The first is the media imploding about the use of Māori language. Winston Peters didn’t help with his claim at Government House yesterday that the media were bribed by the previous Government.
That is categorically not true. But a lot of what Winston says has the seeds of some sense about them.
What he is commenting on is the media's shocking performance around neutrality these past six years and especially the first three years and their lovefest over Jacinda Ardern.
The $55 million broadcasting fund he refers to did not buy favour. But it went into an industry that already favoured the people who gave them the money so you can see how those who want to see what they want to see, get to think Winston has a point.
The second is the tertiary fees deals. It hasn't got a lot of coverage, given a lot has happened.
But handing out a year for free at the end of the study was what we all collectively said when Labour, for reasons best known to themselves, decided to make it the first year.
“Next year's on me,” said Ardern. Do you remember that vacuous nonsense?
Most of us questioned why you would give it out year one when people get to try university for nothing, then walk away when it's not for them, leaving us stuck with the bill.
Why not make it an incentive? Six years on there's a touch of good, old common sense.
The third thing is wool.
Government departments must prioritise wool, which the Education Department didn’t last year because they bought American and artificial to essentially save themselves money.
In a true centre-right Government the market would win, efficiency would win and cheap would win. But there are times in life you want the influence to pick winners.
New Zealand is about farming. It's about sheep and it's about wool. We have the best wool in the world.
Can it beat plastic when it comes to the price for flooring? No. But neither can Savile Row beat Marks & Spencer.
But, sometimes backing quality for quality's sake is worth the price and wool, like farmers, has had a hell of a time.
But merino has shown there is money to be made and Italy is interested, so the rest of the wool sector can be lifted by a Government backing something profoundly local and of the best quality.
See, it's only Tuesday and already things look brighter. And we haven't even had our first Cabinet meeting yet.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
The $55 million broadcasting fund he refers to did not buy favour. But it went into an industry that already favoured the people who gave them the money so you can see how those who want to see what they want to see, get to think Winston has a point.
The second is the tertiary fees deals. It hasn't got a lot of coverage, given a lot has happened.
But handing out a year for free at the end of the study was what we all collectively said when Labour, for reasons best known to themselves, decided to make it the first year.
“Next year's on me,” said Ardern. Do you remember that vacuous nonsense?
Most of us questioned why you would give it out year one when people get to try university for nothing, then walk away when it's not for them, leaving us stuck with the bill.
Why not make it an incentive? Six years on there's a touch of good, old common sense.
The third thing is wool.
Government departments must prioritise wool, which the Education Department didn’t last year because they bought American and artificial to essentially save themselves money.
In a true centre-right Government the market would win, efficiency would win and cheap would win. But there are times in life you want the influence to pick winners.
New Zealand is about farming. It's about sheep and it's about wool. We have the best wool in the world.
Can it beat plastic when it comes to the price for flooring? No. But neither can Savile Row beat Marks & Spencer.
But, sometimes backing quality for quality's sake is worth the price and wool, like farmers, has had a hell of a time.
But merino has shown there is money to be made and Italy is interested, so the rest of the wool sector can be lifted by a Government backing something profoundly local and of the best quality.
See, it's only Tuesday and already things look brighter. And we haven't even had our first Cabinet meeting yet.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
12 comments:
Well Mike Hoskins might think that the PIJF wasn’t corrupt - clearly a bribe, along with lots of unnecessary advertising - but almost anyone with eyes, ears and a brain could see it for what it was. NZ media bought and paid for, for all that Labour was pushing on an open door,
If Mike was to read the terms and conditions of the PIJF, I cannot see how anyone could see it, as anything but a bribe.
It was bribery Hoskings, plain and simple, but it is very difficult to get someone to understand something if their salary depends on them not understanding it.
Also, Peters was wrong, there was $50 million, then $55 million during covid that’s a $105 million BRIBE that we know of.
This is why the MSM are now referred to as the legacy media, the whore-media or just Presstitutes.
Clearly Hoskins has never read the conditons applicable to the PIJF. The blatant pro maori requirement to satisfy the Maori Caucus carried over to all journalism as otherwise any application would likeley have been seen as contrivedand not trustworthy.
Wool carpets in the 60s and 70s were greata and many remain presentable today. But they were soaked in dieldrin. Modern wool carpets are simply a food source for carpet beetles. Unless a very vigorous progarmme is followed, far beyond the ability of schools etc, carpet is often eaten out in 10 years or less.
Mike doth protest too much methinks!
The PIJF can be construed as nothing other than a bribe to promote the racist ideology of Labour. It's clear in black and white...and especially brown!
The fact Mike thinks it isn't tells us all we need to know about Mike's real journalistic ability.
Only a goose would deny that the dreadful Marxist party bought the MSM. It was far greater than $55 million when you add the extraordinary amount they spent on advertising. It was also rumoured that the normal Govt advertising discount was wiped to buy greater favours. When did the media last allow a robust debate on Climate Emergency and Safe and Effective?
Lack of media neutrality supported by millions in advertising and $55 million media fund......provided you agree with them.
Mike, the PIJF conditions...... where the receiver of funds has to promote a government Treaty narrative or be required to pay all funds back.
Are you serious thats not corrupt or at the very least coercive and if so the media lose their independence? Sorry Mike you are 100% wrong supporting Genda Lynchs lie. Peter
Robert Arthur - modern wool carpets are treated with synthetic pyrethroids which are very effective in stopping insect damage, and environmentally better than dieldrin. They have good affinity for wool and are durable to shampoo and light. They can even be re-applied during shampoo treatment if extra protection is desired
Unfortunately Mike, even democracies like ours have no choice but to adapt in order to survive.
Unlike Australia, which can afford to allow its livestock industry to be “price takers” given the nation’s real wealth is derived from its mineral resources, New Zealand’s economy still remains dependant on the prices we get on the international market for our farm based products (including wool)
And at the moment we simply can’t afford to allow the crossbred wool industry to crash and burn the way it currently is - especially
when there is an alternative use for a product that is in danger of becoming a relic of the past.
If the government is true to its commitment of reducing carbon emissions across all forms of activity, here is a golden opportunity to replace all the imported synthetic carpets and home insulation products with our home grown natural fibre.
Not only is wool a much more environmentally friendly product compared to the other imported alternatives, it actually performs better than its competitors in the end use it is best suited to. It would seem to be a no brainer.
Yet surprisingly, we see a reluctance to direct the nations importers to cease buying these pollutant products when a better alternative is available.
Livestock farmers are desperate for government assistance in making the change that will add value to our home grown product and save millions in overseas funds.
We have been down this route before with the past government acquisition of our total crossbred wool clip and it failed to work but we are no longer able to be satisfied with the prices we are receiving, given they don’t even cover the cost of shearing.
Maybe it is the fear that this type of solution, if implemented would lead to more government takeovers of key industries experiencing hard times. For a lot of people, including most sheep farmers, that smacks of communism and we aren’t yet so bereft of ideas as to need consideration be given to that drastic measure.
Anyway there are already other agriculture industries that are making a cooperative approach to marketing their products work well- Zespri and Fonterra being classic examples of how this approach can work in the best interests of suppliers.
Admittedly, crossbred wools demise has created a problem that didn’t exist for the two l mention - they didn’t need government intervention in order to establish a new environment that would ensure their survival. Wool needs a different approach but the government needs to lead on this one. What are they waiting for.
Love reading your columns, Mike.
I have to go along with Winston about the PJIF-you’ve got it all wrong, mate.
But you’re spot on about tertiary fees & wool.
Two out of three ain’t bad.
It's like being back at school with all the 'he said and she said'
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