Tova Obrien

Kia ora,

I have written a formal complaint to TV3 concerning a recent  news article claiming “Hone Harawira Hires Sex Offenders” by Tova Obrien.

I particularly take umbrage at the slur of this article portraying Hone as a person who actively seeks to employ and support the practice of sex offenders.  To date one person has been  formally charged  with sex offences.  This same offender was employed by The Northland Age, Te Hiku Media  as an advertising sales manager.  He was also an active member in his church- no one knew at the time that sexual abuse charges were to eventually appear against him.  The courts found him guilty after a trial. Nobody should blame the employers or the church for his behaviour.

It was poor taste of  TV3 listing Hone’s former parliamentary staff names on public display to the whole country- there was no blurring of names to cover the innocence and decent lives of other staff members.  It was a breach of privacy.  Former staff are entitled to their privacy. Several staff have successful careers and some are key community advocates for people wanting to help themselves. .

The reporter Ms Obrien showed poor journalism practice ringing Hone at home and recording his non acquiescence to an interview as a “response” to any questions she had not posed. This is not an approved level of journalism, it is a charade of appearing to speak to Hone without actually doing so.  Before the election, she  literally chased Hone  into Kaitaia Airport with a camera person within  close physical proximity taunting him to answer wild questions from left field.  Hone had to go into the back room of the airport to escape her . On a rugby field you would push someone away who came that close in your personal space.  Ms Obrien has a fixation with  Hone and needs to look at her own motives. If she feels scorned, she should have talked decently to Hone as a human being. Hone has many interviews with many media outlets and journalists.

I have asked for  formal apology from TV 3 on air and in print throughout the country. I would also like Media Works to stop journalists sitting outside our home and taking photos.  We don’t know who they are , if they are reporters or assassins.  When the media rark up inflammatory stories, we become  vulnerable to all kinds of nutcases who threaten to hurt our home , our family and workspace.  The main thing to remember, if people want to know anything , Hone will front .  It may not be what you want to hear, but he will front up.

Re the allegation of sexual abuse concerning our neighbour, Ms Obrien is obliged to present the facts , she is not the judge , does she consider the impact of her guilty sentence on a person’s family and children who is not yet tried before the courts?  The victim, the accused and the community is entitled to a court process if the charges hold up.

TV3 should restrain Tova Obrien’s style of malice and report the news.  She is not welcome to interview Hone or take any footage of any members of my family.  She has joined the dirty ranks of Slater  and  Ede and her wages are  paid by taxpayers money. Obrien’s statement will not go unchallenged, so that in time they be misconstrued as truth.