The success of right-wing counter messaging in the election

114
11

102019000-455772188.530x298

One of the reasons National won the election was due to its success in counter messaging – and the way so many media commentators ran with the right-wing spin.

Here are some examples.

Dirty Politics

The original message was that pro-National bloggers and politicians were conspiring to dig up dirt on people (particularly those on the Left) and attack them with it. There was plenty of evidence in Nicky Hager’s book to back up this conclusion.

The right-wing counter message was that Nicky Hager talking about dirty tricks was in and of itself a dirty trick against the Right. Nicky was a biased, left-wing, conspiracy theorist. Therefore, you didn’t need to read the book or give any credibility to its contents. And even if you thought there might be some truth in the Dirty Politics revelations “everyone in politics does it” [even though no evidence was provided that the Left does it].

State electronic surveillance of New Zealanders

The original message from Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald was that there was mass surveillance (including of New Zealanders) and that the GCSB and NSA had access to the metadata (and other information) from that surveillance.

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

The right-wing counter message was that it wasn’t happening [despite evidence presented that Phase 1 of Project Speargun intercepting the Southern Cross cable had been completed – and the reality of mass collection on international phone call data through the Waihopai spy station]. The counter messaging was that you don’t need to worry if the Prime Minister refuses to answer questions about the GCSB’s use of X-Keyscore to search the huge Five Eyes databases of personal information, including on New Zealanders. Trust John Key. In any case, “if you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to worry about” [despite everyone having information they wouldn’t like to be made public, and the history of states using private information against their critics].

GCSB spying on other countries

The original message was that the GCSB is working with Five Eyes partners (particularly the National Security Agency) to spy on other governments, including friendly governments.

The right-wing counter message was that everyone does such spying [even though it is illegal and it is unlikely any Asia/Pacific country, other than China, is engaged in electronic spying on New Zealand]. John Key’s pronouncement that any people like Greenwald who inform us which other countries New Zealand is illegally spying on are not friends of New Zealand. Our right to know what is being done in our name is not deemed relevant.

Foreign interference in New Zealand

The original message from Glenn Greenwald was that the GCSB was acting largely in the interests of a foreign intelligence agency, the NSA.

The right-wing counter-message was that foreigners (Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden), by providing their evidence, were trying to unduly influence New Zealanders.

The closeness of the dirty politics and surveillance revelations to the elections

The original message (from Nicky Hager and Glenn Greenwald) was that the information and issues they were presenting was relevant to how people would cast their vote in an election.

The right-wing counter message was that somehow bringing up these issues close to the election was an unfair attempt to influence the election. Or at least it was diversion from the real election issues.

Kim Dotcom

The original message was that Kim Dotcom had become a radical critic of John Key and his government and had been the catalyst for setting up an Internet Party and helping it link up with Mana to provide a new radical alternative, attractive particularly to young people.

The right-wing counter message was that Kim Dotcom was only interested in getting more support to stop extradition [even though no evidence was provided for this]. Further, that Kim Dotcom was trying to buy the election by providing so much money for Internet-Mana [a somewhat hypocritical allegation from supporters of National and ACT, both of who rely on heavy funding from big corporates].

We shouldn’t blame ourselves too much for not being more effective in dealing with these “counter messages”, particularly when so many right-wing and centre-right media commentators were running with them. However, it was disappointing they way some left and centre-left commentators picked up the right wing counter messaging against Kim Dotcom and Internet-Mana. It helped National and lowered the Left vote.

114 COMMENTS

  1. It isn’t as if these lines are unpredictable – they are totally predictable.

    We did rely on the MSM reporting to be relatively unbiased and it isn’t. The amount of times I saw Stuff/NZHerald/TVOne running the counter-narrative line as their headlines was just depressing.

    What do we do about it though? How do you counter these lines?

    • Probably it is impossible to counter them without being negative.

      If John Key says something that is false I think it would be best to call him a liar first and then explain why, rather than just repeating the facts.

    • There are bright young people right now commenting on thestandard.org and looking for info. on how to offer their creative,advertising and various other media skills to the next campaign for the left. Some have been rebuffed by existing political party machines on the left. That’s because only the IMP had any idea how filthy this campaign was going to be (thanks to Bomber)and the need for effective media strategies. The left have got to use youtube, more apps.as well as old style town hall meetings just like Winston does. He is a brilliant speaker. The Greens could well do with training in old style town hall meetings. Radio. the hate merchants of talkback radio are extremely influential. The left needs more people to debate on talkback The debates were shortened because Key is a shit debater.Cunliffe beat him hands down. Russell and Metiria debate extremely well. They were sidelined. It’s the stuff that TV ignores like youtube and old style campaigning that works surprisingly well.The Greens need to stop wasting left votes by standing candidates in electorates. They are stealing votes from Labour. It serves no useful purpose.
      The media in NZ is almost totally right wing. Hosking ans HEnry are openly National Party members. GArner is a fascist tosser.

      • The use of social media was under-utilised and misunderstood. It is one aspect that really needs to be scrutinised. Labours efforts on behalf of DC were constantly cring- worthy. They detracted they didn’t add. It was as though there was no concerted effort behind the posts and choice of pics. No one seemed to have a definite message or image they were trying to forward. Just one of the many disconnects from the voters.

        • True, they were embarrassing. On the other end of the spectrum, though, were the self-inflating IMP social media efforts where quantity generally far outweighed quality and content. Annette Sykes, with respect, was particularly backward in this, I felt, failing to utilise the medium for delivery of concrete policy soundbites, instead directing enquiries back to the overly verbose ‘policy’ pages on the mana website. IMHO

      • Why do comments in the Daily Blog persist in the misplaced idea that Labour are the good guys (“The Greens need to stop wasting left votes by standing candidates in electorates. They are stealing votes from Labour.”) Cant you see that Labour stole votes from its ‘friends’ ~ Greens down 4%; IMP obliterated, Hone Harawiri undermined simply because Labour wouldn’t work with them. And then gave its support to NZ First (up 4%).
        Dont ever again do deals with Labour. Its toxic.

        • “Don’t ever again do deals with labour. Its toxic”. And herein lies the reason we lost and will probably lose in 2017, unless this sort of attitude can be dealt to

          • So the Greens should be subordinate to Labour? So how are you proposing ‘…that attitude should be dealt to’? If Labour ever gets its shit together, let’s have that discussion. In the meantime we Greens will continue our professional and principled battle for social equity.

            • and that’s why the Greens voted for the Greens in Ohuria, winning nothing but Peter Dunne.
              and that’s why the Greens voted for the Greens in Auckland Central and won Nikki Kaye.

              I still have not met the Green Candidate for my electorate, but I have met the Labour Candidate who was out on the Streets every singly bloody day, rain/wind or shine. I have met the IMP Guy, who while young had his act together and knew he would loose. He still came out to the Streets and chatted with the locals, even if they gave him grief.

              The Green Party Candidate for my electorate however can be credited with running a campaign of invisibility.

              I am by all means not happy with Labour running a Candidate agains Hone, but to believe that the Greens, that current crop of corporate Greens is the answer to what ails us as a Society would be foolish.

              Labour, National and the Greens are all running the same society, National overtly pro business and to heck with the workers (after all they need cheap labour for their profits), Labour somewhat more pro Labour (after all any society needs workers that has some money left to spend after expenses) and the Greens are both pro business and somewhat pro Worker (but….Green Economy and ‘fair’ wages and vegan feasts). All three Parties feed into a system that is being made obsolete by our Global Corporate Overlords, and no – one has the guts to admit it.

              Our Labour issues are a global issues. We in the socalled First World are in direct competition with Labour from the Third World. Our Food is grown anywhere on this planet but here in NZ. Our Products are priced to appeal to foreign Markets not to our local Markets. Milk….can’t afford it, to bad, the chinese can.
              If we would have a large scale disaster that would interupt global transport how long do you think before we have riots on the streets because our Food Distribution Centres aka Supermarkets have been emptied of everything.
              How long would we last without Water Treatment Chemicals imported from China, boil yer water anyone?
              And so on and so on.

              The Green Party did not address this, the Labour Party did not address is. Both however offered Policies to whitewash the growing inequality and insecurity that comes with our current global policies.

              As for the TPPA, the Greens as much as Labour would have and will eventually find a compromise to go along with it, so as to not disturb the order of the day.
              They will tell us it is to protect our rights, our jobs, our lively hood etc. But then I have a bridge to sell….:)

              Sorry mate, but the Greens are not the shining knights in white armour. There never where any.

              Mother Jones: Get it straight, I am not a humanitarian I am a Hellraiser.

              and unless we raise Hell, they will not listen to us, but only do what they think will appease us for another three years.

      • Agree…”Radio. the hate merchants of talkback radio are extremely influential”

        Sean Plunket is one…particularly against Dotcom he was relentless…he would have turned a lot of young voters off Int/Mana

      • Shona, re the Greens standing in electorates supposedly taking votes off Labour.

        Apart from 3 electorates where strategic voting could have ensured ACT and United Future did not get to Parliament, and IMP could, the electorate voting, Greens v Labour is completely irrelevant (well except maybe Hutt South where getting rid of Mallard would have been good).

        It is the party vote that counts. The advantage of having an electoral candidate is that is gives a better profile for the party in the electorate.

        In terms of the left bloc it is nonsense to say that party vote for Green is stealing votes from party vote Lbour is just nonsense, it is a zero sum game.

    • Just like on the tv news. National said or did something with reasonable grounds for being questioned or criticised and regardless of what happened on the ground at the time with questioning, the snippet on the news carried John Key putting a disparaging view about what Labour would do. Obviously in some cases simply conjecture and of course usually scornful and mocking.
      Free political messages, consistent and ongoing.

      In some senses like watching his answers in Parliament where Cretin Carter let him do what he liked.

    • “What do we do about it though? How do you counter these lines?”

      We must set up a Peoples Free Media.
      We have seen time and time and TIME again that our MSM are more interested in keeping the veneer of the Status Quo , rather than telling the truth and protecting the 4th estate.

      I think that we, some one , any one needs and should set up a web based TV station .
      This would help in the dissemination of the “message” and create a counter narrative.

      I see it as a similar venture as TDB but playing public domain documentaries and local content Ie shows that speak to our community IE the way that #InternetMANA started “Not the 6 O’clock NEWS” but on a larger more frequent scale.

      We need to offer a viable alternative that can compel and engage the people . Think MAX TV think ALT TV but politicized , to the left and hosted online

      There is no shortage of examples on how this can be done . Democracy Now , Global Revolution, Occupy TV and even VICE

      We need to think outside “the box” and develop a frame work so to action this.

      I’m Keen! are you?

      #MediaByUs! NOT #MediaBias! (copyright 309Zmedia 14)

      • Daily Kos comes to mind.

        it has been quite successfull in fundraising, organising and supporting Candidates that would have never made it past the Blue Dogs (Democrats in Name only).

        What we need is to find our “Leaders” support them, throw funds at them, organise our own Town Hall Meetings, and let Labour and the Greens do what ever they want too.

        It would be very interesting to see how this would pan out.

        But for the most part, our fellow Kiwis will just trot on, try to keep the job, try to pay the mortgage, try to feed the kids and try to keep sanity.

        And in three years time, they will be given again the opportunity to ‘decide’ the outcome of the election.

        Yeah Right Tui!

    • “What do we do about it though? How do you counter these lines?”

      You can’t counter them through the conventional process because their target audience runs on the tradition of faith in the system, not on reason. All the right has to do is come up with a straw man that sounds sensible and they’re sold. Faith in the system is the reason why dirty politics favours the right.

      Finding a workable strategy involves knowing how the truth relates to their faith, ie which traditions are of value and which are not. One way of looking at it is as a contest between secular humanism and the natural rights of English democracy, both of which are present within conservative tradition.

  2. Thanks for that summary,Keith. We all knew it, but it’s good to see it spelled out so succinctly. A must read for all journalists

  3. Good post Keith, summed up alot of what I have been pondering recently. It was very noticeable to me (but apparently not to the broader public) that whenever someone tried to make a point against Key and the Nats that the story almost immediately became centred around the right-wing counter and did not engage with the substantive issue that was being raised. The last few months have been a serious indictment of the MSM in NZ. I also noticed today that CS is attacking Andrea Vance for being (relatively) outspoken on the issue and bucking this trend.

    • As Hager points out, he was shocked at a meeting when MSM appeared intimidated by Slater, and held back. They seem to over compensate for this appalling lack of integrity by having nil concerns for truth/integrity when it comes to laying into Labour, positively enjoying themselves it seems.
      I am in awe of the spin doctors who have made sheep of nations of people, they are masterful. Shame they don’t use their skills for good.

  4. Right wing counter messaging always has an Orwellian aspect to it. The US Republican Party have elevated to an art form accusing your rivals of what you are actually doing yourself. I realised some time in early September that Hager’s book was actually damaging the left. Still getting lots of thumbs down for that. I don’t and can’t dismiss the argument that all of the information (both Hager’s and Snowden’s) should have been made available to the voting public before election day. However, because it was released during the emotionally charged atmosphere of an election campaign it gave the counter messaging more credibility. It’s interesting how the Herald released enough of the emails to sink Collins during the election, which helped Key, but nothing about Jason Ede. And now on the first Monday after the election Ede conveniently resigns. I now hope that much of the credibility that ‘Dirty Politics’ lost during the campaign, can be recovered.

    • Yes….how VERY convenient about our Mr Ede , now , isnt it…..

      Essentially….told he must resign …but of course AFTER the election so that when an internal ‘inquiry ‘ is made by JohnXKEYSCORE , …National can conveniently distance themselves from Ede…..

      You see now the ruthlessness of the senior members of the National party in all its technicolour shades of shit.

  5. In addition to the NZ Herald, the awful Rawdon Christie on TV1’s Breakfast was particularly guilty of heralding the counter-message narrative. And of course Hosking, but presumably everybody by now knows where his political allegiances lie.

  6. Right on the money Keith – you have put into words and expressed so clearly what myself and others were vaguely aware of – thanks. There seemed to be a lemming-like need to jump on the anti-Dotcom bandwagon- he brought up some very very important issues and the media, par for course, missed them in their feeding frenzy Keep up the good work – Bruce in Hamilton

  7. Good summary of the message twisting we have observed. Almost word for word from the right blogs and their media snouts. George Orwell’s 1984 book was so prophetic about the use of language.

    The trouble is so many lefties are basically honest and upfront and think facts and research and sincerity matter, for the right spinners it is the total opposite.
    What was that cartoon with bloody Key playing moving target again?
    Mon–Black! Tues– I said White! Wed–I said Grey! Thurs–well ackshully the average kiwi doesn’t care about colour anyway!

    “Counter messaging” is the perfect manipulative device for atomised working class people that see themselves as individual consumers with choices rather than members of groups or society.

    Should the left start counter messaging? Well we do already but distribution is haphazard because we don’t own the channels. That is why FJK! type events can make an impact for better or worse. The Manukau East candidate went against the trend and achieved 60% party vote for Labour on Sat through old fashioned organising with 100 volunteers on the streets for several months. Demos and pickets still work and we will need a lot of them over the next period.

    • A dedicated radio station for use as a forum would help to countermand any interference from antagonistic journalists from the Right.

      This could be useful for reaching large numbers of age groups and valuable for dispensing and coordinating information on events , as well as a tool for a consensus on core values the Left shares, speakers who have the credentials to offer intellectual insights on things like an economy under social democracy , ethics, the role of administrative and judicial wings of govt…

      As well as the more visual approach of the public demonstration regarding popular issues – such as mass surveillance , corruption , wages , living costs ….all and sundry.

      This would form a two pronged approach to counter MSM propaganda….and I use that word propaganda because that is now what in affect we have and will continue to have under neo liberalism.

      • Thanks Keith locke,

        Thanks for your important criticism of the totally biased election coverage and loss by opposition during this election by a caustic MSM.

        Also thanks to Wild Katipo for the suggestion that we have a radio station dedicated to; “countermand any interference from antagonistic journalists from the Right”

        This is required as the opposition now is required to adequately criticise Key’s future policy changes in employment law and environmental laws and vital if we are to regain any significant voice and public respect in future to counter and hold the Government to account.

        All opposition Parties should now form a “joint media forum” debate to spearhead a plan to force Government to provide public facilities for both radio and TV facilities for opposition parties to voice their input to important issues facing the taxpayers in a free media operative manner.

        This is not happening now as does in many other countries.

        Since this Government clearly has total control over all NZ taxpayer funded media at present, it is now simply only fair to allow opposition the same facilities.

        If Government refuses this request that should come from a united opposition forum meeting, then Government has shown to the public ahead of Parliament that we do not have a free society and democracy.

        Germany even has under a right wing Government a public service media totally independent so we should also.

        Our call is now to all Opposition parties to meet in a forum now to plan a spearhead in a forum to plan strategies for a free public service opposition TV/Radio SM immediately before John Key begins to de-construct further our democracy of our country.

        • Similar to what most MSM journalists, tv stations, radio stations and newspapers do now for the Right?…..

          No…it would provide a perspective from the Left…..with far more reach than a blog can .

          Dont forget….not all people can afford a computer , or even are young enough to be part of the internet age……

          Whereas a radio…most people can afford one of those…it is simple , practical and can have a multi faceted program.

          As for tv coverage …yes ..if it can be done.

          • Yeah, all good stuff. I certainly know firsthand that many people don’t have computers/smartphones etc, worried bout the relevance of an ‘internet’ party, tech focus – and bitcoin policy??!! – to them. My main point, above, was that the challenge for the so-called progressive left appears to be in building an audience from other than those within its existing sphere. They seem to have been peeing into the wind in this, at times.

          • “A radio station”? AM or FM? Where? How powerful? I think broadcast radio is fast fading into history. Even dear old RNZ sees that web radio is the rising medium, and so far as I know you don’t have to go through any hoops of frequency allocation. Like the webcast right here of Moment of Truth, just do it.

            • maybe Dotcom …if he has any money left could do it?…i reckon it would be a big hit !…music , debate…guests ….real news!…real commentary!….real fun!

              youth would love it!!!!…and it would not be so right wing biased as what we have now …sweet revenge

              ( eat your heart out Sean Plunket!…go plunk it yesterdays man)

            • Consider this , …..when people drive to work in the morning…and come at night from work,…when people just want something portable at work to catch the news, sports , weather , talkback…..its more often than not a radio….simply because it is so portable- and not expensive if lost, broken , stolen.

              Also….there are many elderly that havent the patience with computers…many of them. They shouldnt be left out as well. And many of them can compare from experience events from the past- and thats an advantage.

              As for preaching to the converted…with radio….like Radio Pacific used to in the days of Gordon Dryden…through to ZB , LIVE….these certainly havent lost any popularity at all , …moreover , …there will also be many who would want to tune in and compare a reliable Left viewpoint before they make a decision as well.

              The old fashioned radio…..cannot be underestimated.

  8. Yes….when an evil little conglomerate including John Key , Winston Peters , Maori party ,Cunliffe and the neo liberals stooge Davis all suddenly ‘unite ‘ to attack the main party who brought most of this to us – Internet Mana – the roaring obvious question is ‘what did they fear’?…

    You don’t often hear of the incumbent party’s PM siding with the leader of the largest opposition party on the Left in order to obliterate a fellow party on the Left.

    From where Nicky Hagers book left off…..the reality is this :

    If it were not for the courage of IMP and Hone to run with this , -if it were not for the bravery of Mr Kim Dotcom in bringing us the revelation from Snowden , Greenwald , Assange , Amsterdam …we would never have had ANY INFORMATION from Key whatsoever.

    But instead of accolades and the Left picking up the ball and coming out in support , what do we see instead?

    A concerted effort by the MSM , Cunliffe encouraging neo liberal little creeps like Davis to undermine Hone Hawera , a cowardly distancing from any association with IMP by party’s of the Left , – and that INCLUDES the Greens sorry to say …..

    When what should of happened was the whole integrity of Key and the National party elite been held to account in a Royal Commission of inquiry.

    It is because of self centered , egocentric , politically ambitious ,gutless ingratiating wimps like these that have ensured the neo liberal Right wing will continue to systematically dismantle any semblance of social democracy left in NZ.

    You are all culpable in muting the one party that had the courage to bring this out publicly and put serious questions forward about the health of our democracy and also the health of our judicial wing of govt to be effective at policing corruption .

    Shame on all of you.

    • Labour scored the Booby Prize….Kelvin “Cleft Chin” Davis and sold its soul forever.

      Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

      Hone, KDC, the IM Party were already lined up against the most powerful Empire the World has ever known…and who piled in against him? The Intellectual Giants of the NZ media and the Labour Party all wanting to put the boot in along with the Nasty Party.

      There is a word for that lack of solidarity.

  9. Maybe that’s why we should have to pass an intelligence test before getting a ticket allowing some people to vote. A joke, of course, but I seriously wonder what some folk have inside their heads; I doubt that there’s anything called a brain in many people’s heads.

    • mind- body problem:…it looks like a brain, feels like a brain, smells like a brain, tastes like a brain, sounds like a brain

      ….but is it a “thinker”…or just a grey blob of mush in convoluted casings?…looking like a brain

      ….is it a zombie brain?

  10. Thanks Keith. Always good to read your informed and thoughtful analysis.

    I agree with most of what you write but I think you underestimate the impact of Kim Dotcom even without negative messaging. First, it is hard to argue that he set up the IP out of the goodness of his heart and a desire to promote civic culture in NZ. It always looked more like he was acting from self-interest and maybe a sense of fun. He was ripe for that kind of attack.

    Second, he showed early on that he was a loose unit, with jokes about killing hookers etc. No surprise, he’s a pirate not a politician. He should have stayed well in the background. I-M Putting him centre stage at events like the launch and MOT was leading with their chin.

    Third – and this is in hindsight – it would probably have been better to launch Dirty Politics (and the MOT actually) during the Parliamentary session, so that the left could have asked questions directly of Key in the House instead of relying on the press, and also to take the shine off Key’s persona before the election campaign started. Getting people to change their minds about him overnight was always going to be a hard task.

    Of course it’s easy to say that after the election result has come in 😉

    Bless

    • Useful points Nandor. Re your third point, I am inclined to agree about the Dirty Politics timing. The Greenwald material, however, might not have been available earlier.

    • In the ideal world yes, ….but remember Hager worked flat out to get the book out…he too is aware of the damage of the TTPA etc…and that if New Zealanders didnt know what was going on they would have been going into the election blind about just who they were voting to be their next Prime Minister.

    • @NANDOR ,I find myself disagreeing strongly on a few points here:

      1) Mr Dotcom had been radicalised by having had a raid on his privacy , having 80+ paramilitary police in black combat fatigues abseiling down from helicopters , having his pregnant wife roughed up , himself his kids and bodygaurd as well, been thrown in prison , had his assets frozen , been publicy vilified by a biased MSM , and then latterly having snide remarks about himself been made by the Prime Minister (along with Mr Greenwald as a henchman…and looser..) …..

      2) soon after that raid ,…it was found that both the raid , the warrant , AND the SPYING was ILLEGAL !!!!!!!!!

      Do you not think….that YOU would have reacted any different !!!???

      So….then we had a situation whereby there was not only dodgy dealings with that FBI backed fiasco – but now we find the SIS and the Immigration dept …are having ‘Political pressure ‘ brought to bear to overrule the SIS – that looks suspiciously like orders from an MP’s office! – with the prime reason being to entrap KDC in NZ in order to gift wrap him for extradition !!!

      So now we have the law change that made it all ok for old Johnny boy to not only negate the illegality of spying on KDC….but also to perve at all New Zealanders !! Courtesy of the good old GSCB and NSA and the other wankers in the five eyes network!!!

      So now we get the FBI and our police who worked with Hollywood moguls to extradite KDC on copyright infringement- which is a CIVIL charge not a CRIMINAL charge !!!

      But not being content with that….the good old FBI slapped on the charge of racketeering- a charge used by the FBI to convict bloody Mafia dons !!! ….Which is a totally deliberate – and bogus – legal set up from the get go !!!

      FFS !!!!

      And it gets worse- not only are those same dorks who run the Motion Picture industry busy doing that- they also draught up trade laws that get submitted to another corporate body that finalises Congresses foreign trade laws that will be used as the foundation for the TTPA !!!!

      AND THATS THE REAL REASON THAT THEY KNEE CAPPED HONE IN TE TAI TOKERAU !!!

      BECAUSE IMP AND KDC WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR STICKING POINT WITH TTPA DEALS IF IMP WERE IN PARLIAMENT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      So…if your really gonna have a go at KDC , …perhaps its also beneficial to remember a few points :

      A) would you have been any better under all THOSE circumstances?…would you ??

      B) Would NZ EVER have found this out through Greenwald , Assange , Amstrerdam , and Snowden if KDC was less courageous?

      I dont think so…..be honest about it.

      I think …we owe a debt of gratitude towards Mr Dotcom….it took a guy from another land to MAKE us see the shit that exists within our very own halls of power.

      We owe a depth of gratitude to Hone and the InternetMana party for having the GUTS to run with that.

      And if that is the shoddy , dispicable treatment we are capable of dishing out to a newcomer to this land of ours – without any sense of gratitude or empathy – God save us all !!!

      And its no wonder then , perhaps…that yes…after being set up like this…..Mr Dotcom doesnt want to be extradited on trumped up charges to be some sort of fall guy for geopolitical interests.

      And why should he?…..would any one of you?

  11. ABSOLUTELY stunning article Keith, it sets it out so very clearly, shame this isn’t an opinion piece in the Herald.

  12. Great article Keith. The media influence in this campaign has been significant. Stuff presented a follow up to the second debate between Key and Cuniliffe. In it the writer made much of Key’s analogy which made reference to, ‘lamb chops and steak.’ That particular line was confusing and fell flat in its delivery. Seems to me the writer was struggling to find positive reinforcement for Key’s contribution to the debate.
    Add to that TV One’s choice of Hoskins to host the debate, knowing his bias towards National.
    And the bias showed.
    Keep it coming Keith.

  13. I am still in shock over the election result. How could we have got it so wrong!
    I reckon Cunliffe was by far the most gracious and civil debater.
    We just don’t have the same access to money and the influence it brings.

    • Well you could go out and raise the money as Mike Williams used to. You have to fight for the money not expect it of right. The money is there if you look for it but it appears that those responsible for fund raising this time could not be bothered.

    • It’s not about money. If it was, KDC would have won.

      Money matters at the margins, but it’s no good if people don’t like what you’re selling. Marketing 101. People have to want what you’ve got first, then you spread your reach. If they don’t like what you’ve got, no amount of money will swing it.

      • Marketing 102 : if the people dont want what you sell , you have to create a DESIRE for that product.

        Hence advertising,…

        Or in this case….policy , based on sound reasoning and an unfettered environment free from the diversions of a biased MSM with their slant on issues or counter arguments to protect an incumbent govt.

        Think thats more the case , dont you?

        Hence also – more reason for an independant news medium.

  14. Remember the New Zealand Party? No, not New Zealand First. Bob Jones’s NZP. How much money went into that campaign to devalue the dollar and liberalise the flow of money a la Reaganomics, Thatcherism and used to “roger” New Zealand.

    Haven’t we become precious about rich people buying elections? Don’t know about you, but I can’t afford a $5,000 a head meal at Antoine’s – or anywhere else for that matter. Michelle Boag apparently attends ‘quite a lot of them’. Hmmmm.

    And another counter argument to Dotcom I heard at work was “Kim Dotcom doesn’t care about New Zealand”.

    Thank God elections only come around every 3 years. I broke 3 clock radios listening to Marcus Lush and Sean Plunkett, Radiolive media men reading National scripts and commentary.

    Roll on 2017

  15. The implication seems to be that those who voted National were incapable of thinking for themselves and were led by the nose by a right wing media.

    Until the Labour Party recognises that it’s campaign was largely shambolic it will not lay the path for victory in 2017.

    The Green campaign by contrast was excellent and probably deserved a greater reward.

    However in the back of many voters’ mind there was a fear of a rag tag and bobtail coalition.

    It is no use blaming the media for demonising KDC. He managed to do that himself. Every time he spoke it was about vengeance upon JK. His alliance with Mana was part of exacting that vengeance.

    When the media captured his audience shouting “f… JK” with KDC beaming benevolently I guess 10,000 votes headed for National with a further 5000 with Corkery’s foul mouthed rant.

    The left has to stop blaming right wing persecution and look to its own ineptness. If it does not it will be another defeat in 2017.

    • “…KDC. He managed to do that himself. Every time he spoke it was about vengeance upon JK. His alliance with Mana was part of exacting that vengeance.”

      Or, he actually believed in returning New Zealand Aotearoa to a social democracy. You know, Ben, like the one he was born and grew up in…

      • That is nonsense, Frank and you know it. KDC had no interest in social democracy. He was interested only in buying an election that would enable him to avoid extradition.

        People like KDC who have acquired vast wealth in rather dubious circumstances should be anathema to those on the left, but sadly the left in this case could not wait to drop its collective knickers.

        • No Ben, that’s your interpretation, based on your prejudice. I would say that KDC is more interested in social democracy than your precious Dear Leader, who, along with Paula Bennett, has done his best to dismantle it. This term, expect National to continue evicting State House tenants.

          By the way, KDC’s wealth acquisition is no more dubious than the wealthy benefactors of National and ACT.

          What you’re really implying is that a wealthy benefactor for Mana-Internet is immoral – but multiple wealthy benefactors for right wing parties is perfectly acceptable because it is “the norm”. TV3’s Patrick Gower practically said as much on Twitter.

          That’s what right wingers can’t get their heads around; that a party that campaigns for the poor actually has resources that match the National Party. And doesn’t that just twist your panties in a knot?!

          Hence the crusade against him by the Right and it’s fellow travellers in the MSM. It’s the tall poppy syndrome with a fresh twist – done by the agents of the One Percenters against what they perceive as one of their own “going rogue”.

          They were fine with Mana as long as it staying poor and powerless. But the moment KDC gave Mana the means to fight the oligarchy on a financial level playing field – well, that’s when the daggers really came out.

          All good until your last paragraph, Frank. Deleted. You’re better than that. – Scarletmod

  16. Mate, did you have to put up the picture of a smiling ShonKey? I’ve been avoiding the media since about 8.30 on Saturday night, hoping to avoid seeing any such image. Hell, he looks like he’s just won money trader of the year again. Will I make it to the toilet before I barf?

  17. As I write , 8203 people thus far have signed a petition to have a recount believing the election was rigged .
    Given the preposterous outcome , that suspicion can be forgiven .
    I think we should all be looking at more abstract possibilities for this catastrophe than simply believing that this is the way of things .
    Personally I’m not sure what went wrong . How could I be ? What I do know however is that something fishy is going on .
    The outcome of the 2014 elections is contrary to common sense . The outcome isn’t credible . Call me old fashoned if you must .

    http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Hon_Sir_Hugh_Williams_KNZM_QC_LLM_Recount_NZ_2014_Election_I_believe_it_was_rigged/?ttLPlib

    • NZ votes are counted by a computer program:
      http://www.stv.govt.nz/stv/counting.htm
      If the possible rigging involves that program, won’t a recount give exactly the same result?

      Certainly programs can be written to throw an election:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjvtSquZkhs&app=desktop
      NB: That one was written in yr 2000 — Computer programming has developed light years since then.

      Could our vote counting program have been hacked?
      Is there any way to detect whether that happened?

        • oops that link already given by Manuka above

          Question:..if stv votes are counted by computer( as in Manuka’s link) …. are computers involved at all in mmp vote counting/calculations ?…(i could not find anything at all about mmp on that same govt.nz website)

          • The one program does it all (is my reading of it) – There is a demo link on that page. It would be interesting to know if there were any recent upgrades to the program.

            The Electoral Commission is independent of the government but there is two-way communication with one Gov Minister… the Minister of Justice (at the time, that was Collins)

    • “The outcome isn’t credible .”

      It is extremely unlikely.
      ” National is actually ahead in the party vote everywhere, apart from the seven Maori seats, three electorates in South Auckland, one in West Auckland and Dunedin North.” http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/editorial/316767/reinventing-labour-party

      Again: ” National is actually ahead in the party vote everywhere..”
      We are supposed to believe that a majority of Green, Labour and NZ First voters gave their party votes to Nats?? It defies credibility.

    • “New Zealanders are the problem. They’re dumb.”

      Here Ladies and Gentlemen a fine example of the sneering condescension from the left to the public . Another reason not to vote left. ‘Agree with me or you’re “dumb”‘. You should run Labours next campaign.

    • The left are the problem.

      You wonder why they don’t vote for you, and conclude it’s because you’re superior. You’ll lose again in 2017 with that attitude.

      • uh? so by your words you imply you’re superior (becasue you won) and becasue the left thinks you’re inferior, thus it is you being condescending from a superior positon, which by your rule means your team should have lost. Go figure.

        I’m going with “NZders are dumb”, becasue you two above don’t know what English means, or anything about logic, but still try to speak it.

    • not true…they have been duped by the media and certain so-called journalists and dirty ops PR merchants…NZers will wake up!

      ….but we must expose those who have and would dupe us and take away our rights and democracy!

    • So just because 60% of the population did not vote the way you wanted them to, they are dumb. You are part of the problem and if you and others persist in that delusion Labour will lose in 2017 as well.

      For God’s sake is no one on the left capable of rational thought? Well there is one; Chris Trotter. What a pity that he is outside rather than inside parliament. The choice for leader would be easy and Labour might have a chance.

  18. I’ve been comparing 2011 and 2014 votes in our electorate. Though specials are not included National vote was only increased by 500 votes and our ‘high profile’ candidate only gained 50 more seats than our previous candidate. The real gain was for NEW ZEALAND FIRST – our Labour candidate and party vote dropped by around 1,000 votes and the NZ First vote ROSE by round about the same (even though I’d heard and seen bugger all from him – though to be fair Winston Peters had a couple of meetings here). Did blue ‘concervatives’ get frightened into 2 ticks National and red ‘concervatives’ to vote NZ First to keep Labour ‘honest’?

  19. Great article Keith. What to do? Well I thnk Grant Robertson said it best, Labour, has to simply be seen walking the walk and talking the talk in every community in NZ between elections. Like Winston does. Every hall every soapbox, every community bash, sleeves rolled up, boots on being real. Use social media to communicate and publicise. Go where the voters live. Go to unusual places, start innovative hands on projects, Hey, be seen working with the Greens.Be visible, be genuine, be in touch with all the people.
    Of course they have to resolve the leadership issue, and it goes without saying whoever they decide on must be a unifying choice. And a Maori member must be very near the top spot. There is real power in using the return of the Maori and the Pacific vote.
    Labour must become believable again, seeing is believing, and the party must be seen in and around NZ, going where they’ve never been before.

  20. The media dumbed down our electorate with lots of tabloid trivia when the opposition message was screaming to opposition to talk about policy?

    So the media was playing concerted tricks that confused the electorate and never meaningfully broadcast the bulk of those opposition policies they were claiming should be aired.

    The media was operating a classic “two track” media policy mentioned in Hagar’s book “Dirty politics”, and Hagar warned is used elsewhere globally against left wing political parties.

    So media is clearly to blame here, and a disgrace there should be an enquiry into their collusion with ruling government interference in our democracy.

    Yes it was a dirty politics election run by National.

    A rigged election therefore.

    • Damn right it was.

      So now they can sit back and gloat with their pallid bloated faces and simply gloat some more when the Left tears itself apart looking for a scapegoat to blame in their midst.

      The cheer was loudest at National party election headquarters when they saw Hone Hawera being beaten by that slimebag neo liberal stooge errand boy Davis.

      And they are still playing the ‘dirty politics’ game.

      We desperately need a cross party forum to dismantle these tactics.

      AND our own media…start off simple by a radio station like Radio B – learn from the students.

    • Yes the media are to blame, but more importantly those individuals who work for the media are to blame, because without those media workers “doing as their told” there would be no avenue with which the media owners to get the message out.
      However, the selling of our assets should have be enough on its’ own to have informed the public about the nasty nature of National. We shouldn’t have needed any mainstream and alternative media. Unfortunately a lot of people are too shallow-minded to consider such a thing.
      People should have realized that assets and investments are virtually the only way for tax to be able to be substantially lowered or even discontinued. People have never even considered that tax in not necessary if a country was run properly and without corruption.
      But they LOVE their slavery.

  21. “The original message (from Nicky Hager and Glenn Greenwald) was that the information and issues they were presenting was relevant to how people would cast their vote in an election.”

    I really don’t agree with that comment. It shouldn’t be up to them to be able to tell people how to vote. People make their own decision whether the information was relevant to their vote… that is the whole basis of democracy.

    • They didn’t “make their own decision”. The media blurred everything in “Dirty Politics” and on the MoT.
      EG
      Glen Greenwald: John Key calls me a henchman and a loser. I’ve never seen a head of state being so undignifed.”
      Lochlan Forsythe on Campbell Live: “Glen Greenwald said he wasn’t a loser.”

      • More blurring:
        From KDC’s apology: “The brand Kim Dotcom was poisoned … and I did not see that…”

        The Herald reporting on it: “Kim Dotcom says he “poisoned” Internet-Mana”.
        A subtle but effective change of emphasis, which distorts the meaning.

    • They weren’t telling people how to vote though – they were providing people with information to make up their own minds.

    • are you sure you weren’t listening to some of those right wing spinner journalists and PR operatives ?

      ….i dont recall Nicky Hager and Glenn Greenwald telling “people how to vote” !

    • So if I informed you that your 2 year old child runs the risk that he/she could get run over because they are out playing in the middle of the street, …….would you not be glad you were told and were then able to do something about it?

      Of course you would.

      And for the messenger it is a ‘duty of care’ being discharged …..exactly the same as Hagers book and Greenwalds warnings.

      What you choose to do with that is then up to you.

  22. Excellent summary, Keith. As evidenced in many of the response comments, even after being smashed in the election the left continues to squabble and vent its self-righteous outrage, thereby sowing the seeds for another defeat in 2017. Time to be ruthlessly pragmatic and look at the spin and other mechanisms that were successful for National and take them on board, for example taking ownership of the middle by ditching the “left wing” label (which many voters find intimidating) and rebranding as “the centre” by establishing National as “the far right”. The question is, do readers really want a win in 2017 or are they happy to stick with the high-moral-ground, hard-done-by underdog narrative?

  23. Isnt it possible that the result is because of:
    1. The message the left were selling wasn’t one the voters agreed with?
    2. The KDC/Snowden/Greenwald big reveal, came across as foreigners meddling in NZ politics
    3. The NZ voter agrees with the direction the National Party has and is taking
    4. Fringe parties (Mana, Act, UF, etc) are exactly that, around 1% which ironically the 99% disagree with.
    5. David Cunliffe as the central messenger of the Left, did not convince enough voters that what he was serving up was palatable.
    6. The voters didnt like the way the message from the left was delivered(vote positive/act negative).
    7. The big reveal didnt convince any more than the usual 1% that we live in a deeply corrupt country. There was no compelling evidence robust enough to convince a swinging voter that there was a problem.

    To conclude this should be, to any rationally thinking person, a huge wake up call that NZ doesnt want people like KDC interfereing in our lives and Maori will be better served by MP’s that put others before their own inflated egos. However rationality and the extreme left are mutually exclusive. Enjoy the next three years, I certainly will.

  24. Mathew said,

    “People make their own decision whether the information was relevant to their vote… that is the whole basis of democracy.”

    Is that Mathew Hooten, we would expect that crap from him?

    So where is our Democracy now this Government who rigidly control our taxpayer TVNZ?RNZ?

    This while gagging them from covering this important TPPA stuff before the election?

    Even a right wingers on radio live like Duncan Garner were warning us about TPPA damages to NZ sovereignty and economy!

    And we all know John Key is adamant we sign onto it without releasing any details about what we are signing up to or holding any public debate first about the negative impacts and bad effects details before hand?

    Is that your democracy? Watch this and learn.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPIsjH25GHo&app=desktop#sthash.hwgIY1ej.dpuf

  25. Wrong way around.

    It has to be a message people want to hear and then repeat. By “people” I mean “swing voters”, not your base.

    The big problem on the left, particularly on social media, is a failure to enagage with people outside your base. Rather than ban and deride these people, you should gather their words. *Their* words are the words you need to use to frame *your* message.

    Secondly, it has to be a message that already resonates with that group, and the easiest and most effective way to do this is to ground it in absolute truth. Not a truth you’ve constructed, post-modern style. A fundamental, human truth.

    “Poverty” is not a truth. It’s a bad characterisation. “Poverty”, to most New Zealanders, means “African starvation”. You can’t unwind that by “owning the language”.

    “Parents and kids needing help” is a fundamental truth and cannot be countered.

  26. “Wrong way around.”

    “It has to be a message people want to hear and then repeat. By “people” I mean “swing voters”,

    Here is the right way around.

    “TPPA is Key, -TPPA is a sell-out of NZ sovereignty – so is Key.

  27. The election was lost because of the main stream media. Pure and simple. People relied on the media to let them know what was going on each day and our msm are all heavily pro National – particularly the TV evening news, Seven Sharp and Paul Henry. The election was lost because of media headlines, biased reporting and an unblinking, unwavering focus by these media on the ‘new left scandal of the day’. The msm went out each day to source and report on the looney left and to deliver to an increasingly concerned and shocked middle NZ, the message that a vote for Labour or Greens was a vote for the looney left wing. What happened next was the electorate gave Key their sympathy vote and swung away from Labour and Green ( even if they agreed with some of their policies) because they felt sorry for Key as he was being attacked by the looney left – and they wanted ‘stable govt”. Keys message about delivering ‘stable government’ really really got through to middle NZ. They were simply terrified that the left would deliver UNSTABLE govt. By using those words ‘stable govt’ over and over, Key sowed powerful seeds of doubt which grew into the conviction and belief that the left would destabilise the NZ economy and create a very left wing NZ with looney tunes policies. THe capital gains tax didnt help Cunliffe either. Many people STILL believe that a CGT WOULD TAX THE FAMILY HOME. Key’s message got through in that debate – where he cast seeds of doubt about the family home and the CGT.

    • 200% ARIEL.

      They are using the modern version of mass media repeated suggestive brainwashing principals and it worked as it always does.

      Our only way to combat this as said before we need the Opposition Parties to gather in an emergency forum and map a new policy to force Government to provide a stand alone TV/Radio public network for their use to provide good opposition policy input to the public and counter Government policy.

      Then this will level the unfairly biased Government operated current TVNZ/RNZ model that has done so much damage to our citizens.

    • Ariel – you are right – however, this is 2014 – did we not think that transNational would have effective messaging? They have focus groups, identify the concerns, the fears, hopes etc and then distill sharp messages that they repeat endlessly. This is not new. This is not rocket science.
      So where was the response – or indeed the initiative to wrest the terms and items of the debate to Labour/Green/IMP etc advantage?

      Why didn’t we see the graph of national debt, especially its extreme growth under Key’s “government” everywhere? Slogans like – John Key the biggest borrower since Robert Muldoon.

      The populace may or may not be dumb but they respond to what they’re told – easily digestible pap is what is required.

      Leadership, policy, connection, organisation, funding blah blah blah – get the comms sorted!! The pledge card was a significant factor in getting Helen Clark elected – where is that kind of stuff today? A pre-recorded, automated phone call from David Cunliffe was lame, very lame.

      • “Why didn’t we see the graph of national debt, especially its extreme growth under Key’s “government” everywhere? Slogans like – John Key the biggest borrower since Robert Muldoon”…

        Answer: We didnt see it or hear it because of inferior ‘journalism’ and a right wing biased main stream media focussed on personal attack and undermining at every opportunity

        ….we got spin instead of facts….
        …we got cheap put downs and personal attacks instead of debate..

      • Right ….so now it is established…the Right uses advertising techniques -simple, catchphrases to sell a better bar of soap.

        Thats why there was no confusing the people with policy. There was none . But the bare minimum.

        And the actual counter argument/accusation took the form of having two purposes.

        Making the Left look divided and devoid of policy by creating constant rebuttals in the form of put downs , overspeaking any opposition ….and counting on the fact that there was several partys vying with each other.

        And the second method was to reverse any accusations of foul play / dirty politicking after sowing the seeds of doubt with dubious data by accusing the Left of the same ‘dirty politicking’.

        Quite a simple formula .

        Now the counter to that is NOT TRYING to divest and compress complex issues into a mere soundbite or even a 30 minutes tv program……

        These things must be planned months and months in advance.

        The answer to it is to have a prolonged (several months or more on important issues ) protracted forum and discussion in which to build up a groundswell of popular opinion and to NORMALISE any issue at hand. To make it appear in daily conversation , as it were. And that for example should entail political leaders, experts in that particular field , press releases that are inserted even into the MSM , ……therefore destabilising those individuals who seek to perpetuate a biased agenda….

        I would still suggest…the most efficient method in the early stages is radio….this can be up and running as a cost effective forerunner to any other method designed for a large audience.

        Small businesses, unions , organic producers and many others could donate /pay small fees to offset for any advertising. Fundraising….the list is endless.

        The neo liberal Right wing two stage attack system WILL have weaknesses . It is not invincible nor is it totally foolproof – and has a particular vunerability regarding truth and hard facts. And like all good military planning …the time and place of engagement should be ours to choose – not theirs.

        Put them on the back foot – not the Left.

        A hard Right victory is neither inevitable nor is it a forgone conclusion. It simply gets down to strategic and tactical planning.

        This is why also ther needs to be a bieannual cross -party forum gathering to work towards greater understanding and to promote a cohesive, united approach.

        Two things to put in place.

  28. You mean the right media like, Andrea Vance, Katie Bradford, Patrick Gower and Tracy Watkins Campbell?

    Labour lost, the Greens did Bad, and InternetMana was wiped out because the majority of kiwis dont like their ideas, they dont like what they were selling.

    No conspiracy, it may be hard for you to understand, but kiwis dont hate America as much as you do, we dont share the same ideology as you.

    As soon as Labour comes back to the centre they will win.

    • Get with the programme Brett. The Sandinstas who came to NZ in the mid eighties said the American government is our biggest enemy, the American people are our biggest ally. To suggest we all hate the Americans is childish. I do however hate the current and previous American governments – they are the bully boys of the world and NZ’s foreign policy is America’s foreign policy because Key wants to play golf and be buddies with Obama.

  29. You missed one important point. original message, The MSM is mainly right biased, we all know that to be true and we can all name who are the worst culprits.
    Secondry message from Nat, The MSM is made up of loonie lefties and the poor right doesn’t get a word in!

    • Yeah, that’s your problem. If only Campbell was more left, you’d win. That, a sunny election day, and the vote not being so obviously rigged by dark forces.

      Word of advice. Stick with Cunliffe. He’s the man.

  30. There was one aspect of John Key’s victory speech that made the ears of this despondent citizen prick up. Here are a few quotes that I think illustrate that Mr Key is not being completely honest with New Zealand and in the heat of the moment may have let his tongue run away with him.

    “And contrary to public opinion, I’m not incredibly poll-driven.”
    John Key, 19/11/2011, interview with NZ Herald reporter John Armstrong.
    (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10767097)

    “I’ve had the occasional contact with John Key, and like most, think he is a pretty amazing guy – both as a political leader, and as a normal Kiwi, who is devoted to his family and treats everyone around him well. This is rare (sic) than it should be in politics.

    But despite that occasional contact, I have never been able to work out what motivated him to enter politics.” – {emphasis added}
    David Farrar, 26/06/2014, Kiwiblog post; “The John Key biography – the early years.”
    (http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/06/the_john_key_biography_-_the_early_years.html)

    “And can I make one special thank you to the best pollster in New Zealand, now don’t charge us more for it, David Farrar who got his numbers right. And who I rang, night after night, even though I was told not to. Just to check. I didn’t tell them we all did that, yeah I know I shouldn’t have but anyway, whatever. It was our little secret.”
    John Key, 20/09/2014, Election night victory speech.
    (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZ9Maefm4Q) 10min 10secs.

    Going from only occasional contact to phone calls night after night with a Prime Minister who wasn’t particularly poll-driven in the space of just a couple of months must have made David Farrar’s head spin. What other secrets is John Key keeping from the New Zealand public?

    I’m sure most readers here are aware of how economical with the truth Mr Key can be, this is of course just a recent example.

  31. ” One of the reasons National won the election was due to its success in counter messaging – and the way so many media commentators ran with the right-wing spin. ”

    That , and the fuckers rigged the election .

  32. I think what has been definitively shown this election is that those who control the medium control the message. And the only way to counter is to start your own medium.

    And while everything these days is moving online, I’m beginning to think that TV might be necessary; there’s something about it that seems to garner more weight. Maybe that there’s only a limited number of TV channels but 1 billion web pages makes it harder to ignore. I also think the older generation seem to be more habituated on TV as an information source.

    And the only logical conclusion from this is that another show needs to appear. It needn’t be a daily event, nor very long, but just a small presence will be better than nothing. So I completely agree with Three9Z above, there needs to be another source of political analysis. I don’t even really think labelling it as ‘left wing media’ is necessary – just with enough brains to call out the crap coming from other channels. Let’s face it, humour often goes down better than vitriol so a possibility would be a Daily Show/Last Week Tonight style approach (maybe the latter would be a good model, only one show a week to keep costs down and focus on the key issues). Basically if you take the piss out of the other news shows enough people will start to question them. And if NZ is heading more towards Fox News-style bias, then let’s just import the same counter-narrative approach from the US.

    Whether readers agree about the content or not, I’m deadly serious about the need for a show presenting a counter-narrative, and it has to get off the ground soon to have time to mature in time for the next election. My feeling is a lot of other people here feel the same. We can start crowd-funding, looking to NZ On Air, etc. This has to happen!

  33. Keith’s analysis is basically sound but it does point out some terrible truths about New Zealanders. They have lost the fighting pioneering, egalitarian spirit of old. Intelligence, persistence and sticking to your core values now has little place in New Zealand. New Zealand has become a haven for blind subservience, silence, conformity and ideological mindlessness. We don’t have sleepy hobbits here, we have zombies.

Comments are closed.