The Day in Review Oct 16

- Another day was encompassed by our terror camps in the Ureweras. Even the Times got in on the act, as Campbell was keen to point out. Again, everyone opened with it, and ran with it, and tried to cover every conceivable aspect of it. Lisa Owen was all over Jamie Lockett's court case, coming back to us after the weather to let us know that the High Court had rescinded his bail (although she didn't get to interview him for Close Up). 3 opened with the bail hearing of Tame Iti, then went on to visit a training camp, where they didn't find any weapons. Fran Mold, sorry, Francesca, told us that the Maori Party wasn't happy with the whole ordeal, raising their issues in Parliament; as did Garner Major. 3 also pointed out that TradeMe was the site where the groups purchased most of their goods. Protests are-a-coming. I'd read Bomber if I were you.
- Tucked behind this biggie was rape allegations against four Kiwis following their drubbing by the Kangaroos. The NZRL hasn't commented yet.
- There was also an earthquake in the South Island.
- Dr. Cullen's talking down tax-cuts (for a change) in the face of the Howard and Costello act.
- And Contact's entered the wind game, announcing it will build it in Waikato. Well, 3 let us know before the half-hour was up.
- Oh, and Barbara Dreaver let us know that the PM was the only dignitary not formally announced at the Pacific Forum.
- Close Up and Campbell did all they could on the big story - Close Up stooping to an interview with Frances Mountier of the Save the Happy Valley Coalition (so she got asked a few questions by a few cops, it's not like they left her to get run down by a train, which I'm sure Dr. Elder would quite like to see), so I'm not going to elaborate. Really.
- Moment of gut-wrenching agony - not Lisa Owen's breaking news, but 3 with its report on the reaction of Ruatoki locals to the harsh brutality of the Auckland police in making their arrests. Not the story in and of itself, but its announcement of the rule of tyranny in Utopia - (I'm paraphrasing) - "One unnamed freedom fighter said the whole situation had been blown out of proportion." Too much of The Clean for that one.
Good night.

The Day in Review Oct 15

- Today, all of our broadcasters could go no further than the raids around the country that were covered under the Suppression of Terrorism Act. Everyone tried to outdo the rest. Prime kicked it all off (where excluding Neil Waka for obvious reasons) with pics from 3 and Barry Soper's sober musings on the issue. One had Fran Mold opening their piece, with a threat to the Prime Minister bandied about. Lisa Owen took the hard details, telling us about Hemi Lockett's charge amongst other things. They tried going to Ruatoki direct, but had to wait until after their first ad break before getting a link that worked. 3 took a more sensational approach - not quite quoting 'Apocalypse Now' but really really wanting to (that's a thinly veiled reference to napalm; sorry kids). Garner Major let us know that H1 had been informed of the threat a week earlier, and that her office was aware of the situation several weeks ago. 3 also focused on the raid in the Wellington hippy house on Abel Smith and Willis. They also had an indepth piece on Tame Iti - well, wouldn't you? (All I can think of is Paul Thomas' 'Guerilla Season' and the Aotearoa People's Army - great book.)
- The second segment (yes, TV One and TV3 followed RNZ's lead in having a lead story last longer than 10 minutes) only had the upcoming Oz election in common. 3 had Banksie calling the Guvmint's bluff, while One went with the real estate agent's disciplinary hearing. There were other things, but they were mainly international (including the Brethren conspiracy in Australia).
- Top story went to 3 with Dr. Keith Turner of Meridian warning that the national grid could fail because Transpower turned off an interisland line. Good scoop.
- Close Up and Campbell went with the raids of terror, fighting over who could get Howard Broad first (Sainsbury did, so John had to talk to Tame Iti's lawyer - yikes).
- Nothing too insipid tonight (I'm excluding Banksie), so we'll go with a well done to the Kiwi boys who drive around in a circle for the Sheik's pleasure. And Jonny Reid really is a driver's name.
Good night.

The Day in Review Oct 9

- Without the All Blacks dictating what to say, our fearless broadcasters didn't have any unity tonight. The only common stories in One and 3's starting line-ups were the ongoing saga of the Glassies (Nia's mum was charged with manslaughter), the siege in Ohope (which didn't lead on either channel), and feelgood story Steve Williams (Tiger's caddy) donating a million to Starship's Cancer Ward. Sheesh.
- 3 opened with Qantas's announcement that it was upgrading services to cater for the business traveller. One didn't touch.
- One led with a troika of health stories: the trial of a new radiotherapy cancer treatment; a breakthrough in chemotherapy in Oz; and a lung cancer patient in the BoP who's had her operation cancelled three times. On the last one, Francesca Mold managed to through a little name-calling in the House between Pete Hodgson and Tony Ryall, but nothing substantial.
- One also ran the piece on Winston Peters' office receiving a paper from CTAG regarding the Air NZ charter flights to Iraq. Winston was most unimpressed, and not really owning up to much. Guyon gloated, then segued on to the Nat Attack regarding the Ingram Report (anyone remember that?), not that it went very far. 3 didn't touch Winnie, although Mini-Garner did do a piece on the Nat Attack in the second stanza.
- All quiet on the tele's front. The Wireless was mainly interested in the Glassies and the stand-off, and Winston to a degree.
- Close Up went with the drunk vandals who left a couple of kids in hospital, and all ended up in jail. Campbo had Hamster from Top Gear plugging his book.
- Insipid moment was the oddness of it all. It's as though there's enough news for two.
Good night.

The Day in Review Oct 2

- Kicking off our major two broadcasters tonight was the story of the night - Chris Kahui, alleged filicide, was granted bail. 3 put it down to the Government's new rules that are soft on bail, calling on stalwarts Scott Optican, Simon Power, and Garth McVicar to pass judgement. One went with the more lenient treatment, pointing out that Kahui had to wait until Tuesday when his guardian would be available to look after him. Prime kept this story until the end of its opending segment, putting forward things like the waterfront strike and the National Party's foreign policy.
- One followed this up with an update on the mystery of the missing Hastings' man. Apparently his bank was accessed. 3 had an in-depth investigation into the custody dispute that has resulted in teen pop icon Britney Spears losing her children to K-Fed.
- While 3 went on with Britters, One had a Fran, sorry, Francesca Mold Guyon Espiner tag-team attack on the Government's accusations that Macquarie was poised to profiteer on the National Party's move to have privately built and maintained schools. Labour-light John denied any accusation that he, or anyone in his party, had discussed anything with anyone in the wider business community.
- 3 righted their wrong by having a good discussion on the secret dealings between Meridian and Rio Tinto. Jeanette Fitzsimons, in her capacity as Government Energy Efficiency Spokesperson, had something to say, but Southlanders in general were pleased with the deal.
- Guyon followed up his tag-team effort by talking about the Nats' foreign policy release. I'd elaborate, but there wasn't much to go on.
- The Prime Minister's meeting with Gordon Brown got a nice piece of coverage on both sides of the box; but Andrew Potter was no match for the well-tied-one, Garner Major.
- Big ups for 3 in the form of their piece on the opening of the Buddhist temple in Flatbush. Tainted by the troubles in Myanmar, it's still good to see a widening of the news lens.
- Close Up went with TroubleYouths and YouTube; Campbell had a delightful chat with a worried father whose son has been missing for too long now... someone, maybe even the missing man, knows something, and they should come forward to ease a troubled mind.
- The Wireless was all over the place, but Paul Henry had a bright spot with his interview with Joan Withers, CEO of Fairfax, who is the last female CEO of a New Zealand company that is listed on the NZX... well, obviously they're going to be a New Zealand company because they're listed on the NZX. Nice piece of scripting there. (Ouch.)
- Insipidness has been covered. Although, I'll give extra points for doubling up with a Hollywood reporter giving Campbell the goss on Britters' misfortune. And using a correspondent in Beverly Hills to speculate on how she's feeling, and what will happen, and... you get the idea.
Good night.