New Zealand Herald
Advocacy angst as campaign begins - officially
The Herald copped criticism for publishing a front-page attack ad targeting the National Party leader this week - but it was far from the first time ads like it have appeared in print. Meanwhile… Audio
Surgery scoop sparks rows over equality and equity
A scoop revealing that ethnicity is factored into Auckland-region surgery waiting lists sparked strong reactions against ‘race-based healthcare’ and claims that Māori and Pacific patients were… Video, Audio
Mixed messages on state of the highways
Anger over the state of our highways deepened this summer - along with the potholes at the heart of constant claims the roads are “the worst they’ve ever been.” But political pressure and a startling… Audio
Herald’s bid to short-circuit short-termism and tribalism
The Herald - and its publisher NZME - has embarked on a months-long series to push back at short-term thinking and political tribalism holding back the post-Covid recovery. Mediawatch asks the driving… Audio
PM’s exit speculation goes another round
Pundits and presenters aired excitable opinions about the possibility - or probability according to some - that Jacinda Ardern would quit while she was ahead before the next election. It's a re-run of… Audio
Lifting the lid on Lotto
Lotto has a lot of players, but not a lot of media scrutiny in the media compared to forms of gambling - even at a time when our spending on it is soaring. A new investigation shows people who can… Audio
Media backlash sparks tax tweak backflip
The GST tweak to Kiwisaver fees that hit the headlines this week was a not bad idea, according to some experts. But the change that was buried in a dense Bill of tax tweaks got dumped in less that a… Audio
Criticism of mini-doco funding hits a dead end
Why did criticism of a modest sum spent on a single mini-documentary made two years ago suddenly spring up in the news in two national networks this week - and then disappear? Video, Audio
Anger management and roadmaps to nowhere
This week's call that Auckland must linger longer in Level 3 - but with picnics and double bubbles - upset those who wanted more freedom, those who saw it as waving the white flag and those demanding… Audio
Media ramp up angst over arming police
A year ago, a trial of armed police teams was scrapped with opponents adopting the slogan ‘Arms Down.’ One year on, some in the media are now amplifying calls for arming all officers after the death… Audio
Wrong numbers amplify anxiety over vaccine supplies
Against a backdrop of news reports about shortages and anger over delayed Covid-19 vaccinations, a Herald opinion piece this week claimed our supply would run dry within days. But swift fact-checking… Audio
‘Dead leader walking’ a familiar line from media
Last weekend political pundits and presenters reckoned the leader of the opposition was ripe for rolling and her days in the job were numbered. But - as in the past - it was all based on rumours… Audio
Bringing the chilling ‘teen terrorist’ tale to light
Last weekend the same startling scoop appeared in the papers of both major publishers: a teenager arrested for plotting a school massacre which was completely suppressed for nearly two years. Both… Audio
Cracks in the team of 5 million?
This week the New Zealand Herald admitted a story about public resentment of Auckland's Covid-19 lockdowns didn’t quite fit the facts. But it wasn’t the only heavy headline lately about divisions… Audio
Prominent pundit pulls back over Muller link
Prominent political pundit Matthew Hooton has withdrawn from commentary for the time being because of a conflict caused by his link to the successful leadership bid of National MPs Todd Muller and… Audio
Media beat the drum to roll back lockdown - and sound the alarm
Even before the first hints we had “turned a corner” with Covid-19, pundits were pumping up the volume on calls to loosen the lockdown and get more shops and businesses open again. But others in the… Audio
'Your money or your life'
The lockdown designed to save lives has also damaged livelihoods by slowing the economy to a crawl. Some pundits and politicians are now warning in the media that health can’t always be the top… Audio
NZME staff told job losses are coming
The owner of The New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB has warned staff that job losses and major changes to the company's scope and scale are coming, as the Covid-19 crisis cuts into advertising…
Panic-buying hits headlines after first coronavirus case
Authorities and the media alike knew it was just a matter of time before we had our first case of the new coronavirus here. But panic-buying sparked by the breaking news prompted more headlines this…
Coming up
Herald social media lays down the law for Facebook followers
Prompted by crass comments in response to an online story about plus-size popstar Lizzo, the Herald warned its Facebook followers to stop and followed up with similar warnings on other stories. Is it… Audio