Media 'hostile', but no problems: Key

John Key
John Key
The Prime Minister says he doesn't have a problem with the media, despite his comments today that the press had become more hostile towards his Government in its second term.

Speaking on Newstalk ZB this morning, Mr Key made special mention of the New Zealand Herald, which he said had become more tabloid in an attempt to raise a declining circulation.

"The Herald's turned more tabloid. They won't like it if I say that, but it's absolutely a statement of fact,'' said Mr Key.

"They have decided they need to stop their circulation from falling, or at least try and maybe go up - so they have a new editor, and the editor has turned the front page of the paper into a pretty sensational sort of front page and that's a deliberate strategy to get more sales at the dairy.''

Mr Key also criticised the Sunday Star Times.

"The media are in a more aggressive and hostile mood towards us, I am not bent out of shape about that, I expected that.''

Speaking to a large media scrum in central Auckland this afternoon, Mr Key told journalists he didn't have a problem with them.

"No you're doing well, I'm enjoying you,'' he said.

"There aren't any (problems). It was just a statement of fact, I was asked a question about it.''

Asked to elaborate on his comments that the media had become "more aggressive and hostile'', Mr Key said it was to be expected.

"I think it just happens with a second-term government. We've got a lot of policies we're implementing, there will always be critical appraisal of that, doesn't bother me.''

Asked why he had made special mention of the Herald and Sunday Star Times, Mr Key said: "Don't think I did.''

Herald editor-in-chief Tim Murphy, via Twitter, dismissed Mr Key's comments as "a 2nd term thing''.

Murphy recalled that former prime minister Helen Clark accused the Herald of a "tabloid beat-up over, of all things, the $11b leaky buildings scandal. Plus ça change ...''

And he added: "Next up, PMs start talking about themselves in 3rd person. Always happens.''

Murphy noted that the Herald circulation had remained stable over the past six audits _ from 170,400 to 170,800 _ and that readership was up across print and digital platforms.

During his appearance on talkback host Leighton Smith's show, Mr Key also commented on the controversy over Megaupload millionaire Kim Dotcom's donations to John Banks' Auckland mayoralty campaign fund, claiming Dotcom was speaking out because he was angry with Mr Banks.

"He's angry with John Banks because we didn't approve the purchase of his property. I have never met the guy,'' said Mr Key.

And he reiterated his support for Mr Banks.

"I don't need to know all the ins and outs and I don't because all I need is a clear assurance he hasn't broken the law.

He also commented on the proposed SkyCity convention centre, saying reaction before the election was positive _ including from Labour.

"Now they're trying to change the argument and say `it's about problem gambling'.''

Mr Key said he believed people would gamble on the internet if there were no pokie machines.

He defended criticism of his party's tax cuts and said New Zealand had made strides to close the gap between rich and poor, with an 11 per cent increase in after-tax wages since National was elected.

 

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