalls , high-vis and gumboots , lifting sixteen crates of fish at a time , again and again , onto the wharf and then into the truck .
It got dark as countless fish were emptied from the trawler , as men elsewhere in the operation untangled the massive net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hillsides were denuded of pines and logging trucks plied the winding narrow roads back and forth all day to the port .
Sediment and slash slithered down the hillsides , wilding pines infested conservation land nearby .
A ship waiting to take the logs offshore with minimal processing , no added value , sat in the bay .
Picton , the gateway to the beautiful Sounds , sat otherwise quiet .
Except when people were kept waiting by delayed ferries , the town was empty .
Most tourism ventures were closed .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to the old normal – when cruise ships lined up to disgorge their thousands of visitors on the tiny town .
The Government ’ s commitment to new ferries and new port infrastructure has locals both keen but also worried .
We meet a young guy with a teardrop tattoo under his eye , who works on a trawler out of Greymouth .
He says he works non-stop , 24 hours a day if the fish are running , until the hold is full , and they dump all the lower value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way north looking for better work , he fears for his life on the trawler , – the culture , the killing , the Greymouth bar , and wants to return to work in Rotorua , planting trees .
Down to Kaikoura , road rebuilding from the 2016 earthquake continues .
Huge concrete coastal walls provide battlements against the elements – the sea coming in and the mountains coming down .
The road workers are the model of courtesy .
Even after years of repair , and in the freezing cold , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Not that there are many – mostly it ’ s trucks , those giant juggernauts that threaten to drive you off the road if you go any slower than a hundred k ’ s an hour .
Wild beaches north of Kaikoura used to be favourite camping spots .
But word got out and where there were once four campers , the last summer I stayed , I was one of four hundred .
No wonder locals and iwi were upset .
Nowadays the old camping site is closed , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rangatiratanga flag flutters in the weak wet wind .
It symbolises long and deep grievances – the historic bisection of the local urupa , the coast made inaccessible by concrete walls , kaimoana locked away .
In Kaikoura itself , there are holes in street frontages where quake-damaged buildings have been removed and not replaced , like rotten teeth in an old jaw .
Three Whale Watch Kaikoura boats lie idle , tied up in the new custom-made marina , waiting for tourists to return .
The campground and the peninsula lookout are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better day , a return to normal , a defiance of all sense , building on the new Sudima Hotel on Beach Street continues .
In South Bay , some spearfishing visitors try to give away a large fish they ’ ve caught but don ’ t want to eat .
A stranger holds it as he would , an unwanted gift .
Despite the mist , we see some Hector ’ s dolphins , tiny dolphins in a huge sea .
A humpback whale forges through the ocean heading somewhere warmer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ running a gauntlet of human threats that kills thousands of endangered birds , fish and cetaceans every year , just so much by-catch collateral damage .
Yet they ’ re revenue generators and marketing symbols for tourists in times gone by .
On the way home , the road got busier and madder the further north we came .
Snow lay thick on the Desert Road , and along its length families stopped and played , making snowmen and snowballs and enjoying the simple novelty despite its wet cold slush .
While we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long overdue decision on the Māui and Hector ’ s dolphin Threat Management Plan .
It addresses some by-catch risks which are making the dolphins extinct , by imposing some recreational and commercial set net bans on the North Island West Coast , but does little to address the impacts of trawlers – either on Māui in the North Island or for Hector ’ s in the South .
A recording has come to light showing that Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash tried to outsmart New Zealand First and its opposition to fishing controls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fishing companies crooks .
Turns out the fishing companies and NZF outsmarted Labour and Nash instead .
There will be no cameras on fishing boats to improve monitoring and compliance , the promised reform of the fishing industry is stalled .
The Māui and Hector ’ s response is only as little as necessary to try to prevent a US ban on NZ fishing imports being led by Sea Shepherd , and to appease Labour ’ s urban voting base , but isn ’ t enough to save the dolphins .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a new set of traffic lights .
There ’ s rubbish lining the road as I go for my daily ride .
It ’ s raining .
My country is a paradox .
The allegedly most beloved leader of our time has excelled in managing our country through crisis , but has done little to address increasing poverty , economic disparity ( and until Covid-19 , homelessness ) , or the collapse of ecosystems .
When I ’ ve complained about the impacts of unsustainable over-extraction of fish , the mistreatment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zealand waterways from intensive or poorly managed farming , I ’ ve been accused of creating division , of misunderstanding rural life , and that I ’ m on the privileged side of the urban-rural divide – even though I was born and raised on a farm and still live in a rural setting .
But it ’ s clear that we live in a nation of two unequal sides .
One is where people , landscapes and animals are a cherished part of the picture , including for tourist purposes .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a resource , people and animals are economic units , externalities like wilding pines , polluted rivers , collapsing fish stocks and out of scale infrastructure impact on community and environmental wellbeing .
But the logs , the cows and sheep , the fish , the workers , Government , are pressed to the grindstone and recruited to the “ greater ” economic purpose .
Primary production and big business have the power , money is all , and low-quality jobs and industry are better than no jobs at all , even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the privileged one , with my ‘ urban views about sustainability and animal welfare ’ .
In New Zealand , the privilege lies with the trucking , forestry and dairy companies , the fishing industry .
The people , the land and sea are hurting , we ’ re relatively powerless , we are right to speak truth to power , even if it means a critique of the beloved Jacinda , and with or without a pandemic .

Going on holiday while a pandemic still raged overseas seemed reckless – or rash. But I went anyway. A quick trip to my favourite holiday destination, our very own South Island. A land and sea that’s an important part of my identity as a New Zealander, and a vital part of our nation’s economy and society, but visited in depth, by few Aucklanders. I hoped to recreate the holidays of my past, before over-tourism spoilt so much of my traditional quiet enjoyment, and tourist commodification changed nature for the worst. I also wanted to revisit winter whales and dolphins since so much of my life involves advocacy for them and their habitat. I was also conscious of the contribution we can make in helping local economies survive while international tourism is dead.
So I left the traffic jams, the violence and despair of my local mall, the bypass threatening my rural valley. It was too expensive to fly – financial and climate change costs – and the Northern Explorer train wasn’t running, so we decided to drive.
We spent a night in the van, camped beside State Highway One when it got too late and we were too tired to drive. Huge trucks barreled past, inflicting their own violence on small villages along the route. The State Highway and its traffic creating monstrous disruption, noise, fumes, vibrations and a hostile barrier severing communities but providing few direct benefits for those bisected and imposed upon. Motuapa, Hunterville, Levin, try crossing the road on foot in those places and you risk your life.
The small town of Bulls makes as many puns from its name as is possi-bull. Hunterville celebrates the role of the Huntaway dog – the farmer’s indispensable friend, known for his rangey form, his loud bark and his knowledge of the farmer’s will, in retrieving sheep from rugged hills. All human settlement should acknowledge the contribution of animals to our economies and society, but few do.
The ferry was quiet, women like me knitted. A Māori man in his gumboots traveled with his partner and small children – it was so cheering to hear them all night “I love you dad”, “Dad, you’re my best friend”, defying stereotypes of manual workers and their engagement with their kids. In the hold, cows and sheep crammed into stock trucks bellowed and called, confused and frightened by the strangeness that is sea passage for any hoofed animal. Animal welfare guidelines suggest the distances stock should be carried must be minimised, but across the Strait these unwitting animals will go.
On the wharf, while we waited for the delayed ferry’s departure, I had a ring side seat overlooking the emptying of a trawler of its catch. The trawler’s hold was like a pit into hell. A streamlined system involving a double trailer truck, a crane, and many men in overalls, high-vis and gumboots, lifting sixteen crates of fish at a time, again and again, onto the wharf and then into the truck. It got dark as countless fish were emptied from the trawler, as men elsewhere in the operation untangled the massive net.
In the Marlborough Sounds, steep hillsides were denuded of pines and logging trucks plied the winding narrow roads back and forth all day to the port. Sediment and slash slithered down the hillsides, wilding pines infested conservation land nearby. A ship waiting to take the logs offshore with minimal processing, no added value, sat in the bay.
Picton, the gateway to the beautiful Sounds, sat otherwise quiet. Except when people were kept waiting by delayed ferries, the town was empty. Most tourism ventures were closed. Some tour operators know there will be no return to the old normal – when cruise ships lined up to disgorge their thousands of visitors on the tiny town. The Government’s commitment to new ferries and new port infrastructure has locals both keen but also worried.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
We meet a young guy with a teardrop tattoo under his eye, who works on a trawler out of Greymouth. He says he works non-stop, 24 hours a day if the fish are running, until the hold is full, and they dump all the lower value fish. He’s on his way north looking for better work, he fears for his life on the trawler, – the culture, the killing, the Greymouth bar, and wants to return to work in Rotorua, planting trees.
Down to Kaikoura, road rebuilding from the 2016 earthquake continues. Huge concrete coastal walls provide battlements against the elements – the sea coming in and the mountains coming down. The road workers are the model of courtesy. Even after years of repair, and in the freezing cold, they smile and wave to every passing car. Not that there are many – mostly it’s trucks, those giant juggernauts that threaten to drive you off the road if you go any slower than a hundred k’s an hour.
Wild beaches north of Kaikoura used to be favourite camping spots. But word got out and where there were once four campers, the last summer I stayed, I was one of four hundred. No wonder locals and iwi were upset. Nowadays the old camping site is closed, there are signs forbidding entry, and a tino rangatiratanga flag flutters in the weak wet wind. It symbolises long and deep grievances – the historic bisection of the local urupa, the coast made inaccessible by concrete walls, kaimoana locked away.
In Kaikoura itself, there are holes in street frontages where quake-damaged buildings have been removed and not replaced, like rotten teeth in an old jaw. Three Whale Watch Kaikoura boats lie idle, tied up in the new custom-made marina, waiting for tourists to return. The campground and the peninsula lookout are deserted; but like hope for a better day, a return to normal, a defiance of all sense, building on the new Sudima Hotel on Beach Street continues.
In South Bay, some spearfishing visitors try to give away a large fish they’ve caught but don’t want to eat. A stranger holds it as he would, an unwanted gift. Despite the mist, we see some Hector’s dolphins, tiny dolphins in a huge sea. A humpback whale forges through the ocean heading somewhere warmer. Albatrosses wheel and keen overhead – all running a gauntlet of human threats that kills thousands of endangered birds, fish and cetaceans every year, just so much by-catch collateral damage. Yet they’re revenue generators and marketing symbols for tourists in times gone by.
On the way home, the road got busier and madder the further north we came. Snow lay thick on the Desert Road, and along its length families stopped and played, making snowmen and snowballs and enjoying the simple novelty despite its wet cold slush.
While we were away, the Government announced its long overdue decision on the Māui and Hector’s dolphin Threat Management Plan. It addresses some by-catch risks which are making the dolphins extinct, by imposing some recreational and commercial set net bans on the North Island West Coast, but does little to address the impacts of trawlers – either on Māui in the North Island or for Hector’s in the South.
A recording has come to light showing that Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash tried to outsmart New Zealand First and its opposition to fishing controls. The recording includes Nash calling the fishing companies crooks. Turns out the fishing companies and NZF outsmarted Labour and Nash instead. There will be no cameras on fishing boats to improve monitoring and compliance, the promised reform of the fishing industry is stalled. The Māui and Hector’s response is only as little as necessary to try to prevent a US ban on NZ fishing imports being led by Sea Shepherd, and to appease Labour’s urban voting base, but isn’t enough to save the dolphins.
I’m back home now, my village has a new set of traffic lights. There’s rubbish lining the road as I go for my daily ride. It’s raining. My country is a paradox. The allegedly most beloved leader of our time has excelled in managing our country through crisis, but has done little to address increasing poverty, economic disparity (and until Covid-19, homelessness), or the collapse of ecosystems.
When I’ve complained about the impacts of unsustainable over-extraction of fish, the mistreatment of farm animals, the pollution of New Zealand waterways from intensive or poorly managed farming, I’ve been accused of creating division, of misunderstanding rural life, and that I’m on the privileged side of the urban-rural divide – even though I was born and raised on a farm and still live in a rural setting.
But it’s clear that we live in a nation of two unequal sides. One is where people, landscapes and animals are a cherished part of the picture, including for tourist purposes. On the other side, the land is a resource, people and animals are economic units, externalities like wilding pines, polluted rivers, collapsing fish stocks and out of scale infrastructure impact on community and environmental wellbeing. But the logs, the cows and sheep, the fish, the workers, Government, are pressed to the grindstone and recruited to the “greater” economic purpose.
Primary production and big business have the power, money is all, and low-quality jobs and industry are better than no jobs at all, even if profits go offshore. I’m not the privileged one, with my ‘urban views about sustainability and animal welfare’. In New Zealand, the privilege lies with the trucking, forestry and dairy companies, the fishing industry. The people, the land and sea are hurting, we’re relatively powerless, we are right to speak truth to power, even if it means a critique of the beloved Jacinda, and with or without a pandemic.


thedailyblog--2020-07-06--Why Kurt Taogaga Had To Go.

Why Kurt Taogaga Had To Go.

THE LABOUR PARTY delisted Kurt Taogaga for one very simple , very brutal , reason : to appease the mainstream news media .
The party was pulling out all the stops to generate as many positive news stories as possible from the Prime Minister ’ s speech to Labour ’ s election year congress .
Had Mr Taogaga not been purged , his presence on the Party List would have completely overshadowed Jacinda ’ s speech .
By delisting him , Labour ’ s President , Claire Szabo , demonstrated the seriousness with which the party responds to the slightest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wound which Newshub-Nation had very deliberately inflicted on the party .
Political triage of this sort is never pretty but , sadly , it is necessary .
The journalistic decision-making that went into the Taogaga story is also rather ugly .
Given the skeletal nature of Newshub ’ s current staffing arrangements , it is hard to see any of its reporters having the time to trawl through Labour ’ s entire Party List for embarrassing social media postings from several years ago .
That ’ s the sort of job a parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off-chance that something politically useful might turn up .
Which , in this case , it did .
It is worth emphasising how useful Mr Taogaga ’ s social media commentary was to the Government ’ s enemies .
A very substantial part of Jacinda Ardern ’ s dazzling political persona is attributable to her deeply empathic response to the Christchurch mosque shootings .
The viral image of Jacinda , hugging in a headscarf , rocked the entire world – it was even projected onto the Burg Khalifa .
The damage done to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move immediately against a Party List candidate found to have posted anti-Islamic sentiments on social media , is easily imagined .
Instant cauterisation of the media-inflicted wound was the only viable option .
If Newshub was tipped-off by a parliamentary source , it raises the question : should they have allowed themselves to be used to inflict political damage on the Government ?
After all , Mr Taogaga ’ s indiscretion ( if that is what it was ) took place seven years ago in 2013 .
What ’ s more , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in Labour Party politics .
What were the ethics of using information this old to almost certainly destroy a young man ’ s political career ?
What should the producer of Newshub-Nation have done ?
In another era of current affairs broadcasting , she would , at the very least , have made an effort to put Mr Taogaga ’ s comments in context .
Between 2012 and 2013 the number of deaths from terrorism had increased by 61 percent .
In 10,000 terrorist attacks 17,958 people had been killed .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – Iraq , Afghanistan , Pakistan , Nigeria and Syria – accounted for 80 % of the deaths from terrorism in 2013 .
More than 6,000 people died in Iraq alone.
” Just four terrorist groups were responsible for the deaths of two-thirds of 2013 ’ s nearly 18,000 terrorist victims : Al-Qaeda , the Taliban , Boko Haram and the self-styled Islamic State .
The Global Terrorism Index reported that : “ All four groups used ‘ religious ideologies based on extreme interpretations of Wahhabi Islam ’ .
” This was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Richard Prosser , wrote his infamous “ Wogistan ” article .
The article which Mr Taogaga somewhat naively endorsed .
The anti-Islamic mood of the times was further heightened by the terrorist attacks launched against European targets – especially against the staff of Charlie Hebdo and the audience at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris – over the course of the next two years .
Responsible journalists will always strive to contextualise statements like Mr Taogaga ’ s , lest the passions and fashions of the present are unfairly and anachronistically projected back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs producers and their staff no longer have the time to do the right thing .
They are acutely aware that if they are not prepared to use leaked information , more or less immediately , then it will be passed on to somebody who is .
These sort of pressures play directly into the hands of parliamentary research teams and their political masters .
It makes it almost impossible for the mainstream news media to do anything other than act as a conduit for information likely to prove useful to the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t use it – they lose it .
Mr Taogaga also suffered from the coincidence ( if that is what it was ) of the unauthorised release of confidential Ministry of Health information .
Just hours before his own story had found its way into journalists ’ hands , Radio NZ , Stuff and NZME had all been supplied with the names , ages , addresses and current locations of 18 individuals who had recently tested positive for Covid-19 .
This was a truly appalling breach of patient confidentiality , which senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and quite possibly criminal .
Their urgent need to deal with this problem left them no time to deal with media accusations that Labour was harbouring Islamophobes .
They had witnessed the damage done to the reputation of the British Labour Party by media accusations of antisemitism .
Better to be safe than sorry .
If the stories about Mr Taogaga and the unauthorised release of confidential medical data had been deliberately orchestrated by Labour ’ s political opponents , their deflection of the news media ’ s attention away from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour Party Congress could hardly have been more successful .
If the woman who broke out of quarantine on Saturday – instantly commandeering the top slots of both 6:00pm news bulletins on Sunday night – turns out to be a fervent supporter of the Parliamentary Opposition , who would really be surprised ?
Editors and producers must know when they are being used for political purposes – and by whom .
This raises an important question : in protecting their journalistic “ sources ” , are the media also protecting the shadowy teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who , by fair means or foul , supply the information ?
Equally importantly , are these same editors and producers “ equal-opportunity ” political facilitators ?
Is the Left , when it is in Opposition , always offered the same consideration and protection from those who own and run the mainstream media as the Right ?
In forty years of covering politics in New Zealand , I can only recall one period in which the whole of the mainstream news media was lined-up to keep Labour in office , and that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mattered in television , radio and the daily press were determined to see the programme of David Lange and Roger Douglas succeed .
Is it significant that for those three years Labour ’ s economic policies were further to the right than National ’ s ?
What do you think ?
Mr Taogaga shouldn ’ t feel too bad .
His was a personal sacrifice .
Between 1984 and 1987 , to keep their newfound mainstream media friends onside , Labour was willing to throw the entire New Zealand working-class under a bus @

THE LABOUR PARTY delisted Kurt Taogaga for one very simple, very brutal, reason: to appease the mainstream news media. The party was pulling out all the stops to generate as many positive news stories as possible from the Prime Minister’s speech to Labour’s election year congress. Had Mr Taogaga not been purged, his presence on the Party List would have completely overshadowed Jacinda’s speech. By delisting him, Labour’s President, Claire Szabo, demonstrated the seriousness with which the party responds to the slightest hint of Islamophobia. It staunched the wound which Newshub-Nation had very deliberately inflicted on the party. Political triage of this sort is never pretty but, sadly, it is necessary.
The journalistic decision-making that went into the Taogaga story is also rather ugly. Given the skeletal nature of Newshub’s current staffing arrangements, it is hard to see any of its reporters having the time to trawl through Labour’s entire Party List for embarrassing social media postings from several years ago. That’s the sort of job a parliamentary staffer might be tasked with on the off-chance that something politically useful might turn up. Which, in this case, it did.
It is worth emphasising how useful Mr Taogaga’s social media commentary was to the Government’s enemies. A very substantial part of Jacinda Ardern’s dazzling political persona is attributable to her deeply empathic response to the Christchurch mosque shootings. The viral image of Jacinda, hugging in a headscarf, rocked the entire world – it was even projected onto the Burg Khalifa. The damage done to her reputation, should she fail to move immediately against a Party List candidate found to have posted anti-Islamic sentiments on social media, is easily imagined. Instant cauterisation of the media-inflicted wound was the only viable option.
If Newshub was tipped-off by a parliamentary source, it raises the question: should they have allowed themselves to be used to inflict political damage on the Government? After all, Mr Taogaga’s indiscretion (if that is what it was) took place seven years ago in 2013. What’s more, his comments were made well before he became involved in Labour Party politics. What were the ethics of using information this old to almost certainly destroy a young man’s political career? What should the producer of Newshub-Nation have done?
In another era of current affairs broadcasting, she would, at the very least, have made an effort to put Mr Taogaga’s comments in context.
Between 2012 and 2013 the number of deaths from terrorism had increased by 61 percent. In 10,000 terrorist attacks 17,958 people had been killed. According to the BBC: “Five countries – Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria – accounted for 80% of the deaths from terrorism in 2013. More than 6,000 people died in Iraq alone.” Just four terrorist groups were responsible for the deaths of two-thirds of 2013’s nearly 18,000 terrorist victims: Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Boko Haram and the self-styled Islamic State. The Global Terrorism Index reported that: “All four groups used ‘religious ideologies based on extreme interpretations of Wahhabi Islam’.”
This was the context in which the NZ First MP, Richard Prosser, wrote his infamous “Wogistan” article. The article which Mr Taogaga somewhat naively endorsed. The anti-Islamic mood of the times was further heightened by the terrorist attacks launched against European targets – especially against the staff of Charlie Hebdo and the audience at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris – over the course of the next two years.
Responsible journalists will always strive to contextualise statements like Mr Taogaga’s, lest the passions and fashions of the present are unfairly and anachronistically projected back onto the past.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Unfortunately, current affairs producers and their staff no longer have the time to do the right thing. They are acutely aware that if they are not prepared to use leaked information, more or less immediately, then it will be passed on to somebody who is. These sort of pressures play directly into the hands of parliamentary research teams and their political masters. It makes it almost impossible for the mainstream news media to do anything other than act as a conduit for information likely to prove useful to the Government’s enemies. If they don’t use it – they lose it.
Mr Taogaga also suffered from the coincidence (if that is what it was) of the unauthorised release of confidential Ministry of Health information. Just hours before his own story had found its way into journalists’ hands, Radio NZ, Stuff and NZME had all been supplied with the names, ages, addresses and current locations of 18 individuals who had recently tested positive for Covid-19. This was a truly appalling breach of patient confidentiality, which senior Government ministers seemed pretty sure was malicious – and quite possibly criminal. Their urgent need to deal with this problem left them no time to deal with media accusations that Labour was harbouring Islamophobes. They had witnessed the damage done to the reputation of the British Labour Party by media accusations of antisemitism. Better to be safe than sorry.
If the stories about Mr Taogaga and the unauthorised release of confidential medical data had been deliberately orchestrated by Labour’s political opponents, their deflection of the news media’s attention away from the Prime Minister’s address to the Labour Party Congress could hardly have been more successful. If the woman who broke out of quarantine on Saturday – instantly commandeering the top slots of both 6:00pm news bulletins on Sunday night – turns out to be a fervent supporter of the Parliamentary Opposition, who would really be surprised?
Editors and producers must know when they are being used for political purposes – and by whom. This raises an important question: in protecting their journalistic “sources”, are the media also protecting the shadowy teams of political operatives and their bureaucratic helpers who, by fair means or foul, supply the information? Equally importantly, are these same editors and producers “equal-opportunity” political facilitators? Is the Left, when it is in Opposition, always offered the same consideration and protection from those who own and run the mainstream media as the Right?
In forty years of covering politics in New Zealand, I can only recall one period in which the whole of the mainstream news media was lined-up to keep Labour in office, and that was between 1984 and 1987. Everyone who mattered in television, radio and the daily press were determined to see the programme of David Lange and Roger Douglas succeed. Is it significant that for those three years Labour’s economic policies were further to the right than National’s? What do you think?
Mr Taogaga shouldn’t feel too bad. His was a personal sacrifice. Between 1984 and 1987, to keep their newfound mainstream media friends onside, Labour was willing to throw the entire New Zealand working-class under a bus.


thedailyblog--2020-07-06--Dr Liz Gordon – Treat her bad, be mad: National’s election strategy

Looking at the weekend ’ s press releases from National , there is a clear theme coming through .
One from Michael Woodhouse was entitled : “ This government can ’ t be trusted with anything ” .
One from Todd Muller-Whitebread says “ Labour can ’ t and won ’ t deliver anything ” .
These are bold statements and a long way away from the persona of the friendly , straightforward and fair guy who took over leadership of the National Party .
Meanwhile , Michael Woodhouse is playing the angry man card at every opportunity .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his press release ‘ can not be trusted with anything ’ , he finishes by saying : Something as simple as keeping confidential information confidential should not be a difficult task , but if there is anything we have learnt from this shambolic Government it is that they can not be trust ( sic ) with anything .
I have a major problem with Woodhouse ’ s language here .
It is abusive .
Woodhouse is scarily angry .
To me , he sounds like the angry man who has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and chastises his wife because his dinner is cold .
“ You can ’ t be trusted with anything ” .
And far too often such messages are accompanied by intimidation or even violence in the home .
Because Muller and Woodhouse are doing this in tandem , I think I smelleth a strategy .
Is it possible that National has been zooming with the angry young ( ish ) men of Crosby Textor ?
And do you think the instructions have been to bring Jacinta down to size , treat her just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her a bit ?
Diminish her just for being a woman , and her party for being led by one .
And , just to make it not personal , not real abuse , do not name her at all .
Blank her out , while unleashing the tirades of anger at her .
Whatever the reason , there is no room for this kind of snarling nastiness .
If you think I am being fanciful , I have just read Jami-Lee Ross ’ s account of going after Clare Curran , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her down : “ Parliament turns normal people into savages.
” Indeed .
The media needs to pull up its socks in this regard .
There are two possibilities .
The first is not to report abusive comments .
“ Now listen here , we are all going to be kind ” .
Hah !
Some chance of that .
The second is for the media to interrogate the National Party on what their strategy is .
Is the Woodhouse/Muller anger thing just them being blokes of a certain kind , or is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost voters ?
We are entitled to know this .
As my friend Brian Bruce notes in another blog on these pages , there is a massive mismatch between what has actually occurred and the level of criticism coming from National .
The government ’ s nearly perfect response to the Covid pandemic is ignored , but a single woman allowed to pop over the fence to get out of quarantine ( what was she thinking ? )
has them screaming “ The sky is falling ” .
You would think a dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister , with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She usually blogs on justice , social welfare and education topics .

Looking at the weekend’s press releases from National, there is a clear theme coming through. One from Michael Woodhouse was entitled: “This government can’t be trusted with anything”. One from Todd Muller-Whitebread says “Labour can’t and won’t deliver anything”.
These are bold statements and a long way away from the persona of the friendly, straightforward and fair guy who took over leadership of the National Party.
Meanwhile, Michael Woodhouse is playing the angry man card at every opportunity. He needs to tone it down a bit. In his press release ‘cannot be trusted with anything’, he finishes by saying:
Something as simple as keeping confidential information confidential should not be a difficult task, but if there is anything we have learnt from this shambolic Government it is that they cannot be trust (sic) with anything.
I have a major problem with Woodhouse’s language here. It is abusive. Woodhouse is scarily angry. To me, he sounds like the angry man who has had a few, gets home at night and chastises his wife because his dinner is cold. “You can’t be trusted with anything”. And far too often such messages are accompanied by intimidation or even violence in the home.
Because Muller and Woodhouse are doing this in tandem, I think I smelleth a strategy. Is it possible that National has been zooming with the angry young(ish) men of Crosby Textor? And do you think the instructions have been to bring Jacinta down to size, treat her just like the Sheila next door, bully her a bit? Diminish her just for being a woman, and her party for being led by one.
And, just to make it not personal, not real abuse, do not name her at all. Blank her out, while unleashing the tirades of anger at her.
Whatever the reason, there is no room for this kind of snarling nastiness. If you think I am being fanciful, I have just read Jami-Lee Ross’s account of going after Clare Curran, where he talks about the strategy to bring her down: “Parliament turns normal people into savages.” Indeed.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
The media needs to pull up its socks in this regard. There are two possibilities. The first is not to report abusive comments. “Now listen here, we are all going to be kind”. Hah! Some chance of that. The second is for the media to interrogate the National Party on what their strategy is. Is the Woodhouse/Muller anger thing just them being blokes of a certain kind, or is it a deliberate ploy to attract back lost voters?
We are entitled to know this. As my friend Brian Bruce notes in another blog on these pages, there is a massive mismatch between what has actually occurred and the level of criticism coming from National. The government’s nearly perfect response to the Covid pandemic is ignored, but a single woman allowed to pop over the fence to get out of quarantine (what was she thinking?) has them screaming “The sky is falling”. You would think a dangerous mass murderer had escaped from maximum security.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-07-07--Megan Woods should take a leaf out of Nicola Willis’ book

It ’ s always refreshing when a member of parliament admits their party made a mistake – not just a wee mistake but a big mistake which threatened the wellbeing of thousands of low-income New Zealanders .
New National Party spokesperson on Housing Nicola Willis deserves congratulating for her frank admission that National was wrong to sell so many state houses when it was last in power .
She appears to think it was OK ( It wasn ’ t ! )
to sell over 1000 houses – all the state houses on Tauranga – to Idea Services ( formerly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sell so many other state houses which left a net loss of state housing in National ’ s last term of government .
It ’ s worth remembering it was none other than Paula Bennett who led the charge to sell state housing .
This policy was adopted after Bennett had softened up the electorate to accept the sales through a despicable campaign of denigration of state house tenants .
The most egregious part of the campaign was in linking state house tenants with P use and then wasting $ 120 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of meth testers who were paid handsomely for unnecessary cleaning and remediation of thousands of state houses .
Bennett victimised the victims .
She gave us a masterclass in gutlessness .
Willis is also right to criticise Labour for its pathetic response to the state housing crisis .
While the waiting list for state houses has more than trebled over this term of government , Labour has been building a piddling number of extra state houses .
Of the 17,982 households waiting over 16,000 were “ Priority A ” – meaning they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The wait list has ballooned in recent years , trebling from the 5844 households on the wait list when the current Government was elected in September 2017 .
The current Government had boosted the construction of state houses .
The latest housing dashboard showed that 2813 state homes had been built since June 2018 and a further 2596 were under construction .
State house building under Labour has averaged just 1400 per year .
In other words , the waiting list is increasing at more than twice the rate of new state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget changed nothing .
Labour Housing Minister Megan Woods promised to build 8,000 new state houses over the next five years – that ’ s just 1600 per year – pathetic in relation to the size of the problem .
However , the media narrative is that while Kiwibuild has been a disastrous failure the Labour-led coalition has been very successful in building more state houses – total bullshit .
It would be great to see Housing Minister Megan Woods speak as frankly as Nicola Willis and admit this government ’ s record @ @ @ @ @ @ @

It’s always refreshing when a member of parliament admits their party made a mistake – not just a wee mistake but a big mistake which threatened the wellbeing of thousands of low-income New Zealanders.
New National Party spokesperson on Housing Nicola Willis deserves congratulating for her frank admission that National was wrong to sell so many state houses when it was last in power. She appears to think it was OK (It wasn’t!) to sell over 1000 houses – all the state houses on Tauranga – to Idea Services (formerly IHC) but says it was wrong to sell so many other state houses which left a net loss of state housing in National’s last term of government.
It’s worth remembering it was none other than Paula Bennett who led the charge to sell state housing. This policy was adopted after Bennett had softened up the electorate to accept the sales through a despicable campaign of denigration of state house tenants. The most egregious part of the campaign was in linking state house tenants with P use and then wasting $120 million in government funding on a cowboy industry of meth testers who were paid handsomely for unnecessary cleaning and remediation of thousands of state houses. Bennett victimised the victims. She gave us a masterclass in gutlessness.
Willis is also right to criticise Labour for its pathetic response to the state housing crisis. While the waiting list for state houses has more than trebled over this term of government, Labour has been building a piddling number of extra state houses.
Of the 17,982 households waiting over 16,000 were “Priority A” – meaning they had been identified as being in urgent need.
The wait list has ballooned in recent years, trebling from the 5844 households on the wait list when the current Government was elected in September 2017.
The current Government had boosted the construction of state houses. The latest housing dashboard showed that 2813 state homes had been built since June 2018 and a further 2596 were under construction.
State house building under Labour has averaged just 1400 per year. In other words, the waiting list is increasing at more than twice the rate of new state house building. This year’s budget changed nothing. Labour Housing Minister Megan Woods promised to build 8,000 new state houses over the next five years – that’s just 1600 per year – pathetic in relation to the size of the problem.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
However, the media narrative is that while Kiwibuild has been a disastrous failure the Labour-led coalition has been very successful in building more state houses – total bullshit.
It would be great to see Housing Minister Megan Woods speak as frankly as Nicola Willis and admit this government’s record on building state housing is pitiful.


thedailyblog--2020-07-08--Dr Liz Gordon – Boag enabled Walker

Dr Liz Gordon – Boag enabled Walker

Why would Michelle Boag , who has spent years constructing herself as a respected media commentator and consultant , risk it all by sending a list to Hamish Walker ?
Reading between the lines , the truth is plain to see .
Struck by the preponderance of foreign names on the list of those in quarantine , which she claims was sent by virtue of her acting position of CE of the Auckland Helicopter Rescue Trust , she pondered ways to use it politically .
She may have consulted others on this , or not .
Hamish Walker was her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list to him , with a comment something like : “ look what ’ s coming your way ” , relating to the potential use of Queenstown hotels for quarantine purposes .
I am sure she told him the list was absolutely confidential .
It was later revealed that Boag did not get access to the list through the helicopter people , which raises further questions about where it did come from .
The Inquiry will no doubt reveal the source .
Walker , thus enabled by such a senior figure , releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be overrun by foreigners .
Boag ’ s purpose is therefore fulfilled while she herself remains absolutely aloof from the discourse .
This is about a bad boy MP , not a respected ex-President of the Party .
Walker , who thought he was the chosen one in all this , was badly stung by the media reporting claims of racism .
Completely misunderstanding the notion that Mr Singh or Ms Kim can be New Zealanders ( how could he be so out of touch ? )
, he releases Boag ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current people in quarantine are not New Zealanders .
He does not prove this , but what he does is spark an Inquiry .
Knowing that she will be found out , Boag seeks to cauterize the wound by ‘ fessing up before she is found out .
Although this will undoubtedly prove ruinous to her career , she hopes to minimise the damage .
In her press release , Boag apologises to her erstwhile employer .
She has a lot more apologising to do .
She has ended Walker ’ s career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his choices ) and has knocked a few points off National ’ s eventual election tally .
It is a scandal and a disaster for National .
Everything National is doing currently is falling apart , making them look unfit to govern .
Ten weeks out , it looks like a rout .
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister , with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She usually blogs on justice , social welfare and education topics .

Why would Michelle Boag, who has spent years constructing herself as a respected media commentator and consultant, risk it all by sending a list to Hamish Walker?
Reading between the lines, the truth is plain to see. Struck by the preponderance of foreign names on the list of those in quarantine, which she claims was sent by virtue of her acting position of CE of the Auckland Helicopter Rescue Trust, she pondered ways to use it politically. She may have consulted others on this, or not.
Hamish Walker was her chosen secret weapon. She sent this list to him, with a comment something like: “look what’s coming your way”, relating to the potential use of Queenstown hotels for quarantine purposes. I am sure she told him the list was absolutely confidential.
It was later revealed that Boag did not get access to the list through the helicopter people, which raises further questions about where it did come from. The Inquiry will no doubt reveal the source.
Walker, thus enabled by such a senior figure, releases his famous statement that Queenstown is about to be overrun by foreigners. Boag’s purpose is therefore fulfilled while she herself remains absolutely aloof from the discourse. This is about a bad boy MP, not a respected ex-President of the Party.
Walker, who thought he was the chosen one in all this, was badly stung by the media reporting claims of racism. Completely misunderstanding the notion that Mr Singh or Ms Kim can be New Zealanders (how could he be so out of touch?), he releases Boag’s list to ’prove’ that current people in quarantine are not New Zealanders.
He does not prove this, but what he does is spark an Inquiry. Knowing that she will be found out, Boag seeks to cauterize the wound by ‘fessing up before she is found out. Although this will undoubtedly prove ruinous to her career, she hopes to minimise the damage.
In her press release, Boag apologises to her erstwhile employer. She has a lot more apologising to do. She has ended Walker’s career (although he must also be responsible for his choices) and has knocked a few points off National’s eventual election tally. It is a scandal and a disaster for National.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Everything National is doing currently is falling apart, making them look unfit to govern. Ten weeks out, it looks like a rout.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-07-08--Life in Level 1: Cunning Plans, Unanswered Questions

The last 24 hours in Aotearoa ’ s New Zealand ’ s politics has provided more drama than a week ’ s worth of “ Shortie Street ” episodes combined and binge-watched .
It began approximately around 5.30 last night ( 7 July ) with a disclosure by Clutha-Southland MP , Hamish Walker that he had leaked a list of eighteen covid19-infected Returnees names and details to three media outlets .
( None of the three media companies , to their credit , released a single piece of personal info from the list . )
As an explanation , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ages , and other details of the eighteen infected Returnees to reject accusations of racism and to prove his assertion ; “ These people are possibly heading for Dunedin , Invercargill and Queenstown from India , Pakistan and Korea.
” However , it was stated on RNZ ’ s Morning Report ( 8 July ) that the List proved no such thing ( @ 4.33 ) .
“ I did this to expose the government ’ s shortcomings so they would be rectified .
The information that I received was not password protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on .
There was no redaction to protect patient details , and no confidentiality statement on the document .
I made serious allegations against the government ’ s Covid-19 response and passed on this information to prove those allegations.
” So the first explanation was to save himself from being tarred as a jingoistic racist .
The subsequent explanation was framed to sound more “ noble ” .
Moreover , National ’ s former President , Michelle Boag , gave her “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much regret my actions and did not anticipate that Hamish would choose to send it on to some media outlets but I am grateful that the media involved have chosen not to publish the 18 names that were contained within it.
” Ms Boag also ( partially ) revealed how she had come into possession of the list ; “ The information was made available to me in my position as then Acting CEO of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust , although it was sent to my private email address.
” Q1 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Why ?
What other personal , confidential details has this person sent to Ms Boag or others ?
What access does this person have ?
Q2 : Is this person an employee of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust ?
Considering that ARHT has stated categorically that Ms Boag would not have had direct access to patient data , the only other possibility is a person or persons unknown supplied it to her .
Q4 : Will QC Mike Heron attempt to find the identity of who sent the email to Ms Boag ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ full access to all electronic devices belonging to Mr Walker , Ms Boag , Todd Muller , and anyone else who becomes implicated in this leak ?
Will forensic investigation be allowed on their devices ?
Q8 : What ( if any ) was Matthew Hooton ’ s involvement ?
What did Matthew Hooton know and when ?
Q10 : When did Todd Muller find out ?
He claimed it was Monday ( 6 July ) “ lunch time “ .
What did he do in the intervening 30 hours that followed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Mr Muller says he does not know Mr Walker ’ s motivation to release the List .
Why did Mr Muller not ask Mr Walker ’ s motivation when he spoke directly with Mr Walker on Monday ?
Q12 : Was it really a “ rogue operation ” involving just two people ?
Who else knew about Ms Boag and Mr Walker ’ s use of the List ?
Q13 : What was the purpose of Ms Boag passing the list to Mr Walker ?
Why did she choose him ?
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would be inappropriate for me to do that because I would be disclosing more details.
” So .
There are “ more details ” she has not disclosed .
What are those “ details ” ?
Q14 : If Ms Boag “ did not anticipate that Hamish would choose to send it on to some media outlets ” – what did she anticipate he would do with the List ?
Q15 : What other personal details has Ms Boag passed on in her role as acting CEO of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mr Walker not front to media interviews ?
What do they know that remains unsaid ?
Q17 : What did Nikki Kaye know and when ?
Q18 : What prompted Mr Walker and Ms Boag to go public on 7 July ?
What factor ( s ) forced them to abandon their secrecy ?
Were they about to be “ outed ” ?
There is more to this abuse of power than we have been told .
The National Party damage control machine has swung into full mode and has successfully contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be hopeless at containing viral outbreaks – but masters par excellence at managing scandals .
( Perhaps because of considerable past experience . )
This is the party that thinks it is fit to govern .
According to a late evening news story on RNZ , Michelle Boag revealed the source for the List of eighteen covid19 positive Returnees .
She claimed the information came from the Ministry of Health by way of emails that were regular updates sent to emergency medical services ; When she announced her involvement in the leak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private information as the acting chief executive of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust .
She added the personal information was sent to her private email , but did not disclose who sent it – until now .
Boag told RNZ the Ministry of Health had sent daily emails to her private email , which included the sensitive details of the country ’ s Covid-19 cases .
Boag couldn ’ t explain why it was sent to her private email , but suspected it was because she was only temporarily in the role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed emergency services were regularly sent the details of the country ’ s active cases , so they could take the proper precautions if responding to a call-out where someone with Covid-19 was present .
If this is true , then this makes her role in this scandal even worse .
The information would have been sent to her in good faith by the Ministry of Health .
She was in a position of trust and privilege .
The information would have been intended to be used by emergency services in case their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involving covid19-positive patients .
Sending helicopter medics blindly to a situation where covid19 was present would have endangered their lives and those around them .
For Ms Boag to wilfully mis-use this information for nefarious political purposes will destroy her career forever .
RNZ : How the Hamish Walker Covid-19 patient detail leak played out Stuff media : National MP Hamish Walker admits passing on leaked Covid-19 patient info from former party president Michelle Boag Mediaworks/Newshub : Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust says Michelle Boag ‘ never ’ had access to COVID-19 data Stuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on leaked Covid-19 patient info from former party president Michelle Boag RNZ : Covid-19 privacy breach info came from Health Ministry , Michelle Boag says RNZ : National ’ s attacks not what we need right now Life in Lock Down : Day 2 of Level 3 This blogpost will be re-published in five days on “ Frankly Speaking “ .
Reader ’ s comments may be left here ( The Daily Blog ) or there ( Frankly Speaking ) .

The last 24 hours in Aotearoa’s New Zealand’s politics has provided more drama than a week’s worth of “Shortie Street” episodes combined and binge-watched.
It began approximately around 5.30 last night (7 July) with a disclosure by Clutha-Southland MP, Hamish Walker that he had leaked a list of eighteen covid19-infected Returnees names and details to three media outlets. (None of the three media companies, to their credit, released a single piece of personal info from the list.)
As an explanation, Mr Walker said he released the names, ages, and other details of the eighteen infected Returnees to reject accusations of racism and to prove his assertion ;
“These people are possibly heading for Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown from India, Pakistan and Korea.”
However, it was stated on RNZ’s Morning Report (8 July) that the List proved no such thing (@4.33).
Mr Walker then offered another explanation;
“I did this to expose the government’s shortcomings so they would be rectified.
The information that I received was not password protected by the government. It was not stored on a secure system where authorised people needed to log on. There was no redaction to protect patient details, and no confidentiality statement on the document.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
I made serious allegations against the government’s Covid-19 response and passed on this information to prove those allegations.”
So the first explanation was to save himself from being tarred as a jingoistic racist. The subsequent explanation was framed to sound more “noble”.
Moreover, National’s former President, Michelle Boag, gave her “explanation” that;
“I very much regret my actions and did not anticipate that Hamish would choose to send it on to some media outlets but I am grateful that the media involved have chosen not to publish the 18 names that were contained within it.”
Ms Boag also (partially) revealed how she had come into possession of the list;
“The information was made available to me in my position as then Acting CEO of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, although it was sent to my private email address.”
Many questions remain unanswered and a full picture remains unclear:
Q1: Who sent the email to Ms Boag? Why? What other personal, confidential details has this person sent to Ms Boag or others? What access does this person have?
Q2: Is this person an employee of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust?
Considering that ARHT has stated categorically that Ms Boag would not have had direct access to patient data, the only other possibility is a person or persons unknown supplied it to her.
Q3: Will QC Mike Heron question Ms Boag?
Q4: Will QC Mike Heron attempt to find the identity of who sent the email to Ms Boag?
Q5: Will QC Mike Heron question Hamish Walker?
Q6: Will QC Mike Heron question Todd Muller?
Q7: Will QC Mike Heron have full access to all electronic devices belonging to Mr Walker, Ms Boag, Todd Muller, and anyone else who becomes implicated in this leak? Will forensic investigation be allowed on their devices?
Q8: What (if any) was Matthew Hooton’s involvement? What did Matthew Hooton know and when?
Q9: Will QC Mike Heron investigate Mr Hooton’s electronic devices?
Q10: When did Todd Muller find out? He claimed it was Monday (6 July) “lunch time“. What did he do in the intervening 30 hours that followed, before Mr Walker went public?
Q11: Mr Muller says he does not know Mr Walker’s motivation to release the List. Why did Mr Muller not ask Mr Walker’s motivation when he spoke directly with Mr Walker on Monday?
Q12: Was it really a “rogue operation” involving just two people? Who else knew about Ms Boag and Mr Walker’s use of the List?
Q13: What was the purpose of Ms Boag passing the list to Mr Walker? Why did she choose him? What discussion did the two have?
Ms Boag said to Stuff;
“It would be inappropriate for me to do that because I would be disclosing more details.”
So. There are “more details” she has not disclosed. What are those “details”?
Q14: If Ms Boag “did not anticipate that Hamish would choose to send it on to some media outlets” – what did she anticipate he would do with the List?
Q15: What other personal details has Ms Boag passed on in her role as acting CEO of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust?
Q16: Why will Ms Boag and Mr Walker not front to media interviews? What do they know that remains unsaid?
Q17: What did Nikki Kaye know and when?
Q18: What prompted Mr Walker and Ms Boag to go public on 7 July? What factor(s) forced them to abandon their secrecy? Were they about to be “outed”?
There is more to this abuse of power than we have been told. The National Party damage control machine has swung into full mode and has successfully contained this outbreak of scandal.
They may be hopeless at containing viral outbreaks – but masters par excellence at managing scandals. (Perhaps because of considerable past experience.)
This is the party that thinks it is fit to govern.
ADDENDUM
According to a late evening news story on RNZ, Michelle Boag revealed the source for the List of eighteen covid19 positive Returnees. She claimed the information came from the Ministry of Health by way of emails that were regular updates sent to emergency medical services;
When she announced her involvement in the leak, Boag said she had access to the private information as the acting chief executive of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.
She added the personal information was sent to her private email, but did not disclose who sent it – until now.
Boag told RNZ the Ministry of Health had sent daily emails to her private email, which included the sensitive details of the country’s Covid-19 cases.
Boag couldn’t explain why it was sent to her private email, but suspected it was because she was only temporarily in the role of chief executive.
The government has already confirmed emergency services were regularly sent the details of the country’s active cases, so they could take the proper precautions if responding to a call-out where someone with Covid-19 was present.
If this is true, then this makes her role in this scandal even worse.
The information would have been sent to her in good faith by the Ministry of Health. She was in a position of trust and privilege.
The information would have been intended to be used by emergency services in case their personnel ever had to attend an incident involving covid19-positive patients.
Sending helicopter medics blindly to a situation where covid19 was present would have endangered their lives and those around them.
For Ms Boag to wilfully mis-use this information for nefarious political purposes will destroy her career forever.
.
.
.
.
References
RNZ: How the Hamish Walker Covid-19 patient detail leak played out
Stuff media: National MP Hamish Walker admits passing on leaked Covid-19 patient info from former party president Michelle Boag
Scoop: Press Statement From Michelle Boag – 7 July 2020
Mediaworks/Newshub: Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust says Michelle Boag ‘never’ had access to COVID-19 data
RNZ: Todd Muller ‘hugely angry’ after Walker/Boag leak (alt.link)
RNZ: National Party board to meet about Hamish Walker (alt.link)
Stuff: National MP Hamish Walker admits passing on leaked Covid-19 patient info from former party president Michelle Boag
RNZ: Covid-19 privacy breach info came from Health Ministry, Michelle Boag says
Twitter: Colin Jackson – 7 July 2020
Additional
RNZ: National’s attacks not what we need right now
Previous related blogposts
Life in Lock Down: Day 2 of Level 3
Life in Level 1: Reinfection – Labour’s kryptonite
Life in Level 1: Reinfection – No, Dr Bloomfield!
Life in Level 1: The Taxpayer’s Coin
.
.
.
Acknowledgement: Sharon Murdoch
.
This blogpost will be re-published in five days on “Frankly Speaking“. Reader’s comments may be left here (The Daily Blog) or there (Frankly Speaking).
.
.
= fs =


thedailyblog--2020-07-08--Are Walker and Boag National’s (and the Media’s) Designated Villains?

THIS LATEST SCANDAL will be the making of Todd Muller .
The news media , up to its armpits in Hamish Walker ’ s and Michelle Boag ’ s leaking of confidential medical information , will do everything possible to deflect its impact .
Radio NZ , Stuff and NZME , the outlets that received the leaked information all have a powerful interest in moving the story on .
Fortunately for them , this will not be difficult .
The villains of the piece have conveniently identified themselves .
Muller has ended Walker ’ s political career , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process of dealing with/to Boag .
As a news story , the scandal has lost its “ legs ” .
Over the next few days we should expect to see the mainstream media pivot away from National ’ s bad behaviour and begin praising Muller for his decisive cauterisation of the Walker-Boag wound .
The right-wing commentariat will already be bashing-out commentary pieces for the weekend papers celebrating the “ fact ” that , at last , National has put the era of “ dirty politics ” behind it .
Todd Muller will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving the National Party in a new direction .
The Right will be encouraged to rally around its new , ethical , leader .
Walker ’ s and Boag ’ s indiscretions will be presented as having given National ’ s leader his moment to shine .
As I noted in my last posting , a malign symbiosis exists between the mainstream news media and the parliamentary opposition .
The passing-on of information – from MPs to journalists – constitutes a crucial stage in the production of major news stories .
Journalists mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by invoking their core professional obligation to “ protect one ’ s sources ” .
No matter that this obligation originated from the need to protect the relatively powerless providers of information from the excessively powerful institutional players committed to its suppression .
Under the current interpretation of source protection , even a National Party MP , determined to disprove the charges of racism levelled against him by breaching patient confidentially , is deemed to possess the same expectation of anonymity as a genuine whistle-blower .
From an ethical perspective , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilitate an already powerful politician ’ s absurd quest for personal vindication , by concealing his betrayal of powerless Covid-19 sufferers beneath the cloak of anonymity , is morally and professionally indefensible .
Just consider the likely sequence of events in this latest case .
A journalist is contacted by an Opposition MP claiming to be able to prove that his racially-charged allegations are backed by official information .
Before viewing this information , however , the MP extracts from the journalist a promise that both his identity and the nature of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rather than demanding to know what he ’ s insisting she keep hidden from the public , the journalist gives the MP her promise – and he hands over the confidential medical records of citizens who have tested positive for Covid-19 .
At this point the journalist finds herself horribly compromised .
She has in her hands clear proof that not only is a National MP guilty of an appalling breach of the public ’ s trust , but also that someone within the Ministry of Health is passing highly sensitive information to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Party .
The clear public interest in her revealing these facts is obvious , but she can ’ t – not without “ revealing her source ” .
Inevitably , somebody further up the chain of command called “ bullshit ” on this insanely conflicted situation .
The leak of information identifying Covid-19-positive patients was made public – but not the identity of the leaker .
Entirely predictably , the release of this information immediately sparked yet another round of harsh National Party criticism .
Once again , the Leader of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Health spokesperson , Michael Woodhouse , castigated the Government ’ s “ shambolic ” handling of the Covid-19 crisis .
Just think about this for a moment .
The mainstream news media was willing to print and broadcast these criticisms of the Government , even though they knew that the source of the leaked information was a National Party MP .
Even though , by pushing the story up towards the top of every news bulletin they were stealing oxygen from the Prime Minister ’ s keynote address to the Labour Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strange kind of journalism that keeps more information hidden from the public than it reveals !
It would be nice to think that Hamish Walker and Michelle Boag “ came clean ” because of a belated attack of common decency .
More likely , however , their confessions were driven by fear of the official inquiry into the leak ordered by Minister of Health , Chris Hipkins .
The powers given to Michael Heron QC , the man charged with undertaking the investigation , were certainly comprehensive enough to inspire such fear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and extract testimony under oath .
Scary stuff .
Will Mr Heron , knowing the identity of the leakers , be content to deliver a pro forma report to Minister Hipkins ?
The mainstream media will be hoping so .
They have nothing at all to gain from someone asking too many searching questions about the way this story was handled .
The poor , misinformed public , however , has every reason to hope that Mr Heron goes hard and goes early to lock down all the elements of this scandal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of quid pro quo arrangement by which the National Party was encouraged to offer up Walker and Boag in return for the mainstream media pivoting swiftly towards Muller ’ s “ decisive handling ” of the crisis ?
Certainly , that would take the spotlight off the implications of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust ’ s insistence that Boag could not possibly have obtained the Covid-19-positive patient ’ s details from them .
If National , as seems increasingly likely , has a “ Deep Throat ” located in the heart of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even worse , in the Prime Minister ’ s Office , it will not want such a useful informant dislodged – and neither will the media !
I am not optimistic , however , that these sorts of questions will be asked or answered .
With the General Election less than three months away , it is most unlikely that anything like the entirety of this scandal ’ s moving parts will be examined too closely – by anyone .
The voters need to be able to believe that New Zealand ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibly at all times .
Bad behaviour must always be presented as the product of “ bad apples ” .
That National ’ s whole apple tree might be blighted and diseased is not a conclusion which this country ’ s political establishment will ever allow to pass unchallenged .

THIS LATEST SCANDAL will be the making of Todd Muller. The news media, up to its armpits in Hamish Walker’s and Michelle Boag’s leaking of confidential medical information, will do everything possible to deflect its impact. Radio NZ, Stuff and NZME, the outlets that received the leaked information all have a powerful interest in moving the story on.
Fortunately for them, this will not be difficult. The villains of the piece have conveniently identified themselves. Muller has ended Walker’s political career, and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust is in the process of dealing with/to Boag. As a news story, the scandal has lost its “legs”.
Over the next few days we should expect to see the mainstream media pivot away from National’s bad behaviour and begin praising Muller for his decisive cauterisation of the Walker-Boag wound. The right-wing commentariat will already be bashing-out commentary pieces for the weekend papers celebrating the “fact” that, at last, National has put the era of “dirty politics” behind it.
Todd Muller will be hailed for seizing the moment and driving the National Party in a new direction. The Right will be encouraged to rally around its new, ethical, leader. Walker’s and Boag’s indiscretions will be presented as having given National’s leader his moment to shine.
As I noted in my last posting, a malign symbiosis exists between the mainstream news media and the parliamentary opposition. The passing-on of information – from MPs to journalists – constitutes a crucial stage in the production of major news stories. Journalists mask the highly tendentious nature of this exchange by invoking their core professional obligation to “protect one’s sources”.
No matter that this obligation originated from the need to protect the relatively powerless providers of information from the excessively powerful institutional players committed to its suppression. Under the current interpretation of source protection, even a National Party MP, determined to disprove the charges of racism levelled against him by breaching patient confidentially, is deemed to possess the same expectation of anonymity as a genuine whistle-blower. From an ethical perspective, however, such an expectation is outrageous. To facilitate an already powerful politician’s absurd quest for personal vindication, by concealing his betrayal of powerless Covid-19 sufferers beneath the cloak of anonymity, is morally and professionally indefensible.
Just consider the likely sequence of events in this latest case. A journalist is contacted by an Opposition MP claiming to be able to prove that his racially-charged allegations are backed by official information. Before viewing this information, however, the MP extracts from the journalist a promise that both his identity and the nature of the proof will be kept under wraps. Rather than demanding to know what he’s insisting she keep hidden from the public, the journalist gives the MP her promise – and he hands over the confidential medical records of citizens who have tested positive for Covid-19.
At this point the journalist finds herself horribly compromised. She has in her hands clear proof that not only is a National MP guilty of an appalling breach of the public’s trust, but also that someone within the Ministry of Health is passing highly sensitive information to a person or persons closely associated with the National Party. The clear public interest in her revealing these facts is obvious, but she can’t – not without “revealing her source”.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Inevitably, somebody further up the chain of command called “bullshit” on this insanely conflicted situation. The leak of information identifying Covid-19-positive patients was made public – but not the identity of the leaker. Entirely predictably, the release of this information immediately sparked yet another round of harsh National Party criticism. Once again, the Leader of the Opposition, Todd Muller, and his Health spokesperson, Michael Woodhouse, castigated the Government’s “shambolic” handling of the Covid-19 crisis.
Just think about this for a moment. The mainstream news media was willing to print and broadcast these criticisms of the Government, even though they knew that the source of the leaked information was a National Party MP. Even though, by pushing the story up towards the top of every news bulletin they were stealing oxygen from the Prime Minister’s keynote address to the Labour Party Congress. It’s a very strange kind of journalism that keeps more information hidden from the public than it reveals!
It would be nice to think that Hamish Walker and Michelle Boag “came clean” because of a belated attack of common decency. More likely, however, their confessions were driven by fear of the official inquiry into the leak ordered by Minister of Health, Chris Hipkins. The powers given to Michael Heron QC, the man charged with undertaking the investigation, were certainly comprehensive enough to inspire such fear. He had the ability to subpoena witnesses and extract testimony under oath. Scary stuff.
Will Mr Heron, knowing the identity of the leakers, be content to deliver a pro forma report to Minister Hipkins? The mainstream media will be hoping so. They have nothing at all to gain from someone asking too many searching questions about the way this story was handled. The poor, misinformed public, however, has every reason to hope that Mr Heron goes hard and goes early to lock down all the elements of this scandal.
Was there, for example, some sort of quid pro quo arrangement by which the National Party was encouraged to offer up Walker and Boag in return for the mainstream media pivoting swiftly towards Muller’s “decisive handling” of the crisis? Certainly, that would take the spotlight off the implications of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust’s insistence that Boag could not possibly have obtained the Covid-19-positive patient’s details from them. If National, as seems increasingly likely, has a “Deep Throat” located in the heart of the Ministry of Health, or, even worse, in the Prime Minister’s Office, it will not want such a useful informant dislodged – and neither will the media!
I am not optimistic, however, that these sorts of questions will be asked or answered. With the General Election less than three months away, it is most unlikely that anything like the entirety of this scandal’s moving parts will be examined too closely – by anyone. The voters need to be able to believe that New Zealand’s major political parties conduct themselves ethically and responsibly at all times. Bad behaviour must always be presented as the product of “bad apples”. That National’s whole apple tree might be blighted and diseased is not a conclusion which this country’s political establishment will ever allow to pass unchallenged.