EPMU raises concern over political interference in “wages” story

On 20 December last year, Bay of Islands community paper Bay Report reported John Key saying “we would love to see wages drop” in answer to a question from a local business leader on what to do about New Zealanders seeking higher wages in Australia.

In February this year the quote was circulated more widely and questions were raised in Parliament. John Key denied making the comment, then said it was a light-hearted joke, then said he was referring to Australian wages falling, then finally said he had been misrepresented.

The journalist who wrote the article and the editor of Bay Report both stood by the original article and sister newspaper in the Far North, the Northern Advocate, published a full transcript of the question and answer. The publisher, Northern Publishing, also issued a statement standing by their reporter and the story as it stood.

On Wednesday last week, deputy National Party leader Bill English announced in Parliament that Bay Report was to publish a “retraction” of the original article. On Thursday, the New Zealand Herald (another APN newspaper) reported that a retraction was to be made. The Dominion Post (published by APN competitor Fairfax) reported that the impending retraction followed contact between John Key and APN chief executive, Martin Simons.

Last Thursday afternoon, Bay Report carried a “clarification” which stated, amongst other things, that the impression that John Key would want New Zealand wages to drop “would be incorrect.”

This clarification directly contradicts the previous statements by the journalist, his editor and the two Northland papers.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says the fact the clarification comes after the two papers stood by the original story and after personal involvement by APN chief executive Martin Simons raised real issues about the independence of editorial staff from interference by the corporate owners of the papers those staff work for.

“At best this looks like political mismanagement and at worst like serious pressure has been exerted on the editors and the journalist involved by senior APN management at the behest of the National Party.

“On what basis did APN issue this ‘clarification’ given the journalist, his editor, and the publisher have all stood by the story and issued a transcript of the conversation to prove its accuracy?

“How much contact did Mr Key and his office have with APN senior management prior to the clarification and what was the nature of that communication?

“And why was news of APN’s correction announced by National’s deputy leader Bill English in Parliament rather than through the proper channels?

“Freedom of the press is one of the cornerstones of our democracy and making sure journalists are able to remain independent of the corporate owners of the newspapers and other media they work for is paramount.”