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was all over Jamie Lockett's court case, coming back to us after the weather to let us know that the High Court had rescinded his bail (although she didn't get to interview him for Close Up). 3 opened with the bail hearing of Tame Iti, then went on to visit a training camp, where they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 5

- Oddly enough, all every broadcaster could lead with tonight was Taito. (I wonder if he'll retain the honourable title if he gets convicted?) The High Court determined that Mr. Field can be charged with 15 counts of corruption as an MP. Test case season really. One ran through the details, and then had the politically astute Hannah Hodson explain the ramifications of the case. 3 tried to handle it properly with comment on the ruling, comment from Mini Garner, and another piece outside Mr. Field's house before playing an interview with the Member.
- Number two for all was John Dewar. Sentenced to four-and-a-half years. Louise Nicholas was awfully chuffed. Dewar, not so much.
- One followed up on the fireball at Mount Maunganui, using journalist extraordinaire, Lisa Owen on location. 3 wasn't overly fussed.
- The Pike family's press conference updating their son's condition got some traction (it is Friday after all).
- Passchendaele got some good props, with all and sundry stating that the PM wants to give the issue a bit more going over. Only Prime pointed out that some All Blacks attended the commemorations. Hmm.
- Close Up had That Guy (alongside a couple of rugby supremos) talking about the Rugby World Cup (do go and have a look at That Guy's World Cup), while Campbell had a cautionary tale about the dangers of Auckland at night, and how the police were unable to crack down on the mean streets of Uptown.
- My moment came not from this evening, but from Maggie Barry this morning in her chat to Carl Nixon. Surely Radio New Zealand National Programme does not have to be so sycophantic in its treatment of New Zealand writers? Surely it doesn't have to discuss the minutiate of their lives and how every moment they spent in the eighth summer of their lives on their great uncle's sheep farm shearing ewes has symbolic reverance in every short story they ever wrote from age nine? Surely they can leave that for Campbell? Surely? (I may or may not be using hyperbole.)
Good Night.

The Day in Review Sept 27

- Leading all the way was the police shooting in Christchurch last night. Prime opened up with witnesses claiming the deceased was unarmed, and had the Police Association saying now was a good time for tasers, 3 went with the police defending the shooting, while One went with the account that the man was about to whack the officer with a hammer. 3 went on to the push for tasers, and yesterday's e-mail saga in Christchurch (although the man wasn't wielding a knife), whereas One went on to discuss the police's official gun policy. Steven Wallace's mother went on the wireless, and the parallels were easily made. Which letter will be added to this constable's name?
- One followed up this piece with the reopening of Mount Ruapehu, and had the lovely Sonya Wilson frolicking in the ski-fields. She reported on lahars too. Oh, and had a GNS scientist for credibility. 3 waited until after the break before returning to William Pike, preferring to note a head-on collision near Queenstown that was the site of a fatal unimog accident a few years back.
- The mystery body in the Bay of Plenty got some props, with Tokoroa police believing it to be Jimmy Slater; a man missing for 20 years.
- Darin Gardiner was found guilty of murder (surprise surprise).
- 3 let Garner Major loose on Tony Ryall, who was deeply apologetic for omitting the move to lose the GP fee cap from National's discussion paper. Earlier on NewstalkZB, Barry Soper pointed out that he had mentioned it once before... kind of.
- 3 also let us know that Pumpkin wanted to go to China with her nan.
- One did hide a nice little piece in its 6.30 ixposay, with Guyon Espiner grilling Mary Anne Thompson of the Department of Labour over the department report finding serious shortcomings at the border. Needless to say, Winston appeared on camera, armed with his crocodile smile and smooth coiffure.
- The Wireless was wrapped up in the shooting, as was Mark Sainsbury and John Campbell. Superintendent Sandra Manderson appeared live on Close Up, leaving John Boy to play one of those silly replay interviews where he asks the questions and she answers as though it were actually taking place for all the viewers to watch (much like an All Black replay). Reminiscent of the hey-day of Close Up when Susan Wood was hosting it, really.
- Insipid moment - One News. Melissa Stokes following in the footsteps of her predecessor, Lisa Owen (I had to get that in there). Read the summary:
French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj has turned the haka into a ballet performed by women in heels. Four All Blacks have watched the show in the South of France.
Good night.

The Day in Review Sept 24

- Or a tale of two murders. The deaths of a 74-year-old engineer in Kenya and a Year 13 boy in London were the hot topics on our big broadcasters and the Wireless today. (There is no depression in New Zealand or We don't know how lucky we are - your pick.)
- The ongoing saga of Nai Yin Xue and Anan Liu saw more coverage with Superintendent Neville Matthews arriving in LA to help with the investigation. Kate Lynch was on location for 3 (who killed Laura Palmer?), while Tim Wilson was our man in the States for One. Lisa Owen was also on location, at Auckland International Airport (note for those who don't know Auckland too well, that's quite a distance from the Death Star on Hobson St).
- The other big story our broadcasters felt it important enough to make the top of the bulletin was the Prime Minister's displeasure with the Parliamentary Rugby Team (despite it rollicking success), as the players receive commercial sponsorship (as opposed to tax-payer funded). I just don't know anymore.
- A story that got traction on 3 (and the Wireless with Jim Mora) was proposed legislation to ban driving under the influence of drugs (pharmaceuticals included). Boy there's a big row about to break out, as Mini-Duncan (Scott Campbell) pointed out to us. Metiria Turei was the voice of reason on this one. (Irony included at your own discretion.)
- The other big story hidden in the second Act, was given much better depth by our man Garner Major. After a review, it has been decided that Landcorp will not be selling Whenuakite land, nor will it sell other farms without first consulting the iwi involved. Perhaps the Guvmint should have contacted John McInteer of the Hauraki Maori Trust Board before Duncan did, at 4pm. One soon followed suit with a snippet (I'll be waiting for Hirini Henare to cover it on Te Karere personally).
- Oh, and Doug Howlett managed to eclipse Christian Cullen's try-scoring record for the All Blacks (of course it made the first Act), along with the confusion over the colour of the jerseys (Only on One).
- The Wireless didn't really have too much to say, although it did give us some nice coverage on National's attempt to sneak in partial privatisation on a Sunday/Monday morning. Smooth Bill, smooth.
- The insipid moment of the night could have gone to One News for changing its format (ever so slightly), and its awful AWFUL re-introduction of Jim Hickey (Wendy should be seen and not heard), but 3's effort to stick to the hard news wins with a piece that would not end on Shane Warne's ongoing fidelity issues. (I refuse to go into further detail.)
Good night.

The Day in Review Sept 20

- A more indepth review would be a bonus today, but alas, there were only two stories according to our broadcasters, and one required much more coverage on the other. That of course would be the body in the boot, or the ongoing saga of Pumpkin. Every conceivable (to a journo) angle was covered, from how slowly the police took to open said boot (everyone), to how many journos did stories in front of the boot (Amanda Gillies on 3), to the police conference in Wellington defending their actions (everyone), to Lisa Owen pontificating (One), to Simon Dallow's exclusive interview with friends of Anan Liu (One), to Clayton Cosgrove making sure that Pumpkin's gran can come to NZ (everyone). Oh, and Sainsbury had an exclusive with Qian Xun's sister.
- The other biggie was the Government's climate change/carbon trading story. Again, our broadcasters broke it down to how it was going to impact on you (One had a grumpy old pensioner, 3 had optimistic youths (demographically speaking of course)), followed by their respective political editors explaining the actual policy away, because only Guyon and Duncan can do that for you (and are interested enough to do that for you), backed up by a story on how the Government was finally giving the forestry sector a break by allowing them to keep their carbon credits pre-1990. I thought agriculture got the biggest break myself, but hey, I don't have a farmer's moan to back me up. Oh, and Campbell had an exclusive with an Antarctic chap who swears that in eight years, the world will know climate change.
- These two aside, not much else happened. The murdered Auckland kid's accused was named; Gordon Copeland walked from his Christian Party; OJ was granted bail.
- The Wireless wasn't much better.
- Insipid and unnecessary (excluding Lisa Owen): Britney has to undergo alcohol tests in the hours preceeding her custody of the kids as her custody battle with K-Fed heats up.
Good night.