RODNEY HIDE: Let Them Speak — Then Judge Them

I am a free speech absolutist. People should be encouraged to speak freely and robustly so we can see exactly who they are. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and the Maiki Sherman affair is finally seeing some sun.

A senior TVNZ political editor, the first Māori woman in the role, allegedly and repeatedly called openly gay journalist Lloyd Burr a “faggot” during a pre-Budget drinks event in Finance Minister Nicola Willis’s parliamentary office. Multiple witnesses. The Minister shut the party down. The story buried for nearly a year until independent journalist Ani O’Brien forced it into daylight. TVNZ’s response? Not answers, not an internal review — lawyers.

Commenter Charles Baycroft asks a good question on my last post: What's the big deal? Two adults argued and one used inappropriate language. Grow up. Sticks and stones may break bones, but words will never hurt you -- unless you choose to be a precious cry-baby. It is heartening to see Mr Burr is no such baby.  Of course, Nicola Willis was perfectly entitled to shut the party down as a result. Her office, her rules.

The real scandal is not the insult. It is TVNZ's breathtaking hypocrisy.

In 2019 Israel Folau quoted Scripture on Instagram to warn sinners—including drunks, adulterers, fornicators, liars, thieves, atheists, idolaters and homosexuals—that they were heading to hell unless they repented. He attacked sin across the board, not any particular sinner. He offered repentance and the love of Christ to everyone on the list. 

TVNZ attacked Israel Folau viciously, unfairly, and unrelentingly.

They showed no interest in defending drunks, adulterers or liars. They showed no interest in defending free speech.  They showed no interest in balance -- who amongst us is without sin?  They showed no interest in defending scripture.  They attacked Israel for including homosexuals along with drunks and adulterers just as Scripture commands.  It was a brutal and unforgiving and unrelenting political attack using our money.  TVNZ branded Folau “anti-gay” and “homophobic", amplified Jacinda Ardern’s condemnation, and ran a sustained crusade until he lost his career. They cared nothing for Folau’s life or livelihood — only for enforcing their own cultural standards.  They destroyed a great man's career to grandstand their supposed virtue all at our expense.  It was a total disgrace.

TVNZ attacked him through April and into May and it continued as Rugby Australia sacked him for his post.

And now?  One of their own uses an actual homophobic slur at work, in our hallowed Parliament grounds.  What does TVNZ do?  Our state broadcaster reaches for high-priced lawyers to shut down scrutiny. This is not merely intersectionality protecting a favoured identity: it is raw, organisational self-interest. TVNZ does not apply to itself the shifting standards, the openness, or the transparency it relentlessly demands of politicians, businesses and private citizens.

Remember TVNZ’s advertising and branding: Trusted. Independent. The Source of News? They wrap themselves in the language of integrity, public service and fearless journalism. They run Pride campaigns, Rainbow 101 training, and very public commitments to inclusion and visibility. They lecture the rest of us daily about accountability but hide behind legal threats the moment a light shines on them.

That is the hollowness at the heart of it all. TVNZ spent our money to destroy a man’s illustrious career for quoting the Bible and then spend our money again to protect one of their own who abused a colleague, in a Ministerial office, in an especially foul way.

I don't wish Maiki Sherman ill will.  I like robust debate and strong words.  What I don't like is hypocrisy,  And  I don't want my money used to destroy a great man's career with such glee and then to pay again to shield a senior journalist who abused a person in a

way Israel Folau never would.

Rodney Hide is a former minister and leader of the ACT Party