Water Pressure Group NetNews
Water Pressure Group Letter of complaint to Editor of NZ Herald over Brian Rudman's Article 31/10/01
Date 01/11/01
Mr Ellis,RE: "Guarding human rights? They have to be joking"
Rudman's City article Wednesday 31 October 2001.The Water Pressure Group (Auckland) wants to know if Brian Rudman has any evidence to support his claim that the signs of
our member Ike Finau at 10 Warnock Street, Grey Lynn, are 'defamatory'.
If they are defamatory, why have Bruce Hucker and Penny Sefuiva not taken legal action for defamation?
Are you, as Editor of the New Zealand Herald prepared to stand by this story?Are you aware that Brian Rudman made no attempt to contact either Ike Finau, or myself as WPG Media Spokesperson for
comment, to give us a chance to put our side of this story.
Had we been given the opportunity, then perhaps the article would have benefited from being more factually accurate, and balanced.
The simple issue is this: If politicians sign pledges and make policy promises which they later clearly break - isn't this lying to the public?
If these signs tell the truth about these politicians telling lies - then how can they be defamatory?
We refer to pledges signed by Bruce Hucker 30/9/1998 and Penny Sefuiva 18/10/1998 which stated:"I PLEDGE THAT: Should I be elected as Mayor / Councillor to the Auckland City Council:
I will actively work towards the swift dissolution of Metrowater Ltd and its holding company, and I will vote for the return of Auckland's
water service to direct democratic control, answerable to consumers via the Auckland City Council."Copies of these pledges are available for your perusal.
City Vision pre-election material in 1998 stated the following policy on Metrowater:
" A CITY VISION COUNCIL WILL:
* Abolish wastewater systems and user charges.
* Pay for wastewater services from the rating base.
* Reintegrate Metrowater into the Auckland City Council as a
Stand Alone Business Unit (SABU).
* Indicate on rates bills the amount going into wastewater services
to ensure accountable management of our resources.Are you aware that on June 26 2000, at a Combined Committees meeting, that when Councillor Leadbeater moved by way of
Amendment to Resolution B:
"That the LATE (Local Authority Trading Enterprise) Metrowater Limited be disbanded and its operations transferred to a SABU
(Stand Alone Business Unit) under the democratic control of the community through their elected representatives."
Penny Sefuiva voted against the amendment. The Chairperson declared the amendment LOST 5 vote to 12.Councillor Hucker abstained from voting. So, on 26 June 2000, Hucker and Sefuiva broke both their pledges
and City Vision policy by failing to support Maire Leadbeater's amendment to disband Metrowater Ltd.
They broke their promises - they failed to keep faith with the public - they lied to the public.We suggest that this is why Hucker and Sefuiva have not instigated defamation proceedings - they haven't got a leg to stand
on. How can signs telling the truth about politicians telling lies be defamatory????
Shoddy, one-sided, factually incorrect, unbalanced 'journalism' should be as abhorrent to you, as Editor, as it is to us.The very least that we expect from you, as Editor, is to require Brian Rudman, in his next 'Rudman's City' article, is to display
balance, and:
1) Retract his comments about the signs being 'defamatory' and 'lying'2) To apologise to Ike Finau and the Water Pressure Group for failing to find out our side of the story, and not being factually
accurate. (Another factual inaccuracy is that "..a ratbag collection of defamatory and abusive signs splattered along the fenceline"
have not been there 'for two years now'. We have photographic evidence to prove this from the Auckland City Council themselves.
Signs went up on the fence only after the Auckland City Council officials demanded that the other signs come down after 19 June
this year.)3) To print the facts about the pledges Hucker and Sefuiva signed, City Vision policy on water services and details of the vote on the
disbanding of Metrowater on 26 June 2001 and the failure of Hucker and Sefuiva to support that motion.Do you as a member of 'The Fourth Estate' believe that it is acceptable for politicians to pervert the use of a Council Bylaw
which said that only signs advertising a lawful use of the property were permitted in residential areas, to prevent a citizen exercising
freedom of expression by telling the truth about politicians telling lies?We look forward to your prompt reply and do hope that we will not have to take this matter any further.
Yours truly
Penny Bright
Media Spokesperson
Auckland Water Pressure Group.
NZ Herald Article by Brian Rudman
Water Pressure Groups complaint letter to the NZ Herald Editor
Reply from NZ Herald Editor Gavin Ellis
Response from WPG to the Reply form Gavin Ellis NZ Herald Editor
Open letter from WPG to Auckland City Council
The Dominion Article David Mc LOUGHLIN
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