A Herald headline this week said Auckland Transport was 'pushing on with $500,000 crossings'. The apparently outrageous expense was also aired on radio and in Parliament as evidence of the urgent need to reprioritise. But AT said the true cost was a fraction of what was reported. A Herald headline this week said Auckland Transport was 'pushing on with $500,000 crossings'. The apparently outrageous expense was also aired on radio and in Parliament as evidence of the urgent need to reprioritise. But AT said the true cost was a fraction of what was reported. Transport Minister Simeon Brown had an attack line pre-loaded when he stood to defend his government's decision to drop the Auckland regional fuel tax in Parliament on Tuesday."This is all about the cost of living for Aucklanders," he said. "If someone's driving a Hilux they'll save around $9 every time they fill up their car. Someone who's driving a Corolla - around $5. And that's money that won't be funding $500,000 speed bumps in Auckland."$500k "speed bumps" - or, as some call them, raised pedestrian crossings - may have been on his mind after that morning's New Zealand Herald. Its page three lead by Super City reporter Bernard Orsman ran under the headline 'AT pushes on with project building $500,000 crossings'.The story focused on Auckland Transport's plan to build 29 new pedestrian crossings as part of some street upgrades in the suburbs of Point Chevalier and Westmere.It was the latest in a series of reports from Orsman raising hackles about costly crossings, including one in Three Kings that had to be built, ripped up, and rebuilt at a cost of $600k and another on Williamson Ave in Ponsonby where unexpected stormwater issues pushed the price tag rise to $490k.Another report noted that AT is installing 27 signalised crossings over two years at a cost of $12.7 million, or about 0.6% of its annual capital budget of $1.1 billion.But none of the 28 pedestrian crossings in question cost anything like $500k. The estimated cost of the crossings was between $19,000 and $31,000 each.AT confirmed to Mediawatch - and others - that the real cost of the crossings in question had been provided to the Herald before its publication date.But the story repeatedly referenced the high cost of some past crossings without quoting the comparatively piddly price of the 29 planned for Westmere and Point Chevalier.The story was republished by RNZ and on Facebook, where the high cost of crossings generated a flood of mostly angry comments…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Discussions on Auckland's transport issues and the push for new laws for tech giants to pay for news. Mayor defending transport projects, controversy over cost estimates, and legislation for fair news bargaining. Challenges in news publishing negotiation with tech giants, government funding for journalism, and insights on AI in the news market.

Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan about the Port Hills fire prompting another state of emergency; questions posed by two awkward interviews with political leaders - and the retail rat-astrophe in our supermarkets that suddenly surged to the top of the news agenda. Midweek Mediawatch: Colin Peacock talked to Emile Donovan about the Port Hills fire prompting another state of emergency; questions posed by two awkward interviews with political leaders - and the retail rat-astrophe in supermarkets that suddenly surged to the top of the news agenda.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In past years some media outlets were ambivalent about Waitangi Day - some even hostile at times. But new moves by the new government and a strong pushback from Māori gave it an extra edge this year. Some even called it historic and a possible turning point. How did the media depict all that?In past years some media outlets were ambivalent about Waitangi Day - some even hostile at times. But new moves by the new government and a strong pushback from Māori gave it an extra edge this year. Some even called it historic and a possible turning point. How did the media depict all that?Ten years ago the New Zealand Herald printed a raised white fist on its masthead along with the promise its Waitangi Day edition would be "protest-free".The Herald said that was the paper's own protest at other media focusing on protest. One year earlier, the Herald published a column by Paul Holmes calling it "our repugnant national holiday" in which he also branded protesters delusional "hateful, hate-fuelled weirdos".In 2016, Herald columnist and ZB radio host Mike Hosking declared there was "no point in celebrating . . . an annual ritual of abuse, anger and ignorance".Three years later in the Herald, Hosking deemed it "a highly niche outing" amounting to a "day of grievance".But this year, even after predictions of tension and protest, the Herald was more rosy on 5 February."There are challenges ahead but there is also room for optimism, hope . . . and humour," its front page said.That was the day political leaders made their speeches. And the next day - Waitangi Day - the Herald editorial declared: 'The theatre of Waitangi was wonderful'.It credited the PM for attending Rātana and also meeting iwi leaders before Waitangi "even though some might not like what he has to say".""But the thousands at Waitangi - including those marching in the hīkoi - show the level of opposition Luxon will face. This is where his hard work begins," the Herald added.The paper's front page headline featured the government's three leaders - and the headline: 'Up for the challenge?'The media had a challenge too: explaining and understanding the united front that formed among Māori in advance of commemorations - as well as what the politicians had to say.Winston Peters rose to the challenge on the paepae with what Stuff's Adam Dudding described as "a brief, angry spray", telling his critics to "stop the crap ... stop the hysteria"…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Waitangi tensions test politicians - and the media; Why is Sky screening more top-dollar sport for free?Mediawatch looks at how the media covered this year's Waitangi commemorations and the political tensions over the Treaty in the background. Mediawatch also looks at Sky TV suddenly putting rugby, netball and league on TV for free this season. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sky TV became the big beast of pay TV by keeping a stranglehold on exclusive live rights to the country's most popular sports for paying subscribers. This week it suddenly announced top rugby, netball and league will soon screen in weekends free-to-air. Why?Sky TV became the big beast of pay TV by exclusively screening the country's most popular sports live for paying subscribers. This week it suddenly announced top rugby, netball and league will soon screen in the weekends free-to-air as well on one of its own channels. Why? Former New Zealand wicketkeeper-turned-commentator Ian Smith made the news briefly last month for an offhand comment on Australian TV. Asked to comment on TVNZ footage of a stunning catch in a Super Smash T20 game in Wellington, Smith said the catch was great but the commentary was "shithouse."Few cricket fans here would have seen that coverage of the lunch break in the first test between West Indies and Australia - and they would have had to have been listening closely to have caught Smith's insult. But TVNZ - which acquired broadcasting rights to domestic and international cricket last year following the closure of Spark Sport - did not let it go. "New Zealanders have strong opinions about the commentary and there is no team that will please every viewer - particularly when that viewing audience is over a million," a spokesperson said.A million for a Firebirds 20/20 game at the Basin Reserve live on TVNZ Duke? It turned out the figure is a cumulative one for Black Caps' games since TVNZ acquired the broadcast rights. But NZ Cricket boss Scott Weenik recently said it was very happy with the views the game was getting on free-to-air TV these days. Before Spark Sport, Sky TV was the only game in town for domestic sports bodies because the revenue the pay-TV titan was able to pay them was critical. After Sky bought free-to-air channel Prime (now called Sky Open) in 2006 it put a sprinkling of live games from top tournaments and leagues on that to tease viewers with a taste of the sports smorgasbord Sky had for its subscribers. Last December Sky pumped up the price of Sky Sports by 11 percent just after TVNZ launched an online hub for all its on-demand and live sport available for free. On Thursday, Sky suddenly announced live league, rugby and netball matches will also screen for free Sky Open this coming season. So, 25 NRL matches will screen live on Friday Night Footy, including seven of the Warriors' fixtures. And 19 Super Rugby Pacific matches will air in Super Saturday Rugby kicking off with the Highlanders v Moana Pasifika on 24 February. …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about Chris Luxon being harangued by the media for copy-and-pasting his Waitangi Day speech, an eye-opening column on police recruitment numbers - and a sensational-sounding political scoop that has yet to see the light of day.In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Emile Donovan about Chris Luxon being harangued by the media for copy-and-pasting his Waitangi Day speech, an eye-opening column on police recruitment - a sensational-sounding political scoop that has yet to see the light of day.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Stories about surging inflation, successive food price rises and more Kiwis in arrears topped bulletins and filled front pages last year. But recent news about slowing inflation, cheaper food and rising business confidence hasn't had the same impact. How come?Stories about surging inflation, successive food price rises and more Kiwis in arrears topped bulletins and filled front pages last year. But recent news about slowing inflation, cheaper food and rising business confidence hasn't had the same impact. How come?"All eyes and ears - of analysts and economists anyway - are on the speech to be given by the chief economist of the Reserve Bank Paul Conway," RNZ's business editor Gyles Beckford said last Tuesday, wrapping up his early business update on Morning Report.It was more than just analysts and economists eagerly awaiting Conway's address that morning. Some media outlets livestreamed it online too, issuing news alerts beforehand. The media don't usually pump up an economist on a webinar. Why now? "People are waiting to hear if there's any signal of a change of mood from the unexpectedly hawkish tone of the RBNZ in November. That might point to an earlier-than-expected start for cutting (interest) rates," Beckford explained. But when he returned for the later update after 8.30, Morning Report co-host Corin Dann pointed out there are months between decisions on the official cash rate - and nothing would happen in a hurry. "There are three months between meetings of the Reserve Bank. That is really quite impractical to say the least. In fact, it's downright stupid," Beckford replied. However, even the hint of a non-imminent change clearly excited news editors. Last year, data revealing stubbornly high inflation and rising food prices seemed to be topping the bulletins whenever it came out - often with bleak headlines about the "cost of living crisis". Every month, reports from New Zealand's largest credit database Centrix tallying debts and mortgages in arrears prompted alarming stories about a possible surge in mortgagee sales. The National Party - then in opposition - even warned "a mortgage bomb" could blow up the economy if interest rates remained high.Supermarkets kicked off a blame-game with stats showing their suppliers were fuelling rising prices - rather than their own profits. That bitter row was widely reported.It was worrying stuff. But what happens when the data is better? Similar stories when supermarkets' supplier cost growth hit the lowest point for 18 months in December were harder to find. …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It's more than a decade since Todd Scott staked everything to buy the business news weekly where he worked, the National Business Review. Since then NBR's gone online-only, axed ads entirely and the owner moved to Fiji. During a flying visit back to HQ, Mediawatch asks Scott if he's still in it for the long haul. It's more than a decade since Todd Scott staked everything to buy the business news weekly where he worked, the National Business Review. Since then NBR's gone online-only, axed ads entirely and the owner moved to Fiji. During a flying visit back to HQ, Mediawatch asks Scott if he's still in it for the long haul. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When James Shaw tweeted "James Shaw goneburger" it was the zenith of one political reporter's eight-year effort to goneburger every departing politician in New Zealand. But Jo Moir is now leaving Twitter (X) - and goneburgering - behind.When James Shaw tweeted the phrase "James Shaw goneburger", it was the zenith of one political reporter's eight-year effort to goneburger every departing politician in New Zealand. But Jo Moir is now leaving Twitter (X) - and goneburgering - behind.Stuff's piece explaining the lay of the political land ahead of Parliament's first sitting day on Tuesday was mostly run-of-the-mill.There were tidbits about National and Labour's priorities and some remarks about Chris Bishop's distinctive grin. So far, so banal.But 14 paragraphs in was an apparent bombshell about the Greens. Almost off-hand, it added: "Co-leader James Shaw's departure is also hanging over the party. It will lead to a months-long leadership selection process."Readers who made it to that point in the article might have been forgiven for saying 'huh', 'what now? or 'James Shaw is resigning!?'Though it was stated like common knowledge, those of us who hadn't spent the summer relentlessly boning up on New Zealand politics might have been taken aback to learn the co-leader of Parliament's third-biggest party was on the way out in the final spluttering paragraphs of a story about something else.At least Stuff's scoop aged well. Shaw's resignation was announced at 11am and led TVNZ's Midday News.Perhaps Stuff's journalists have sources inside the Green Party. Perhaps they picked up an early copy of the embargoed press statement. Perhaps they're just adept at summoning messages from the political spirit realm.Whatever method they used, it wasn't revolutionary. Few journalists seemed to be shaken or even slightly stirred by Shaw's resignation.TVNZ political reporter Lilian Hanley told Midday News it wasn't a surprise. Over at NewstalkZB, political editor Jason Walls was similarly nonplussed: "Let's be honest - we knew this was coming." Some pundits had been predicting Shaw's departure."Is it time for Shaw to bail out?" The New Zealand Herald's Fran O'Sullivan asked in a 20 January column. She argued he was lost in "a sea of activists fast running the Greens' brand into the ground", while deftly eliding the fact that the party recorded its best-ever result in October's general election…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details