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New Zealand media organisations agree to protocols for covering Christchurch terror attack trial
1
May, 2019
New
Zealand media organisations will take a united approach to covering
the trial of the man accused of committing the Christchurch terror
attacks.
On
March 15, 50 people were killed during terror attacks in
Christchurch.
Senior
editors from Mediaworks, TVNZ, Stuff, NZME and RNZ have agreed to a
set of guidelines to be followed while reporting on the trial of the
accused shooter.
The
alleged gunman faces 50 murder charges and 39 charges of attempted
murder.
RNZ,
1
May, 2019
Police
have launched an investigation into how the names of people on a
watchlist drawn up after the Christchurch terror attack were leaked
to the media.
Police
Commissioner Mike Bush Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
While
the information leaked was not top secret as claimed, a police
spokesperson said the matter was being treated very seriously.
Media
reported on Sunday that more than 100 people - including white
supremacists and Muslim converts - were being actively monitored by
police.
How
that information got to the media is now part of an investigation.
Police
Minister Stuart Nash has previously said that a small number of
people have been "emboldened" since the mosque attacks and
the police were monitoring those individuals closely.
Mr
Nash told Parliament yesterday he expected Police Commissioner Mike
Bush to investigate if any protocols had been breached.
A
police spokesperson said in a statement that Mr Bush has ordered an
investigation into the "alleged unauthorised disclosure of
information to a media outlet".
"To
be clear, the information alleged to have been released was not
classified as top secret," the spokesperson said.
"The
information related to ongoing investigative and prevention steps
which are underway in Canterbury District.
"The
disclosure of this information is of significant concern to police
and we are taking this matter very seriously."
NZ Defence Force training exercise
Tuesday,
30 April 2019, 4:31 pm
Press
Release: New Zealand Defence Force
The
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and a United States Army Aviation
Regiment will conduct joint exercise in Auckland and Waiouru from
8-23 May, 2019.
The
exercise will involve a large number of military personnel, including
special forces from both countries, as well as aircraft. Its purpose
is to practise counter-terrorism integration techniques between the
two countries.
Elements
of it will be carried out in central Auckland, Whenuapai, Kaipara,
Papakura and Waiouru. It will involve day and night flying, as well
as live firing within the Kaipara Air Weapons Range.
The
NZDF and US armies have trained together regularly for many years.
The exercise has been planned since 2018 and is not in response to
the recent events in Christchurch.
Members
of the public may see personnel conducting military activities from
helicopters in exercise areas.
There
is no need for the public to be concerned if they see military action
in Auckland over this period. The NZDF would like to thank the public
in advance for their cooperation during the exercise.
There will be significant public interest in the case from New Zealanders as well as internationally, and the media outlets want to be mindful of their duty as the "eyes and ears" of the public.
In a statement from the editors, who make up the NZ Media Freedom Committee, they acknowledge this will be important for the victims' friends and families outside New Zealand who may otherwise be unable to engage in the trial process.
However, the protocols say coverage will not "actively champion white supremacist or terrorist ideology".
"We are aware that the accused may attempt to use the trial as a platform to amplify white supremacist and/or terrorist views or ideology".
Hal Crawford, Mediaworks chief news officer, said it was good to see editors of the big New Zealand newsrooms "of one mind on coverage of this crucial trial".
"At issue are principles of open justice - it is important that the guidelines are consistent with the reporting principles that underpin our free society - that is, we don’t suppress information needlessly."
The
guidelines specifically state:
a)
We shall, to the extent that is compatible with the principles of
open justice, limit any coverage of statements that actively champion
white supremacist or terrorist ideology
b)
For the avoidance of doubt, the commitment set out at a) shall
include the accused's manifesto document
c)
We will not broadcast or report on any message, imagery, symbols, or
signals (including hand signals) made by the accused or his
associates promoting or supporting white supremacist ideology
d)
Where the inclusion of such signals in any images is unavoidable, the
relevant parts of the image shall be pixelated
e)
To the greatest extent possible, the journalists that are selected by
each of the outlets to cover the trial will be experienced personnel
f)
These guidelines may be varied at any time, subject to a variation
signed by all parties
g)
This Protocol shall continue in force indefinitely.
The
signees are Miriyana Alexander (chair of the Media Freedom Committee
and from NZME), Crawford (Mediaworks), John Gillespie (TVNZ), Shayne
Currie (NZME), Mark Stevens (Stuff), and Paul Thompson (RNZ).
Newshub.
The politics do not matter
The politics do not matter
REVEALED: Taxpayer Dosh Paid To Ministerial Spouse’s Firm – With No Open Tender
18
December, 2019
The
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that in the last year the
Government has paid $356,466.61 to the consultancy firm of Peter
Nunns – the partner of Associate Transport Julie Anne-Genter –
without a single open tender process.
The
firm in question is MRCagney – for which Mr Nunns is principal
economist.
A
significant proportion of the 19 engagements – namely around light
rail – falls directly within the Associate Transport Minister’s
own portfolio allocations.
Under
the previous Government, MR Cagney was paid an average of $50,346.66
per year, compared to $356,466.61 under the current Government.
This
marked increase in spending on a particular consultancy since Ms
Genter became the Minister raises obvious questions. If she had a
sense of accountability to taxpayers, the Minister would have
recognised the name of her spouse’s firm, identified the clear
conflict of interest, and demanded that at least one of the 19 tender
processes were opened to other firms. From what we have been provided
to date, there is no evidence of this happening.
Even
if the Minister has stepped aside from the decision-making, how can
we have confidence that taxpayers are getting value for money, and
that the firm is the most qualified if no-one is bothering with a
competitive process?
One
thing is clear: Julie-Anne Genter’s Government has been very good
to MRCagney. The previous Government engaged MRCagney just six times
in four years, compared to the current Government’s 19 engagements
inside of 12 months.
The Union obtained this information under the Official Information Act, having been tipped off to the spending by a concerned public servant. The information can be viewed below
The Devil looks after his/her own
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/pm-denies-conflict-of-interest-over-increase-in-contracts-for-peter-nunns-firm/
Who DO we let into the country?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/05/it-s-tearing-them-apart-nelson-firefighter-denied-residency-despite-53-000-strong-petition.html?fbclid=IwAR3XS1MYJXObBGXnfgatZVrCfAcLLYidG4a-_uBgRo6ZOaa2PRoA0eOuPiY
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/112373075/man-appears-in-court-after-suspected-explosive-device-found-in-christchurch
Jay Michael Harding-Reriti faces a raft of weapons charges after an incident that cordoned off an area of Phillipstown on Tuesday.
He appeared on Wednesday morning before a community magistrate at the Christchurch District Court, but the case was delayed to the afternoon to be considered by a judge.
Harding-Reriti entered no plea to charges of unlawful possession of a handheld improvised explosive device, unlawful possession of 45 .22 calibre rounds, unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device and detonator cord, unlawful possession of powergel explosive and detonator cord, and unlawful possession of offensive weapons in public – two knives and a credit card knife.
He did not seek bail and Judge Tom Gilbert remanded him in custody to May 6 when he is expected to appear by video-link from the prison.
Defence counsel Andrew Bailey asked for a remand, and said an application for Harding-Reriti's release on bail would be heard at his next appearance.
At the request of the police, a suppression order was imposed blocking publication of details apart from the remand, the man's identity, and the details of the charges.
A 33-year-old man has been kept in prison after an explosive device and detonator cord were found at an empty section in Christchurch.
Jay Michael Harding-Reriti faces a raft of weapons charges after an incident that cordoned off an area of Phillipstown on Tuesday.
He appeared on Wednesday morning before a community magistrate at the Christchurch District Court, but the case was delayed to the afternoon to be considered by a judge.
Harding-Reriti entered no plea to charges of unlawful possession of a handheld improvised explosive device, unlawful possession of 45 .22 calibre rounds, unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device and detonator cord, unlawful possession of powergel explosive and detonator cord, and unlawful possession of offensive weapons in public – two knives and a credit card knife.
He did not seek bail and Judge Tom Gilbert remanded him in custody to May 6 when he is expected to appear by video-link from the prison.
Defence counsel Andrew Bailey asked for a remand, and said an application for Harding-Reriti's release on bail would be heard at his next appearance.
At the request of the police, a suppression order was imposed blocking publication of details apart from the remand, the man's identity, and the details of the charges.
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