This story should feature in Shayne Currie’s Media Insider column but for reasons the author has clearly identified won’t - which says something about the continuing state of Mainstream Media in NZ
Isn't it interesting how MSM are avoiding reporting the "word" that Sherman used. Chris Trotter had something to say about that earlier today - that reluctance to tell the full story. The word that Sherman used and that Ani reported was "faggot".
I returned to New Zealand almost 6 years ago after more than 50 years living mainly in the US. In this time, back home, I have chosen to ignore most of the New Zealand media as it is thin, biased and rather patronizing. To stay in touch with the beating heart of this country I subscribe to Substack and the Kiwis who write here. I find they are illuminating in their perspectives and provide a high quality of information. Ani O’Brien, Thought Crimes, is my immediate go-to as I know you will cover subjects in depth with quality writing. I don’t know this TVNZ person, Maiki Sherman, never heard of her. However, with your exposure of her poor behavior, now I do. Thank you for shining light on these people who display boorish behavior but project it onto others.
My dear mother in law, (mid 90s!) always a news follower from a young, pre TV, age, made the switch 6-7 years ago to overseas news channels on TV, and independent radio here because, "I want to know what's really going on, not slanted or opinions all the time". Whenever she does watch 'news' TV here, she gets very frustrated at the "agendas and bias".
I have made complaint to TVNZ twice on occasions I perceived Maiki Sherman's conduct to have been far less than expected of a public broadcaster. Neither complaint was upheld.
The second complaint centred on the instance when Sherman pursued Luxon, bleatingly asking if, in respect of the then poll's findings, he was going to resign. When, just days later, the focus turned to Hipkins having been caught out in a lie - I asked why Sherman had not attempted to pose the same question to him, making the point about her demonstrated lack of balance.
Incredibly, TVNZ's response - 30 days later exactly - 5 pages of it - maintained that the instances were "essentially not the same."
Go figure. Lying to the populace is of lesser importance than having one's popularity drop in the polls.
Thanks Ani for exposing this behaviour. I have always thought Maiki Sherman was a nasty piece of work and laid a complaint after her shocking poll reaction some time ago.
Now we know she is much worse than we thought. She has got to go!
The terms of a couple of the members on the TVNZ board look to be ending soon. How about throwing your name in the hat for one of those governance roles.
You have the smarts for the role Ani. You'd be perfect! The place needs you.
Ani you are what most of the msm would love to be if they had any integrity and conscience, or even if they had a go at trying to be impartial. It is no conicidence that so many of us have turned off TVNZ and Radio NZ a long time ago and not wasted any more of our lives on either, yet here we are reading you and similar media.
Ani, I commend your courage in exposing Ms Sherman for what she truly is. A hypocritical bully of the first order. It is time taxpayer funding was withdrawn from TVNZ and the odious Ms Sherman was shown the door. Keep up the good work.
Ani, your article resonates with me personally. I was at the Big Gay Out at Coyle Park in Pt Chevalier in 2024, and what I witnessed that day has stayed with me.
I was close enough to the Prime Minister to see and hear what actually occurred. What happened was a single individual behaving in a hostile and confrontational way toward Luxon, when Luxon stopped to say hello to him. The individual started making claims to Luxon that didn't reflect what was happening around them, and then stormed off. The encounter was closely followed by 1News and Maiki Sherman.
The wider crowd did not share that tone. The atmosphere around me was normal, mixed, everyday — not a collective confrontation.
That evening, Sherman's 1News report presented this interaction as representative of how attendees at the Big Gay Out viewed the Prime Minister. I did not observe Sherman speaking with other attendees or seeking a range of views from the crowd. She didn't. She had her story and she went with it.
The report then shifted to an anti-Israel, pro-Palestine protest near the park entrance and framed it as being directed at Luxon and his government. I was metres away from that protest. It was about the Israel-Gaza conflict. It had nothing to do with Luxon or his government. Maiki Sherman lied. She wove a story that did not exist and put it to air on a state broadcaster, and nobody stopped her. Nobody held her accountable. Nobody even reported it.
One hostile individual. A wider crowd that didn't share that posture. A separate protest with an entirely different focus. Three things deliberately woven into a single false narrative.
Your article shows this is a pattern, not a one-off.
Maiki Sherman is a story weaver who operates without consequence. I watched her do it in real time. That's not opinion. That's what happened.
‘O what web we weave when first we practice to deceive’. She’s a trick alright. Thank you for that Andy - quite revealing - manipulation and distortion of what did occur is completely unacceptable.
The question has to be asked, why is she still in that job?
I’ve since heard that TVNZ have cited privacy, saying “it is an employment matter” -apparently. Unfortunately that isn’t quite correct since that organisation is publicly funded, thus it is (to a degree) a public matter.
I hope that you garner sufficient encouragement from your supporters on Substack - though I am not a paid subscriber- should I ever decide to commit you would be top of my list!
I have a degree in Media and I know from inside and outside how unprofessional and frankly “substandard” media is and has increasingly become in its mainstream manifestations.
The financial support lavished on the media under Adern was the final straw - it encouraged the wanton bias - in a leftward direction - that has alienated so many of us. Many of us once from the Left..
Go hard lady!
The noisiest kids in the room are not the arbiters of truth - one thing that has resulted from this is more consumers learning to be more discerning…
I get more value from your non-journalism than I do from the actual journalists. It goes to show, a degree in your chosen field does not make you competent.
My ire may be misplaced here; if Gerry Brownlee is responsible for maintaining discipline within the press gallery, shouldn't he be taken to task for his lack of performance? He has not been a good Speaker of the House, in my opinion.
I'm wondering if Maiki will find the time to draw the nation's attention to Tania Waikato's comment, about possibly punching David Seymour and Winston in the face, should Tania become a Green list MP?
It appears that you are an unintelligent, homophobic, misogynist, potty mouthed cretin with nothing of value to contribute to the discussion. Go away and play elsewhere.
It's free speech that allows you to remind me how it's fragile white asses that are massively over represented in crimes like infanticide, rape and violence.
Boy, l enjoy your articles Ani. Thank you for having the courage to expose this bully. I was not aware of these incidents involving Sherman. Bullies need to be exposed and held accountable for their actions. MSM is a toxic organisation both internally and externally.
Thanks Ani. For some time now the mainstream media have been losing public trust, so this case is yet another example of why that might be so.
Respect is earned, not given as if it were a gift. Hypocrisy earns derision, and it would appear that TVNZ has yet to read the room - not good enough, especially when public funding is involved.
This story should feature in Shayne Currie’s Media Insider column but for reasons the author has clearly identified won’t - which says something about the continuing state of Mainstream Media in NZ
Who da thunk it. Thje story WAS picked up by Shayne Currie with a hat-tip to Ani O'Brien https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/media-insider/tvnz-political-editor-maiki-sherman-allegedly-used-a-homophobic-slur-in-an-incident-involving-lloyd-burr-in-finance-minister-nicola-willis-office/premium/K3ADI6IN7ZDN7P3W54KYBZBPKE/
I see RNZ has run the story. Anything from TVNZ - doubt it.
Wellwhadayaknow - TVNZ DID have a piece on News at 6 - a passing mention only. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/player/newsclip/tvnz-allegations-political-editor-used-homophobic-slur-an-employment-matter
Isn't it interesting how MSM are avoiding reporting the "word" that Sherman used. Chris Trotter had something to say about that earlier today - that reluctance to tell the full story. The word that Sherman used and that Ani reported was "faggot".
Looks like it's been taken down.
I just checked - it is still there
I returned to New Zealand almost 6 years ago after more than 50 years living mainly in the US. In this time, back home, I have chosen to ignore most of the New Zealand media as it is thin, biased and rather patronizing. To stay in touch with the beating heart of this country I subscribe to Substack and the Kiwis who write here. I find they are illuminating in their perspectives and provide a high quality of information. Ani O’Brien, Thought Crimes, is my immediate go-to as I know you will cover subjects in depth with quality writing. I don’t know this TVNZ person, Maiki Sherman, never heard of her. However, with your exposure of her poor behavior, now I do. Thank you for shining light on these people who display boorish behavior but project it onto others.
My dear mother in law, (mid 90s!) always a news follower from a young, pre TV, age, made the switch 6-7 years ago to overseas news channels on TV, and independent radio here because, "I want to know what's really going on, not slanted or opinions all the time". Whenever she does watch 'news' TV here, she gets very frustrated at the "agendas and bias".
I’m unsure what is worse, Maiki’s behaviour or TVNZ’s acceptance and ongoing employment of her.
I’d also take MSM’s view of you as a compliment. Well done, don’t stop.
I have made complaint to TVNZ twice on occasions I perceived Maiki Sherman's conduct to have been far less than expected of a public broadcaster. Neither complaint was upheld.
The second complaint centred on the instance when Sherman pursued Luxon, bleatingly asking if, in respect of the then poll's findings, he was going to resign. When, just days later, the focus turned to Hipkins having been caught out in a lie - I asked why Sherman had not attempted to pose the same question to him, making the point about her demonstrated lack of balance.
Incredibly, TVNZ's response - 30 days later exactly - 5 pages of it - maintained that the instances were "essentially not the same."
Go figure. Lying to the populace is of lesser importance than having one's popularity drop in the polls.
If you can't comprehend you should at least try to make sensible utterances.
Thanks Ani for exposing this behaviour. I have always thought Maiki Sherman was a nasty piece of work and laid a complaint after her shocking poll reaction some time ago.
Now we know she is much worse than we thought. She has got to go!
The terms of a couple of the members on the TVNZ board look to be ending soon. How about throwing your name in the hat for one of those governance roles.
You have the smarts for the role Ani. You'd be perfect! The place needs you.
Ani you are what most of the msm would love to be if they had any integrity and conscience, or even if they had a go at trying to be impartial. It is no conicidence that so many of us have turned off TVNZ and Radio NZ a long time ago and not wasted any more of our lives on either, yet here we are reading you and similar media.
Ani, I commend your courage in exposing Ms Sherman for what she truly is. A hypocritical bully of the first order. It is time taxpayer funding was withdrawn from TVNZ and the odious Ms Sherman was shown the door. Keep up the good work.
Ani, your article resonates with me personally. I was at the Big Gay Out at Coyle Park in Pt Chevalier in 2024, and what I witnessed that day has stayed with me.
I was close enough to the Prime Minister to see and hear what actually occurred. What happened was a single individual behaving in a hostile and confrontational way toward Luxon, when Luxon stopped to say hello to him. The individual started making claims to Luxon that didn't reflect what was happening around them, and then stormed off. The encounter was closely followed by 1News and Maiki Sherman.
The wider crowd did not share that tone. The atmosphere around me was normal, mixed, everyday — not a collective confrontation.
That evening, Sherman's 1News report presented this interaction as representative of how attendees at the Big Gay Out viewed the Prime Minister. I did not observe Sherman speaking with other attendees or seeking a range of views from the crowd. She didn't. She had her story and she went with it.
The report then shifted to an anti-Israel, pro-Palestine protest near the park entrance and framed it as being directed at Luxon and his government. I was metres away from that protest. It was about the Israel-Gaza conflict. It had nothing to do with Luxon or his government. Maiki Sherman lied. She wove a story that did not exist and put it to air on a state broadcaster, and nobody stopped her. Nobody held her accountable. Nobody even reported it.
One hostile individual. A wider crowd that didn't share that posture. A separate protest with an entirely different focus. Three things deliberately woven into a single false narrative.
Your article shows this is a pattern, not a one-off.
Maiki Sherman is a story weaver who operates without consequence. I watched her do it in real time. That's not opinion. That's what happened.
‘O what web we weave when first we practice to deceive’. She’s a trick alright. Thank you for that Andy - quite revealing - manipulation and distortion of what did occur is completely unacceptable.
The question has to be asked, why is she still in that job?
She is protected by management at TVNZ, who share her lack of integrity & ideology.
Who are they,? Let’s name them.
I’ve since heard that TVNZ have cited privacy, saying “it is an employment matter” -apparently. Unfortunately that isn’t quite correct since that organisation is publicly funded, thus it is (to a degree) a public matter.
I’ve since learned that TVNZ is not directly funded by taxpayers, but indirectly via grants and especially by advertising.
Wow. So why is she still on the TVNZ payroll again ? What awful behaviour.
They most likely like it. Fits their Liebor first agenda.
Where would we be without you Ani?
I hope that you garner sufficient encouragement from your supporters on Substack - though I am not a paid subscriber- should I ever decide to commit you would be top of my list!
I have a degree in Media and I know from inside and outside how unprofessional and frankly “substandard” media is and has increasingly become in its mainstream manifestations.
The financial support lavished on the media under Adern was the final straw - it encouraged the wanton bias - in a leftward direction - that has alienated so many of us. Many of us once from the Left..
Go hard lady!
The noisiest kids in the room are not the arbiters of truth - one thing that has resulted from this is more consumers learning to be more discerning…
Many just leave the room…
Love you work!
Who will ever forget the "Jessica then Tova" show?
Oh dear
Enjoy your day
Life’s a bit short for getting so cranky
I see you have nothing intelligent to add. Perhaps you and your potty mouth should go elsewhere to spout filth?
Isn't surprising that the people who make the most offensive remarks do so anonymously
Thank you for confirming my remarks.
and you're the kind of idiot that gives masturbation a bad name
Your linguistic skills are amazing
Pity about the judgement!
I get more value from your non-journalism than I do from the actual journalists. It goes to show, a degree in your chosen field does not make you competent.
My ire may be misplaced here; if Gerry Brownlee is responsible for maintaining discipline within the press gallery, shouldn't he be taken to task for his lack of performance? He has not been a good Speaker of the House, in my opinion.
Yep Gerry should be for the chop !!
Oops he ate them all….
Great work as usual Ani.
I'm wondering if Maiki will find the time to draw the nation's attention to Tania Waikato's comment, about possibly punching David Seymour and Winston in the face, should Tania become a Green list MP?
... Or the Green's shiny new Mangere candidate Michel Mulipola's social media content...
https://x.com/Suitandtie9999/status/2048505397993197875?s=20
It appears that you are an unintelligent, homophobic, misogynist, potty mouthed cretin with nothing of value to contribute to the discussion. Go away and play elsewhere.
It's free speech that allows you to remind me how it's fragile white asses that are massively over represented in crimes like infanticide, rape and violence.
So why aren't you doing that?
Typical bullying process, they can give it but they sure as hell can't take it.
Boy, l enjoy your articles Ani. Thank you for having the courage to expose this bully. I was not aware of these incidents involving Sherman. Bullies need to be exposed and held accountable for their actions. MSM is a toxic organisation both internally and externally.
Thanks Ani. For some time now the mainstream media have been losing public trust, so this case is yet another example of why that might be so.
Respect is earned, not given as if it were a gift. Hypocrisy earns derision, and it would appear that TVNZ has yet to read the room - not good enough, especially when public funding is involved.
Well done Ani, you have flushed her out and The Herald has picked up the story! You are a gem, keep it up!