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Steven Mark Gaskell writes > Welcome To The Newsroom: Leave Objectivity At The Door, Bring Your Cultural Fluency

There was a time when journalism prided itself on objectivity, scrutiny, and a healthy dose of scepticism toward those in power. But welcome to 2025, where the newsroom’s guiding principle is no longer “hold power to account,” but rather, “don’t ruffle cultural feathers unless they’re Pākehā.”

Take the recent musings from a producer at Whakaata Māori, who earnestly explained that journalism guided by Māori protocols avoids the “aggression” found in wait for it “Pākehā journalism.” You heard that right: apparently, traditional Western journalistic values like direct questioning and holding public figures accountable are now just unnecessarily hostile remnants of colonising culture.

You see, in the new enlightened era of “culturally sensitive storytelling,” it’s not that hard questions aren’t asked they’re just asked gently, preferably with a karakia and a round of shared identity affirmation first. Because nothing uncovers corruption quite like a group hug.

And let’s be real: you’re unlikely to land a role in this media landscape unless you’re pro Māoriification, fluent in te reo, suspicious of “Western constructs,” and know how to throw Pākehā culture under the bus while smiling about “partnership.” Objectivity? Nah. Balance? Too colonial. Investigative firepower? Only if it’s aimed in the politically correct direction.

Even better, we’re told that this is all superior a kinder, more harmonious way to do journalism. Because Māori do it better, naturally. Better governance, better courts, better newsrooms, better medicine, better weather forecasting probably. The unspoken message is clear: Māori are the chosen ones, and the rest of us are here to observe, nod politely, and fund it.

Never mind that taxpayer funded journalism is being filtered through the lens of ideological obedience and cultural gatekeeping. Never mind that the public is increasingly tuning out because they’re sick of watching the national broadcaster double as a Treaty studies department. That’s just settler fragility, right?

So if you're wondering why the tough questions aren’t being asked, why everything sounds like a press release from the Ministry of Cultural Enlightenment, and why journalists now sound more like facilitators of “intergenerational healing” you have your answer.

This isn’t journalism anymore. It’s therapeutic storytelling with a taxpayer invoice.

Source: Facebook

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Steven Mark Gaskell - “Jimmy’s Guilt Trip: Brought To You By The Irish Potato Famine”

Former PM Jim Bolger has spoken and as usual, it’s less about leadership and more about feelings. Apparently, because of his Irish ancestry, he has an "instinctive" understanding of how Māori feel as "second-class citizens." Yes, the great famine of the 1840s has made a spiritual comeback this time in the halls of New Zealand political discourse.

You see, because his ancestors suffered in Ireland, Bolger feels qualified even compelled to tell David Seymour to “shut up” about anti Māori rhetoric. Translation: if you dare question racial privilege, co governance, or race based funding, you’re now a second class human. Irony, anyone?

But don’t worry Bolger’s not completely out of touch. He’s very impressed with Winston Peters, who he says is doing foreign affairs well. So it turns out, there’s one Māori politician you’re allowed to like just not the one trying to debate what equal citizenship should look like in 2025.

Let’s unpack the logic here:

• If you're Māori and pushing for race based entitlements? Enlightened.

• If you're Māori (like Seymour) and questioning them? Dangerous rhetoric.

• If you're Irish and vaguely remember your grandmother saying "blight"? You now have moral authority over national race relations policy.

It all makes perfect sense in the new rules of New Zealand democracy: your views are only valid if they’re approved by the cultural high council of historical grievances. And if you’re a taxpayer wondering how long this will go on for forever. Or at least until every post-colonial sin is repaid in cash, land, silence, and co-governance.

What Seymour is actually doing silly man is advocating that all New Zealanders be treated equally regardless of race. Shocking, right? A politician who thinks we're all citizens first, and not cultural subdivisions of the Crown. Outrageous! Time to cancel him with potato-based moral authority.

So thank you, Jim, for the reminder that politics is no longer about policy, or principle, or results it’s about personal guilt, passed down through the DNA like freckles and bad knees. And if you don’t carry that guilt? You’d better sit down and let someone else speak.

Because nothing screams “progressive nation” like being scolded by a retired Prime Minister channelling 19th century trauma in defence of 21st century race-based policy.

Source: Facebook