reported previously the difficulties between All Blacks and the media.<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThis is universally accepted by all in sports journalism … everyone regards the All Blacks machine as the most difficult to deal with in all of sport,\u201d Newstalk ZB\u2019s Mike Hosking said in mid-2024. \u201cThey are a pain in the ass and there\u2019s no reason to be. If you contrast them with motor racers who get up at all hours of the morning to come on this programme, the All Blacks will not.\u201d<\/p>\n
To give NZR some credit, it has been striving hard to overcome this perception more recently. <\/p>\n
Nevertheless, most sports would love a reporter to turn up to their event at the weekend – having someone along to a weekday training would be a pipedream. <\/p>\n
But as much as sports editors might like to send their reporters to the training of a team that currently sits eighth on the Super Rugby table, there might be other priorities in an era of newsroom cutbacks and stretched business models.<\/p>\n
None of this excuses basic errors, of course. The media has a responsibility to get things right.<\/p>\n
A chat with the Crusaders<\/p>\n
I had an enjoyable chat yesterday with Lloyd and Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge.<\/p>\n
We discussed the need for professional sporting franchises to protect their IP and why rules are in place to balance the desire for teams to run through their secret moves, while also catering for the media\u2019s desire for vision and interviews.<\/p>\n
![\"Crusaders]()
Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do value the quality of the relationship that we have with media,\u201d said Mansbridge. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe do try to be as open and honest as we can possibly be. I encourage everybody here to not be scripted, not be overly prepared and to see media as very, very effective partners for us. We\u2019re not looking to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Lloyd had worked hard to build trust between the players and media, and they both hoped that the relationship would eventually return to the point where it was before this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say it\u2019s almost a collective view of, let\u2019s just be a little bit careful for the next wee while and watch each other\u2019s backs,\u201d said Mansbridge.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hope is that, as trust gets built on the other side and some of the people who have apologised for what\u2019s happened… as they start to build some credibility back, we\u2019ll go back. My personal preference is that all journalists would sit there through the whole training.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t happen in any professional code anywhere in the world. That would be nirvana, where we can trust each other enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Stuff gave its perspective on non-punch-gate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a difference of opinion between Crusaders management and our reporter at the scene on whether the altercation between players was connected punches or something less serious,\u201d said Stuff Digital editor-in-chief Keith Lynch.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter complaints from the Crusaders\u2019 media manager, we amended our copy from \u2018punches were traded\u2019 to \u2018heated scuffle\u2019. This change should have been acknowledged in the story and, due to human error, it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe image was first published only after seeking approval from the team management. This was later revoked and, due to the photos being taken outside the designated media vision window and as a courtesy to the players, we removed it. <\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing the event, coach Rob Penney seemed happy with the events as evidenced by his quotes: \u2018It was a really lovely sight to see, actually. It is a reflection of how much it means\u2026 Very proud young men are going to come up against each other, and create a bit of sandpaper from time to time\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
From consumer champion to business frontman<\/p>\n
![\"Herald]()
Herald NOW Business host Garth Bray. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
He was the face, for many years, of TVNZ\u2019s Fair Go \u2013 until the state broadcaster, faced with major cost-cutting challenges, culled the popular consumer show.<\/p>\n
For the last almost two years, Garth Bray has reinvented himself as a senior business journalist for BusinessDesk, a role that has also included a daily business segment alongside Ryan Bridge on the NZ Herald\u2019s morning news show.<\/p>\n
And now Bray has his own show again.<\/p>\n
Herald NOW Business with Garth Bray launches on Monday, a new half-hour show starting at 6.30am, before Bridge\u2019s 7am-9am show.<\/p>\n
\u201cBusiness news is absolutely vital,\u201d Bray told Media Insider.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re a leader, you need the best information to handle the risks and chase the gains. And what happens in business lands on everyone\u2019s doorstep. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s your mortgage, your job, the price of your groceries, the choices your family can make, people deserve to know. As for championing one or the other, I\u2019ve never seen those as separate things. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf businesses are doing well and doing right by people, everyone\u2019s better off. It\u2019s the same kaupapa, just a wider lens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all more than just consumers. KiwiSaver means more of us have a stake in companies and assets. There are well north of 600,000 businesses in New Zealand and more every year. Even the pensions and ACC rely on wise investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe business could do with a champion but honestly, it\u2019s the news I\u2019m championing. Good, solid business journalism that helps people make sense of what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018A good story is still a good story\u2019: Farewell, Bernard<\/p>\n
The Herald\u2019s super city reporter, Bernard Orsman, is laying down his pen today after a 36-year stint at the paper \u2013 28 of them covering Auckland. He took the time for a Media Insider exit interview.<\/p>\n
![\"Outgoing]()
Outgoing NZ Herald reporter Bernard Orsman. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
1. Firstly, 28 years \u2013 that\u2019s a phenomenal tour of duty covering Auckland issues. What\u2019s kept you going all that time?<\/p>\n
I grew up in Wellington, but Auckland has been home for most of my adult life. I\u2019ve loved covering the political landscape and watching the city evolve from a squabbling babble of eight councils into the Super City. What really keeps the energy levels up is picking up community issues and helping to drive an outcome.<\/p>\n
2. Are there still specific issues from 1998, perhaps within housing, transport or something else, that you\u2019re still covering or are yet to be resolved?<\/p>\n
Transport has been the city\u2019s biggest challenge for decades, with housing not far behind, thanks to Aucklanders\u2019 long\u2011standing infatuation with property. Public transport has improved markedly with the revival of rail, the Northern Busway, and better bus services. The City Rail Link will be a game\u2011changer when it opens later this year, and I\u2019d love to see the Northwestern Busway become the next major project. Westies will love it. As for a new harbour crossing, I can\u2019t see that happening in my lifetime.<\/p>\n
3. How has journalism, and the way you have covered the council round, changed in that time?<\/p>\n
When I started at the Herald, we were using manual typewriters. Today, those mid\u201120th\u2011century Imperial 60s sit in museums, and AI is the latest tool on the desk. The technology may have changed, but a good story is still a good story, whether it\u2019s council or crime, even if it\u2019s dressed a little differently these days.<\/p>\n
4. What do you love about Auckland?<\/p>\n
Auckland is unique with its maunga, sprawling suburbs, rural regions to the north and south, all framed by the wild west coast ocean beaches and beautiful Hauraki Gulf. What\u2019s not to love? I love how the city has embraced diversity, and a shoutout for my favourite cafe\/deli \u2013 Ripe, in Grey Lynn.<\/p>\n
5. What\u2019s holding the city back from achieving its full potential?<\/p>\n
Money. Neither Auckland Council and\/or the Government have the financial resources to fix the city\u2019s broken infrastructure and build the public transport, roads, schools, hospitals, and other needs for Auckland to reach its full potential.<\/p>\n
6. I see the mayor, deputy mayor and councillors all paid tribute to you this week \u2013 how have relations been with them in the Wayne Brown era?<\/p>\n
About as good as I could have hoped. A bit of healthy tension and the occasional unprompted text from the mayor, which I usually leave sitting there unanswered.<\/p>\n
7. As you reflect on your career, what stands out \u2013 a favourite story, or memory?<\/p>\n
One of the most satisfying stories was the 2005 battle by fashion leaders to save the red pebble pavers in Vulcan Lane. Council officials ran what was essentially a sham consultation that, surprise, surprise, recommended ripping them up and replacing them with the same bland grey pavers spread across the CBD. The council dug in, pitching its case from a stand at the bottom of the lane, but eventually public pressure led to a backdown. The drainage was fixed, and the red pavers stayed.<\/p>\n
8. Any memorable run-ins or stoushes?<\/p>\n
John Banks calling me \u201ca streak of weasel\u2019s piss\u201d on his talkback programme, Banksie on Sunday, when I worked in the Press Gallery.<\/p>\n
9. Who\u2019s been the best mayor? And the worst?<\/p>\n
There hasn\u2019t been a best or worst mayor. Banks went from being a bull in a china shop in his first term, and \u201ctransmogrifried\u201d (his word) into a softer self in his second term. Christine Fletcher built Britomart (the biggest achievement of any mayor), Dick Hubbard never came to grips with politics, but developed the blueprint for Wynyard Quarter and the Tank Farm. Len Brown has stayed out of the limelight since his 2013 headlines, but he can take real pride in getting the City Rail Link over the line, thanks partly to the strong bond he built with then\u2011Prime Minister John Key. Phil Goff\u2019s managerial style was boring to cover, but he cunningly overturned the board and management at Ports of Auckland after its poor safety record.<\/p>\n
That brings me to Wayne Brown \u2013 a likeable but grumpy old man who never minces his words. Just ask Auckland Transport, which has felt the full force of his vocabulary.<\/p>\n
10. What are you going to do with yourself after today?<\/p>\n
Enjoy a cup of tea.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re coming home\u2019: Kiwi agency expands to Wellington<\/p>\n
![\"Federation]()
Federation leaders include Aaron White (left), managing partner, Wellington; Sharon Henderson, chief executive; Brad Collett, chief creative officer; Olly Walker Boden, managing director.<\/p>\n
Big, happy news for the Wellington advertising market.<\/p>\n
Independent creative agency Federation is expanding to the capital, with the appointment of respected agency leader Aaron White as Wellington managing partner.<\/p>\n
White, previously managing partner of Stanley Street Wellington, joins Federation as it expands across Wellington, Auckland and Melbourne \u2013 with further Wellington appointments to be announced, says the agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a definitive moment for our 100% New Zealand-owned agency, and a big milestone for me personally,\u201d said Federation founder and chief executive Sharon Henderson. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile our agency started with its base in Auckland, few know that Wellington is where Federation\u2019s story really began. <\/p>\n
\u201cBack in 2008, when international networks dominated the market, it was Wellington-based Meridian Energy who gave us our first big break, entrusting Federation with their critical power-saving campaigns during one of the worst droughts on record.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the move would help \u201cboost Wellington\u2019s return to growth\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2026, we\u2019re proud to count The Co-operative Bank, Massey University and Maritime New Zealand amongst our Wellington clients. <\/p>\n
\u201cOpening our agency with a respected leader on the ground in Wellington and someone of Aaron White\u2019s calibre as agency lead, well, it feels a bit like we\u2019re coming home to where it all started.\u201d<\/p>\n
White said: \u201cChange has to start somewhere. And in Aotearoa New Zealand, it often starts in Wellington. While we are the political heart of the country, we are so much more. Wellington is the cultural crossroads, the social barometer and a testing ground for the most influential ideas that change behaviour for the long term.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe decisions shaped here, in both public sector and commercial organisations, don\u2019t stop at the city limits. They reach into the regions, industries and communities nationwide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Henderson said the Wellington market had \u201cfragmented\u201d, with multinational and Australian-owned agencies. <\/p>\n
\u201cFederation, on the other hand, remains fiercely independent and is proudly 100% New Zealand-owned. We don\u2019t offshore profits or dilute our strategy for overseas shareholders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Federation chief creative officer Brad Collett said: \u201cI\u2019ve worked with Aaron previously and on multiple government and public sector clients. Together we\u2019ve delivered some truly impactful campaigns for Department of Corrections Ara Poutamu and Ministry of Education. <\/p>\n
\u201cAaron is not just a brilliant strategist and business leader; he\u2019s a genuinely great guy \u2013 someone you definitely want in your corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
White said 2026 was \u201cFederation\u2019s time\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a homecoming for me too. I worked alongside Sharon at Clemenger-owned Proximity and with Brad at Stanley Street. I share their passion for ideas that create genuine commercial results, improving outcomes for New Zealanders, and creating critical behaviour change that transforms Aotearoa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand\u2019s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The original Stuff headline. It was further inflamed when other media \u2013 including TVNZ and RNZ, whose syndicated…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":326485,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[95,105140,169656,56380,6963,48338,2688,2740,18693,29419,25630,78,2936,17250,1073,117,111,139,69,175877,10702,7063,175876,213,223,19607],"class_list":["post-326484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-and","tag-assesses","tag-bernard","tag-crusaders","tag-fair","tag-fallout","tag-farewell","tag-former","tag-gig","tag-go","tag-hosts","tag-in","tag-insider","tag-mayors","tag-media","tag-new","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-orsman","tag-players","tag-qa","tag-setto","tag-sports","tag-the","tag-whatsapp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=326484"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326484\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/326485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=326484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=326484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=326484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}