#Clip: The War on News: Brooke’s FENZ Blame Game, Parliament Chaos & Trump’s Media Ban
This week on The War on News, Martyn Bradbury takes aim at Brooke van Velden’s showdown with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, an extraordinary late-night eruption inside Parliament, and Donald Trump banning major news organisations from the White House.
🚒 Brooke van Velden vs Fire and Emergency NZ
Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has declared she has no confidence in FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory.
It follows an independent inquiry that found serious and longstanding failures in the management of New Zealand’s firefighting fleet — including dozens of new fire appliances sitting out of service while ageing trucks continue to cause problems.
Van Velden has separately focused on information she says was withheld from her concerning FENZ’s levy administration.
But Martyn asks a different question: after firefighters and their union spent years warning about the state of the fleet, why has ministerial confidence collapsed now?
🏛️ Parliament Erupts Over Language, Race & Double Standards
A late-night debate over the Government’s controversial move-on orders descended into extraordinary scenes after Te Pāti Māori MPs challenged what they saw as inconsistent standards around language in Parliament.
Oriini Kaipara was cautioned for saying “bullcrap”. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer subsequently raised Brooke van Velden’s previous use of the c-word in Parliament and was ordered to leave the chamber following an argument over whom her own use of the word was directed at.
Labour MP Willie Jackson was then removed after protesting the Speaker’s ruling.
Martyn asks whether everyone inside Parliament is really being held to the same standard.
📰 Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW & Politico
Donald Trump has barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists from White House grounds after accusing the organisations of spreading “fake news”.
The outlets have responded with a legal challenge arguing the ban amounts to unconstitutional retaliation for critical journalism.
Apparently the solution to uncomfortable questions is now simple: remove the journalists asking them.
From broken fire trucks to parliamentary expulsions and a White House fighting the press…
It’s not news. It’s the War on News
