Mercury could not be contacted after hours, so in desperation I phoned Radio New Zealand seeking an after-hours contact for the company, and the story spiralled from there.I am sure this sort of thing happens all the time. People cannot get through to customer services, so they phone Lloyd Scott or Kim Hill to ask for a phone number; before they know it, they have made national news.
Brendan Sheehan, spokesman for the Muliaga family, could not have done his folk any more harm than to write this piece for the Herald in response to Fran O'Sullivan. Not only does he make this feeble excuse, but his opening paragraph shows that reading comprehension was not his top subject at school. He goes on to claim that Ms O'Sullivan is part of some vast neo-liberal conspiracy. The family had obtained ten grand and the nation's sympathy; now would have been a good time for Mr Sheehan to shut up.
Elsewhere Matty B reviews a live gig by Megaphone Joe and his Socialist Workers. "People get ready, 'cos there's a bandwagon a-coming," as the old song goes.
2 comments:
Yes, he is a poor spokesman for the family. He is presenting his perspective (not even competently), and not theirs. But, however much you personally despise the politics of the protesters, they do have a point.
The 1984-1990 government’s efficiency drive did change the balance between profits and services to people, to an extent that was unprecedented in New Zealand. Those changes are still supported by both main parties and we vote them back in. I hope this tragic incident encourages middle class liberals to reflect on the fact that New Zealand has become the kind of society where 35,000 households get their power cut off, and use their influence to shift the balance back. The poor don’t need reminding and have much less power (in both senses).
Another sign that things are out of kilter in New Zealand is the fact that thousands turned out to hear a charlatan - Benny Hinn - whose televangelist programme is screened on one of our PUBLIC BROADCASTING television channels FIVE DAYS A WEEK. Even in religious America, he doesn’t get free access to the vulnerable and needy, having to stump up with the broadcasting fees charged by Trinity Broadcasting Network. It would be interesting to know what role commercial considerations play in TV2’s broadcasting of Hinn’s programmes.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10444619
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