LEAVE PLUNKET ALONE

While we sort of get why Sean Plunket didn't win his case about being untreated fairly re his employment dispute with RNZ on a purist point, we are wondering why Commie Radio is so hell bent on denying their star the right to freedom of speech. Now we get it that Plunkets contract does indeed mean the RNZ essentially owns him by denying him the right to an opinion. However this last wee debacle should have the Minister of Broadcasting twitching his eyebrows.
The gig that Plunket is guesting at is a minor affair in the scheme of things... So we want to know does this mean that the big guy shouldn't have a face book page or indeed offer his opinion at any lunch either..

Its time RNZ realised that they may have a legal case but the moral case is making them a laughing stock.

No-one really listens to RNZ for anything other than Plunket. Love him or hate him , he is the only reason people tune in.

AXE ALL FUNDING TO RNZ

As much as we enjoy listening to Sean Plunket on Morning Report, we dont like the idea of forking out tax dollars to prop it up.

We have new and younger Ministers in parliament and surely they must realise that the new generations of kiwis are not listening to Radio NZ, they get their information from the net.

Now Fran O'Sullivan proffered the suggestion a couple of weeks back that NZ On Air should be funding no just broadcasting but print and online media. They are all playing to information hungry audiences and its difficult to see why Radio and TV continue to be singled out for special privileges.

So if you were looking at what RNZ's core service is - its news. So really they should only be funded to provide that, if at all. But we reckon that there isn't an appetite to cut RNZ funding altogether, so the least the government could do is give it a good shave.

And frankly we are a bit past the handouts to one media over another. ( Except in the case of Maori TV of course and they too need to shape up for the day when they operate on a purely commerical model)

If there is to be any funding it should be contestable.

But if you stick with some funding then gone would be Jim Mora and the midnite to dawn sessions. And apart from Kim Hill, the stunningly mind numbingly boring weekend shows.

RNZ should be forced to release its audience figures so we can all see with some clarity who is listening to what and axe the bits that don't get any listeners.

And its not a commercial entity so it should be much much more transparent than it currently is.

BLONDINI GANG

Our favourite designer is called the Blondini Gang. We have an advert for them in the right hand sidebar. Like us, they are fans of the movie. A run recreating the movies car chase form one end of the country to the other has just ended in Invercargill.

We remember it well. we interviewed a very hung over Geoff Murphy and Roger Donaldson. It was a blast. Just starting out in broadcasting journalism at RNZ Invercargill station 4ZA we were but it was a fine moment.

WHO IS SETTING THE CLIMATE CHANGE AGENDA?

Well if you listen to Matthew Hooton here on RNZ Nine to Noon - It appears the Climate change officials think that they know best. Seems they were a bit late getting advice to the relevant Ministers about how the changes to the Aussie ETS scheme would impact on New Zealands scheme. The Australians have put their scheme on hold. It never included primary industries and Forestry like our insanely bold scheme. We, like Matthew understood that this government wanted to align our scheme with the one across the Tasman so why, apart for some ideological reason would the climate change team downplay what was happening in Aussie? They do not run the country. They should not be allowed to run the country. They are there to give free frank and timely advice. We think a change of personnel could be useful.

UPDATE and just in case there is any doubt that the Aussies are having a rethink - heres some more from Reuters on an ETS scheme

MAORI PARTY WILL WORK WITH NATS

We have been saying this all along and again we were bouyed by Tariana Turia's statements on RNZ, Maori news on Morning report. Tariana berated the voters who backed Horimia and Mahuta saying that they had not thought through the options well enough. She wants to be able to make a difference. She can and she will go with National and we reckon the electorates occupied by Mahuta and Horimia will be the last on her list when she goes on her hui hopping tour to get the backing of Maori to support the Nats.

HOOTON HAS THE GOOD OIL - WINSTON IS NOT IN THE CLEAR

We were astounded when we heard the breaking news on RNZ this morning . It put BB off her Vogels. And we were deeply suspicious. We got more suspicious when we read the statement and now Hooton's analysis is clear - Winston has not been exonerated. Ann Martin has been exonerated. Some journos and commentators will be feeling a little bit sick about now. Winston has hoodwinked them again and they used the State Broadcaster to do it - No wonder Plunket is looking for cleaner pastures.

Gloat, you read this at Roar prawn first....

Sad but true,

and isnt it ironic that this is all about RNZ worrying about competition when it doesnt compete commercially with any media ??????

Plunket will find a good home - I've heard his phones been going since the story broke on Roarprawn.





Plunket looks for new job after RNZ row
4:00AM Tuesday Sep 23, 2008By John Drinnan
Sean Plunket. Photo / NZ Listener
Radio New Zealand's Morning Report host Sean Plunket says he is "moving on and looking for a new job" after 11 years with state radio.
Radio New Zealand insiders said that difficult relations with RNZ boss Peter Cavanagh had come to a head when the CEO banned him from hosting tonight's pre-election debate about the internet on TVNZ 7 Freeview.
Political commentators typically swap around media for special shows in the run-up to elections.
But an insider said that the row went beyond that and on to plans for Plunket.
"They want him to be the new Geoff," said the source.
Plunket's co-host Geoff Robinson is expected to move on soon.
Plunket - who is arguably New Zealand's toughest broadcasting interviewer and famous for taking politicians to task - said that after 11 years he was looking for a role that had a new spark. He had not resigned yet.
"I'm putting my portfolio together and I'll be taking my time," he said.
TVNZ 7, a digital information channel available on Freeview, confirmed that Plunket pulled out of hosting tonight's internet debate suddenly at the weekend.

"But that is a matter between him and Radio New Zealand," said TVNZ 7 management. Blogger and journalist Damian Christie was assigned to the programme at short notice. Plunket would not discuss the demand that he pull out of tonight's internet debate.
A Radio New Zealand source said Mr Cavanagh was insistent Plunket could not have a role outside RNZ.
Plunket said there was nothing in his employment contract that limited his hosting special events for other media.
The TVNZ 7 audience is tiny and a high-profile presenter like Plunket would attract viewers. But Mr Cavanagh is said to be wary about boosting TVNZ 7 and has stopped other freelancers from working for the new Freeview channel.
It is understood he fears that as TVNZ 7's audience grows it will undermine RNZ's role promoting National Radio.

Not leaving Las Vegas and other trifles

Hooton has some developments in the Las Vegsas saga .

So why on earth did Helen clark sanction this trip? And who did pay -

And for those who listen to morning report - wasnt Brent Edwards red stripe showing this morning? Plunket can hardly keep the incredulity out of his voice as Edwards continues to sucky licky up to Labour .... I see the term lick spittle bandied about a bit on the blogs but this very very biased commentator ( he's never done any thing worthy of the title journalist) is the king of lickspittles..

The bosses over at RNZ need to take a good look at who is managing their political coverage during the election if NZ voters are going to get good information