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Newstalk ZB host Mike Hosking, who supports the opposition National party, claims that Jacinda Ardern is ‘over being held to account’ Photograph: Newstalk ZB
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has cancelled one of her highest-profile regular media appearances, surprising commentators and fuelling criticism that she is dodging tough questions.
Newstalk ZB’s morning show host Mike Hosking on Monday announced that Ardern would no longer be appearing for a weekly interview: a regular segment observed by New Zealand’s prime ministers for more than 30 years.
In a statement provided to media, Ardern’s office confirmed that the schedule of media appearances had been reviewed “and while it hasn’t reduced overall, it has changed”. Ardern would no longer do a specific weekly slot on Hosking’s show, but would continue to appear “as and when issues arise”.
Last modified on Thu 28 Jan 2021 20.51 EST
At 8.31am on a Thursday, Henry Oliver received a text message from his employer, alerting him to a company-wide Zoom call in 29 minutes’ time.
The day was 2 April 2020, a week into New Zealand’s national lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus. Oliver, who is the editor of Metro magazine, and his team had been scrambling to adjust to remote working and – with magazine publishing not among the “essential services” permitted to continue through the pandemic – a new digital-first operation.
Within an hour of that text, Oliver and the 300-odd other employees of Bauer Media New Zealand were told they were being made redundant, the titles they worked on would be put up for sale, and the entire company was to close. “That was still a shock, even though I was prepared for bad news,” says Oliver.