Hermes is a better name

Mercury Energy, the gift that keeps on giving. By now, you will all know that Folole Muliaga's funeral was held today, and our PM made an appearance, paying tribute to the family for daring to forgive. Not something done too regularly in New Zealand. Well the media continued, well and truly, to dig deep in this story. There are still things to come out, and it is with baited breath that we wait.

Paul Holmes continued his stream of consciousness on the issue, tapping the spirit that is NewstalkZB's political editor, Barry Soper, to update the issue. Barry's a good Labour man, so obviously Helen was looking after the issue well (he is loathe to condemn her), and he gave us a quick rundown of how the Government plans to stop their heartless SOEs from squeezing the bejeezus out of us. I actually thought Fran O'Sullivan's column on the issue (thank you Mr. Farrar) summed up the dichotomy of trying to run an efficient business while being socially responsible fairly well (it surprised me too). Next up the gnome on the hill had Shane Jones and Katherine Rich punch out their predictable party lines. Nothing new for the punters to read there.

Leighton (and the thought does make me a little ill) held his line that there were a number of factors in the death of Folole Muliaga, although he did have the tact not to criticise her obesity in light of the fact that her funeral was held today. Credit's always given when it's due. The Government, of course, was making the wrong decision in regulating. Why can't they just privatise everything and be done with it. The market is a much better decider than any kind of socially responsible collective. Oh, and local government's no better with the ratcheting of water rates, and rates in general. Just in case you couldn't figure that one out.

Willie and JT over on RadioLive roused their usual rabble. JT managed to get the first half hour by himself, as Willie was at the funeral, and managed to dish out a salient ramble on how Ms. Clark had no other choice under the current realpolitik but appear and speak at the funeral, but man it's sad that she has to do so. Willie, when he finally stormed in, roundly condemned JT and his sycophantic callers, all heartless bastards the lot of them, before standing up and saying Helen really does care for us all. And she's doing good things for his underprivileged Samoan brothers. Bit of a headtrip listening to the Brown Brothers. One works for the evil forces of the Right, the other for the extreme forces of the Left. What's a simple media monitor to do?

The little guy's still standing

The long weekend meant I didn't have to man the station for three whole days, and while I do like to have a good read of the papers on the weekend, I try not to delve into the media too much. Everyone needs a break every now and then.

The Muliaga case continued to drag on. And on. And on.

The papers (The Dominion Post and the Sunday Star-Times (yes, I'm a Fairfax ho)) lapped up the coverage of Mighty River's mighty powers acting fairly humbly in going to the Muliaga family to take back all those hurtful things they had said. You, too, got to have a feeling of superiority over those nasty electricos that everyone loves to hate.

In his interview with the Prime Minister, John Dunne, down in Christchurch, continued to defend his view that no-one could really have a strong opinion either way, and it was too soon to lay the blame. Ms. Clark wasn't so sure, and Mr. Dunne was roundly treated to a stern telling off. I suppose, given his audience (apologies, but Christchurch has a seedy underbelly) the listener was supposed to lap up his defiance in the face of our nation's supreme being, but being Wellingtoncentric, I couldn't help but laugh at his little tirade against the Man.

Phil Wallington on National Radio's Nine 'til Noon, a slot which everyone should listen, wasn't too unhappy with the media's coverage of the story, but he was disappointed (along with you dear listener) that the media didn't ask the right questions. He did approve of the all-round disappointment shown at the power guy's actions, and (with glee I write) he was disgusted, like Radio NZ's listeners, at the condemnation of the Muliaga family. Shame on you. Feel some white liberal guilt, then go back to your lattes people.

Gerry Brownlee and Judith Collins got some good soundbites on NewstalkZB's news bulletins roundly criticising the Government's moves to link social welfare with power disconnection policies. Always looking out to save your tax dollars people.

And, touch wood, that will be that. Until tomorrow.

Once more into the breach, dear friends.

Well the Mercury Energy thing continued to be a blight on New Zealand today, and the media got in with their chops ready for the licking.

Sean Plunket on Morning Report gave his usual attack dog approach, questing for the answers to yet another blunder from the system. All hail the little man. Admittedly, he did seem somewhat pleased that the PM was laying the blame on the middleman. No-one likes contractors at the best of times really. What you should do: trust the little guy.

Meanwhile, Michael Laws over on RadioLive's morning talkback spiel decided it was merely one of those things that happens. Awfully sad, but let's get over it and move on. While I have to admit I do agree with him to an extent, I was worried by the overwhelming support his listeners gave the energy company. Whatever happened to trusting the little guy first, especially when power companies are involved. And the Government to boot. Whoops, I forgot that it was a Samoan family. Tolerant New Zealand doesn't particularly like Islanders, unless they're playing rugby or league for whatever team we support (I may be overstating the level of racism in this country a lot, but there is a definite stream of xenophobia around). Who to blame: the little guy.

Hewitt Humphrey and Sarah Bristow on Radio New Zealand's Midday Report took the State broadcaster's usual approach that things are not so hunky-dory for the big guy, and the lil' guy's takin' them to court to get some payback. While Radio NZ strives for that airy goal of objective reporting, they always fail to reach it. (I suppose that's why I like them so much. Always good to follow the Beeb's left-leaning ways.) What's the little guy to do: sue.

Aside from that, talkback tended to veer away from the Muliaga family today. (Not that I'm complaining.) And the blogs don't have too much to say either. Everyone's just waiting waiting waiting for more info. How sedate. What's the infoweb going to do: wait.

(I am ignoring the huge photos the daily metropolitans are running of the Muliaga family in their time of need, while, of course, giving nothing but the facts. Go figure.)

Fear and Loathing in Aotearoa

Kia ora,

What a day for the New Zealand media. It all revolved around the death of a woman by the name of Folole Muliaga. International headlines the local newsos tell us. To be quite honest, while I initially felt outrage at the cruelty of a State-owned corporation causing the death of one of the constituents, I can't help but feel it's merely indicative of society, and will probably be put down as "one of those things". Sigh. Reminds me an awful lot of Cave Creek.



Anyway, I didn't actually manage to get too much done today. Bit of a backlog at work, but we'll where we get. The venerable Paul Holmes on NewstalkZB took the tack that it was a horrible tragedy, and really wasn't acceptable, especially in light of the fact that this is a publicly owned company. Awful awful awful.

His Christchurch counterpart John Dunne didn't really want a bar of any PC sympathetic approach. No-one was likely to be criminally liable, and New Zealanders just aren't like that are they. We're a caring nation, particularly for our under-privileged. (Note to anyone who doesn't know much about New Zealand: We're not.)

Still on NewstalkZB, and into the morning talkback show with one of the less liberal people in the land (read neo-Conservative) Leighton Smith, and we found that Leighton does have a heart after all. He couldn't believe that a poor Samoan family whose english was probably barely passable at best could really concoct a lie that would put the fault solely in the hands of Mercury Energy. And, against his usual form, he actually hinted that all the blame lay with the power co. This was definitely a turn-up for the books. A lovable Leighton? It feels like lying in bed with your favourite handgun.

Ali Jones and Justin de Fresne (the rural talkback areas of Christchurch and Wellington respectively) didn't really want to give an opinion either way. There were just too many unknown quantites. Too many things that we, I you, and they just couldn't wrap their heads around. And, of course, they want to wait until they know which side to lambast when the cards are laid bare. Probably tomorrow. (A bit much NewstalkZB for me today.)

Andrew Patterson on RadioLive's Newshour took things a little differently. Unlike the rest of the broadcast media, they went to the Opposition for comment, and while Mr. Patterson was hoping to get Leader of the National Party John Key to come out with some kind of statement either for or against either party, he failed to get the old bully-boy conservative stance he was hoping for. I have to admit I was a little unhappy as well. I would have like to hear Mr. Key complain about State-Owned Enterprises giving in to the small guy, but I'm just letting my limp liberal self rant egotistically, so I shall proceed.

I didn't get on to too much else on the Muliaga case. RadioLive's news team continued to report that Mrs. Muliaga's oxygen was effectively a life-support system, and that cutting its power was certain death. That's the line the international media took as well. You almost get the feeling that they trump these things up a little to try and sell papers. Especially when they have more facts at their fingertips than I/we.



All I can say is what a shame. Sad times all round, and, while we may want someone to take the fall, it probably ain't gonna happen. I see another week-long feeding frenzy coming on...