The Day in Review Oct 3

- Normally I keep my cringe-worthy moment for the end, but 3 called my bluff tonight, with its 'cats got its cream' moment in announcing how it was going to flout advertising legislation on Sunday mornings during the finals of the RWC. Normally I'd accept this as a news-worthy story, particularly, as was pointed out, because it's a test case. But calling 'perhaps the best sidestep of the Rugby World Cup'? To quote Brooke Howard Smith, 'Shame on you!'
- Not that One's opening piece was any better. Police defending theri actions to pepper a nasty canine with a hail of bullets in suburban Porirua. One was all about the police and guns, with its two subsequent stories on the AOS.
- The All Blacks got some good coverage on both biggies, mainly because they lost the coin toss to wear their black jersey.
- Once 3 got their act together and moved away from themselves, rugby, and the police, they got in first to talk about Chris Carter's displeasure with Housing NZ's investigation unit. Mini Garner gave the story, ending on the note that the Honourable Mr. Carter was confident improvements would be made. One didn't tell us about it until after the half hour mark, when everyone's gone to the kitchen before the sports news.
- One did give us an ongoing cry of foul by Simon Power on the Government's new bail rules; all due to a Chris named Kahui.
- The mystery of the missing man from Hastings was covered by both, before receiving an update near the half that he had been found. Case closed. Kind of.
- 3 jumped on the story of the urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing called by a Maori woman whose Tongan husband was going to be deported. She claims he taonga. Former immigration minister and all-round good guy Tuariki Delamere is acting on her behalf (appropriately enough).
- 3 also ran with the story of The Joneses first, running it in their second segment. We like this one. A real estate agency that is hauled before the REINZ disciplinary tribunal for bringing the industry into disrepute. REINZ wasn't really commenting, as The Joneses allegedly said the industry was ripping people off. The Joneses have a flat fee, not the usual commission of other agents.
- Close Up went out to find stoned drivers, as the Guvmint's cracking down on these sorts. Campbell got in early to talk to the head of the investigation into the mystery of the missing man from Hastings that has been brought to a close, tying up loose ends, and gettting a nice feeling of a happy ending.
- The Wireless focussed on Housing NZ and the tabled transport policy document, although I did note that Rick Friesen didn't turn up on Larry Williams after Lazza noted in his opening piece that TV3 wasn't fooling anyone. A slip of the tongue perhaps.
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.