For several years, it served as a platform for far-left ideologues, led by Kate Hannah, to demonise dissenting voices under the guise of protecting the public from “disinformation.”
The project didn’t expose lies—it tried to silence opposition – and it failed.
Hannah and her colleague Sanjana Hattotuwa, desperate to stay relevant, tried to hold secretive media briefings before the 2023 election, trying to manipulate media narratives, but when they were called out, they cancelled.
As their media presence dwindled, their rhetoric grew increasingly inflammatory, desperately pushing unsubstantiated claims to maintain relevance.
Lazy television and radio producers indulged their egos by repeatedly booking Hannah and her cohort to spew their nonsense, without subjecting them to scrutiny.
They were given free rein to push their one-sided narrative, unchallenged, in a media environment more interested in promoting their views than questioning their credibility.
Despite stirring controversy with bold assertions, they failed to provide evidence, relying instead on sensationalism to stay in the public eye.
I called out Kate Hannah after she made an unsubstantiated comment to Stuff (of course) about a documentary she hadn’t even bothered to watch.
Her arrogance was staggering—so full of self-importance that she felt no need to actually view the material before passing judgement.
For Hannah, her opinion was apparently so infallible that facts and evidence were irrelevant.
This eagerness to criticise without basis perfectly summed up the disinformation project’s flawed approach.
The truth is, the disinformation project was never about safeguarding facts—it was about controlling them, which is why she was seen a darling of the Ardern Government.
Chantelle Baker’s defamation case against The New Zealand Herald and Kate Hannah showed just how far the project had gone off course.
The Herald was forced to make a “substantial” out of court payment to Baker, further exposing the disinformation project’s crumbling credibility.
While the project was quick to target conservative viewpoints, it conveniently ignored misinformation from the Labour government, particularly around COVID-19.
Its bias was laid bare when it turned a blind eye to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s misleading statements on Covid, proving it was more interested in protecting political allies than holding power to account.
With the project now dismantled, media outlets like Sean Plunket’s The Platform are thriving, attracting audiences tired of the mainstream media’s bias.
These platforms are proof that New Zealanders are rejecting the ideological censorship pushed by projects like Hannah’s.
In the end, the disinformation project imploded under the weight of its own hypocrisy.
New Zealanders have moved on, and so should Kate Hannah.
The days of silencing dissent through political smokescreens are over.
Broadcaster Chris Lynch is an award winning journalist who also produces Christchurch news and video content for domestic and international companies. Chris blogs at Chris Lynch Media - where this article was sourced.
As their media presence dwindled, their rhetoric grew increasingly inflammatory, desperately pushing unsubstantiated claims to maintain relevance.
Lazy television and radio producers indulged their egos by repeatedly booking Hannah and her cohort to spew their nonsense, without subjecting them to scrutiny.
They were given free rein to push their one-sided narrative, unchallenged, in a media environment more interested in promoting their views than questioning their credibility.
Despite stirring controversy with bold assertions, they failed to provide evidence, relying instead on sensationalism to stay in the public eye.
I called out Kate Hannah after she made an unsubstantiated comment to Stuff (of course) about a documentary she hadn’t even bothered to watch.
Her arrogance was staggering—so full of self-importance that she felt no need to actually view the material before passing judgement.
For Hannah, her opinion was apparently so infallible that facts and evidence were irrelevant.
This eagerness to criticise without basis perfectly summed up the disinformation project’s flawed approach.
The truth is, the disinformation project was never about safeguarding facts—it was about controlling them, which is why she was seen a darling of the Ardern Government.
Chantelle Baker’s defamation case against The New Zealand Herald and Kate Hannah showed just how far the project had gone off course.
The Herald was forced to make a “substantial” out of court payment to Baker, further exposing the disinformation project’s crumbling credibility.
While the project was quick to target conservative viewpoints, it conveniently ignored misinformation from the Labour government, particularly around COVID-19.
Its bias was laid bare when it turned a blind eye to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s misleading statements on Covid, proving it was more interested in protecting political allies than holding power to account.
With the project now dismantled, media outlets like Sean Plunket’s The Platform are thriving, attracting audiences tired of the mainstream media’s bias.
These platforms are proof that New Zealanders are rejecting the ideological censorship pushed by projects like Hannah’s.
In the end, the disinformation project imploded under the weight of its own hypocrisy.
New Zealanders have moved on, and so should Kate Hannah.
The days of silencing dissent through political smokescreens are over.
Broadcaster Chris Lynch is an award winning journalist who also produces Christchurch news and video content for domestic and international companies. Chris blogs at Chris Lynch Media - where this article was sourced.
7 comments:
There is some justice in this weird world.
Well said Chris.
I only listen to The Platform now in the mornings. It is like a breath of fresh air and truth. It is what NZ media used to be like. The disinformation project was set up by Ardern as a marxust propaganda organisatiion. Saying mothers who braid their children's hair are dangerous. There should be a criminal investigatiion into them and Ardern.
At this point, it would be interesting for people to walk the streets of our Cities and ask any pedestrian walking along the footpath - "Have you heard of, or been made aware of The Disinformation Project"?
If the answers are -
[1] - no, then it can be assumed that people did not register or were made aware of who they were.
[2] - if Yes, then the follow up questions - "How and where did you learn about them"? and "What did they mean to you"?
My thought are, that-
[1] - will provide the most intelligence, possible ignorance and/or was not interested; if
[2] - then who are those who showed an interest, why and what did it mean to them.
The establishment of this group showed how people here in NZ can set up an organization, in this case had support of a major political figure, be paid to function and then become something akin to the Russian Cheka, NKVD and KGB.
If it has happened once, it can and will happen again, with the right political backing.
Sadly I believe that we have not heard the last of Kate Hannah and if she had the support of STUFF, then they will support her again or even employ her on their staff.
Ardern has " cast a spell" on Prince William the Woke. Clearly a very dim fellow. Ardern is on her way to Baroness Ardern of Aotearoa.
The Platform is not perfect either. Sean Plunket often reverts to the same tactics as the liberal mainstream media by trying to demonize those with "opinions" or views with which he does not agree. So, the platform is still a bit hypocritical. Often failing to recognize his own logical fallacy's or seemingly only when it suits.
The last 4 years showed without question that the MSM is the enemy of the population of this country. The 4th Estate has become the 5th Column. Alternative sites now explore national issues with far more integrity. They need our support.
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