Stadium opposition group Stop the Stadium has apologised publicly on its website, admitting there was no factual basis to attacks published on the website and directed at the Otago Daily Times.
The apology follows allegations that appeared on the site early this week.
The initial claims, from someone calling themselves BammBamm, said an ODT employee was filmed spray-painting anti-stadium sentiments over a mural painted by Ravensbourne School pupils on the Forsyth Barr Stadium fence.
On the forum, someone called Pat, later identified as Pat McCarty, added that "the fact that the ODT filmed one of their own employees vandalising a school mural with the express object of trying to discredit STS [Stop the Stadium] is unethical and disgraceful!"The vandalism was covered in an ODT report on October 28.
The apology read:"Recently the Stop the Stadium website published statements critical of the Otago Daily Times newspaper, its employees, its editorial staff and the papers owner.
In particular, it was alleged. -
1. An ODT employee was filmed vandalising the School Mural.
2. The ODT hides what they're told to hide and publish the sensational, which sometimes is far from the truth.
3. The fact the ODT filmed one of their own employees vandalising a school mural with the express object of trying to discredit STS is unethical and disgraceful! I suggest that a complaint to the NZ Press Council is called for.
Is this being contemplated? Have the ODT apologised in print to STS for their collusion in the damage they may have caused to STS reputation? I doubt it!"
The apology said:
"It is accepted that no ODT employee has ever
vandalised the school mural, no filming of the same was ever
made or exists, and that the paper was never aware of this.
The further claims made that this filming by the ODT was for the express object of trying to discredit STS is acknowledged to have no factual foundation.
Further comments made that the ODT hides [what they're told to hide] and publish the sensational which sometimes is far from the truth, that the papers' owners dictate editorial policy and of a prejudiced editorial policy are also acknowledged to have no factual basis or substance.
"Stop the Stadium acknowledges the offence caused to employees of the ODT and the owners by the published comments. It is accepted that the published statements were untrue and Stop the Stadium apologises, without reservation, for them."