Written By:
- Date published:
7:56 pm, March 4th, 2026 - 5 comments
Categories: law and "order", mark mitchell, Media, media abuse, paul goldsmith -
Tags: 1News, Andrew Barclay, tvnz
Last week, in my article: “Hold the Line”, I pointed out a rumour being fanned by NZME’s Barry Soper, spouse of NZME Newstalk ZB host Heather Du Plessis-Allan.
Soper claimed that a 1News crime report revealing that gang numbers now surpassed police numbers, with data supplied by police databases, was so egregious to the government, that an unnamed TVNZ “executive” had reached out to Police Minister Mark Mitchell, to apologise.
My article speculated it was the National Party appointed Board member Paul Henry, who had previously texted Paul Goldsmith to seek Goldsmith’s approval for Henry’s role hosting ‘The Chase’.
Today, Newsroom’s Sam Sadcheva revealed that the unnamed executive is actually National Party appointed Board Chair Andrew Barclay, a former Goldman Sachs investment bank boss, and the Director of Auckland Hospital Foundation
Goldsmith invoked the ‘Bill Clinton’ defence in describing the encounter, claiming he “didn’t recall” but admitted Barclay “pro-actively” sought his counsel and discussion.
After the “discussion” TVNZ’s Political Editor, Maiki Sherman, was then tasked with calling Mark Mitchell’s office to essentially eat crow, or as Barry Soper described it “apologise”
TVNZ then ran a subsequent story this week to ‘correct the record.’
It’s hard to describe how absolutely incredulous and ire raising this is.
A National Party hack seeking out a conversation on newsroom reports, interfering in its essential media independence, and having its staff then reach out to government figures to apologise is pure media interference.
First, Benedict Collins’ report did offer ground breaking, “bulletin-breaking” news: Despite it being an election promise and National Party crowing about gang numbers every year when Labour were in power, NZ saw higher gang numbers than police for the first time in memory.
That is hugely significant – especially as gang members continue to grow, police are outnumbered, gangs are making double profits and organised crime presence is solidifying itself. Out of sight is not out of reality, and it is up to responsible media to help cover that which may no longer be obvious.
Second, Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy wrote on X that despite the government getting its wish from 1News, in fact:
Turns out -49k crime victims’ stat Govt wanted covered, while new, was just another increment down from # announced/reported in Nov (-38k) & Aug 25 (-29k). Good trend but not bulletin-busting news. Gang stats were new
Murphy also pointed out:
In the old days, 2018, broadcasting minister Clare Curran resigned after an undeclared coffee with RNZ exec Carol Hirschfeld – who also stood down – after criticism from opposition MPs. TVNZ board chair rang senior minister to discuss negative coverage
Finally, there remain substantial questions about National’s claims of reduced crime, specifically because police coverage is now reduced and they no longer attend most mental health and family violence call outs. Therefore the survey this government is using is highly likely to exclude significant numbers.
MOJ data is also hugely inconsistent as seen here
Irrespective of this, National have a compromised TVNZ Board – with at least two Directors now confirmed as reaching out to Paul Goldsmith for consultation and approval.
This is wholly unacceptable – and a critical matter when it comes to an already heavily compromised and weakened corporate media environment within New Zealand.
The tentacles of the coctopus reach all the way into cutting rooms and are influencing editorial decisions on content that we consume 24/7. Of course, the network is much larger (and older) than that and it’s taken control of the Beehive.
FWIW, I’ve never quite understood the laidback attitude and high-trust approach here with light regulation & oversight because in such a small place as NZ it’s to be expected that the corporate (media) sector and politics can too easily become intimate bedfellows.
Don't see any issue.
The back-and-forth between the PM's office and TVNZ under Helen Clark was legendary. No one held back after the sneak attack by John Campbell on PM Clark about GM. Same with all the PM media managers and TVNZ
Chairs aren't neutral and don't have to be. Ministers shouldn't be. Only becomes an issue at all if either decide to open that back-and-forth to the public. But then … so what if they do? Scratch a media back occasionally – no one cares.
This is the No Prisoners sport as it should be.
Excellent article and analysis by MT.
One quibble, though: this isn't the first time lately that I've seen "incredulous" being used incorrectly as a sort of fancier substitute for "incredible". The two words are entirely different in meaning.
Editorial fail at TVNZ as some journalism escaped into the public domain showing their tough on crime rhetoric as just that….more BS.
Goldsmiths a busy boot boy and I'd imagine unhappy it came to this, they stacked the board to avoid such pesky facts being reported.
Quote from a more recent Tui about the way the BS media overseas has changed people and society that hits hard and makes me sad:
It’s relevant to New Zealand and other countries in so far as recognising how powerful culture wars, billionaire and corporate media ownership, and cultivating distrust/hatred in fellow country folks can be – especially given enough time and money.
There’s nothing special about us. We’re likely to crumble.