On today’s Political Playback, Bob and Simon discuss – latest political polls; cancelling the Census; the tragic case of the young girl dying of starvation in emergency accommodation on her own, and the disturbing narrative being pushed by transgender activists; another Government ‘plan’ to combat suicide; are China and the US threats to NZ, and should we fund the Cook Islands if China is involved with the island nation?; plus a few lighter topics on disinformation and fake news.
Show summary auto-generated by Descript app:
**The State of National Polls**
Recent polls show interesting trends in New Zealand’s political scene, and changes in the Labour and National parties’ popularity. Simon and Bob analyse these results, theorizing that despite the shifts, the upcoming elections will likely focus on minor parties. This serves as a reminder of how fluid public opinion can be, and how media coverage often shapes our perceptions.
**Media Trust and Bias**
In tandem with political shifts, there’s a noted decline in media trust. Bob points out that fewer people view the six o’clock news as essential viewing, a sentiment shared by Simon. They criticize the media’s political narratives, labeling them as biased and redundant. Simon highlights how people gather news from various platforms, rendering traditional media somewhat obsolete.
**Census Concerns**
The potential cancellation of the census raises eyebrows, with government citing low response rates and high costs as reasons. Bob and Simon advocate for the census’s critical role in providing essential data. They express concerns about alternative data sourcing, foreseeing possible invasions of privacy and a lack of transparency if the census is to be discontinued.
Mary Craig, acting Stats NZ chief executive and government statistician said: “This is an exciting and necessary change. “The traditional way of running a nationwide survey on Census Day can no longer be justified, due to rising costs, declining survey response rates, and disruption from events, like Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.
Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nz-census-scrapped-as-govt-moves-to-monthly-inflation-figures/IXXBJY6LDVEWPIXAGDMP2Z5R2I/
**Tragic Stories and Mental Health**
A heart-wrenching case of a young girl’s death, entangled in issues of gender ideology and mental illness, sparks a poignant discussion. Simon critiques the activists who exploited her story, while both he and Bob emphasize the need for a more compassionate and nuanced approach to mental health support. The government’s announced suicide prevention plan is also dissected with skepticism, questioning the efficacy of increased funding and plans without deeper integration of familial and community support. Simon stresses the dissonance caused by current modern ideologies and advocates for addressing core issues affecting young people’s mental health.
Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/new-suicide-prevention-action-plan-released-amid-stubbornly-high-rates/4D34OPIEOFDODFVCZJ23INHAP4/
McBlog: ‘Conversion therapy’ law destroys family
**International Relations and Trust**
Simon brings his foreign affairs expertise to two noteworthy international topics—New Zealand’s diplomatic balance with China and the evolving relationship with the United States. With a rise in public perception of China as a threat and declining trust in the U.S., discussions focus on separating trade from ethical considerations and how media portrayal can distort public opinion.
**The Pacific Theatre and Chinese Influence**
Concerns about Chinese involvement in the Cook Islands and other Pacific nations surface, prompting Winston Peters’ decision to pause funding to the Cook Islands. Bob and Simon reason over New Zealand’s strategic options in the face of China’s financial influence in the Pacific.
Source: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/564578/new-zealand-halts-cook-islands-funding-in-stoush-over-china
**Media Missteps**
Ian Wishart challenges misinformation regarding Radio New Zealand’s reporting on climate and heatwaves. Bob and Simon underline the problem with urgency-driven media that’s prone to errors, emphasizing the importance of thorough research in journalism.
Source: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/564317/nz-media-council-upholds-complaint-over-rnz-heatwave-story-headline
**Entertaining Extremes**
An exploration of niche ideologies, like Christian Nationalism, and individuals like Byron Clark—known for creating platforms for controversial narratives—round off the conversation. They question the academic legitimacy and motives behind such courses, urging discernment when engaging with extremist viewpoints.
McBlog – Uh Oh. They’re Doing A Course On Us!
Source: https://youtu.be/rIs9NczDabg
Time Code
00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties
04:46 Political Commentary and Media Critique
05:58 Poll Analysis and Election Predictions
13:25 Census Controversy and Data Collection
17:38 Tragic Case and Gender Ideology Debate
25:07 Government’s Suicide Prevention Plan
26:21 Government Allocates $16 Million for Mental Health
26:57 Challenges in Addressing Suicide Rates
28:36 Impact of Gender Ideology on Mental Health
29:05 New Zealand’s Suicide Statistics
29:47 Critique of Government’s Mental Health Initiatives
31:47 Public Perception of China and the US
40:10 China’s Influence in the Pacific
42:14 Media’s Role in Shaping Public Opinion
46:14 Criticism of Byron Clark and His Agenda
50:48 Conclusion and Upcoming Programs
