This is a collection of various tweets relating to TVNZ's decision to use Mike Hosking as the moderator of the election campaign leaders' debates, and David Cunliffe's potential boycott of the debates. As usual, the most recent tweets are first. [Read more below]
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Based on polling Cunliffe's lucky to even be at the leaders debate. It really should just be me hosting John Key "This Is Your Perfect Life"
Hard to believe NZ has drifted so far left in last few years that a wet urban liberal like Mike Hosking is seen as a right wing demagogue.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Leaders Debate Draft Question 3# Mr Cunliffe, how can we trust you on law and order when your scarf is a fashion crime - and moronic?
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk ·
Leaders' Debate Draft Questions 2# Mr Cunliffe, you're from a leafy suburb. What are you going to do about keeping leaves out of my pool?
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk ·
Leaders' Debate Draft questions 1# Mr Cunliffe, would you like me to autograph any of the photos of me in your dossier?
Agree with @BillyRalston's comments on @NzMorningReport this morning, hosting debates is very different to interviewing (re @hoskingonzb)
Tim Fookes Mornings @talkbacktim
In April Cunliffe told me he'd happily do an election debate with @hoskingonzb funny he's now saying no @SevenSharp http://bit.ly/1qDipmh
Joshua Hitchcock @jcphitchcock
Cunliffe's constant u-turns are making it easy for people to stick with the devil they know.
Stop It. Stop it now @AngryFatMale
Has TVNZ forgotten that Hosking was (is?) on the payroll of the company, Sky City, that the PM has done a controversial deal with?
So Bill Ralston who was on @nzmorningreport saying Hosking has no bias this morning has a National election billboard on his property.
Second thoughts, how about a debate between Hosking, Campbell, Trotter, Plunket, Ralston, Boag et al, chaired by Key? I'd watch that.
Probably the most impontant function of people's brouhaha over Hosking chairing the Leader's debate is it makes people aware of his bias.
John Key is pretty neutral on most things, let him chair the debates and occasionally use another podium to say how comfortable he is.
Let's ask impartial commentator Bill Ralston what he thinks of Mike Hosking hosting the leaders' debate. This sounds like a great idea!
Mikaere Kilpatrick @mikekilpatrick
Comparing John Campbell to Mike Hosking? Seriously? Has JC ever called Key a 'moron' or told everyone to vote for Labour? Nope. Thought not.
Can Mike Hosking be an unbiased moderator of the debates, we talk to Kate Hawkesby next on @nzmorningreport
Should Hosking host the debates, let's ask the Prime. Minister...
Mike Hosking hosting a debate. Gerry Brownlee using the wrong exit. Glad we're all focusing on the big issues at long last. #getittogether
Mike Hosking is not biased towards Labour as he can see South Auckland from his house.
Anybody that's ever listened to Mike Hosking talk politics knows he's an obsequious Key fan. Leaders' debate job feels stiched up #nzpol
0.3% of his Seven Sharp audience! RT @CitizenBomber: Almost 1500 people have called on TVNZ to replace Mike Hosking as elections moderator
John Key is masterful at what he does. Asked about Mike Hosking, he instead tells us about John Campbell.
The Labour Party today fully entered into the spirit of Maori Language Week as they've been referring to Mike Hosking as a right whaka.
Ghost of Norman Kirk @ourbignorm
I agree with Cunliffe's reticence about @hoskingonzb . Not because of Hosking's bias but simply because he's such a pretentious twat. #nzpol
remember when everyone agreed the bias of a left wing Māori needed to be investigated as it was very relevant, even a perception of bias tut
Claire Robinson @Spinprofessor
From experience, not only will Mike’s questions be scripted beforehand, but TVNZ will measure for both visual and verbal balance all through
Winston Aldworth @WinstonAldworth
@DavidCunliffeMP might boycott leaders' debate if Mike Hosking is host. Good news: John Roughan is available to host. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11298450 …
When Labour decided to focus on the real issues, who came up with- "let's do a dossier on election hosts!" #sideshow pic.twitter.com/oFv8s5oOMp
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Dammit Gerry Brownlee, today was supposed to be all about me. See, not biased.
Martyn Bradbury @CitizenBomber
800 people have signed the petition asking TVNZ to stand Hosking down as moderator of election debates @TVONENZ https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/television-new-zealand-calling-to-have-mike-hosking-dropped-from-moderatingthe-political-debates …
Martyn Bradbury @CitizenBomber
How do you keep your skin so soft and unblemished Prime Minister? #QuestionsHoskingWillAskKey
Martyn Bradbury @CitizenBomber
Are you going to apologise now or after this debate you socialist wimp? #QuestionsHoskingWillAskCunliffe
What if the debate moderator is actually Jeremy Wells doing his impersonation of Mike Hosking? #ultimatetroll
Why not let@johnkeypm moderate the debate himself? He seems nice and fair, and looks good in an All Blacks jersey #BetterDebateModerators
Imperator Fish @ImperatorFish ·
If they want a neutral debate moderator, I'm prepared to give it a go. I'll be even-handed, and I'll cut that bastard Key down to size too.
The problem for Hosking is that he has gone from being a neutral journalist and presenter to being a commentator. His problem.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Debate Impartiality Training Tutorial 5 Screw the tutorials, the biggest political event of the year is now all about me. Life is perfect.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Debate Impartiality Training Tutorial 4 It's not biased to ask each of them how they enjoyed their latest round of golf with Barack Obama.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Debate Impartiality Training Tutorial 3 In order to be fair and balanced allocated time for answering questions to be as per poll ratings.
I'm a big fan of that guy who does the Jeremy Wells spoof.
Internet petitions. It's really gotten that bad.
@LouisMMayo @dpfdpf I think John Campbell is biased. Pretty much every reporter is biased, but few are dumb enough to endorse politicians
It is possible that Labour will do better if David Cunliffe does boycott the One News debates so it may be a #cunningplan worthy of Baldrick
Winston Peters @winstonpeters
Helpful suggestion for TVNZ. Solve the 'Hosking as moderator' problem by someone who is surely neutral. Yours truly. Just trying to help.
Imperator Fish @ImperatorFish
But how can Mike Hosking possibly be biased, if I agree with everything he says?
Sir Simon of Garlick @simongarlick
And now the lead political story on NZH is "Cunliffe may boycott leaders' debate". #nomoredistractions #stayingonmessage #nzpol
Ned Stark 4 Leader @NedStark4Leader
I know not this Ser Hosking of which men speak, but I recognise his words. They are Lannister words, and that is enough for me.
Damian Christie @damianchristie
As he'll probably end up deciding who wins in the end anyway, why not get @winstonpeters to moderate debate? It's common sense.
@damianchristie or better yet, NZ's favourtie go-to political commentator, John Key. Can put him on skates so he can zip back and forth.
Joshua Hitchcock @jcphitchcock
Please boycott the debate http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11298450 … because it would top off the farce that is the 2014 election campaign.
Martyn Bradbury @CitizenBomber
John Campbell works for a private media company, Mike Hosking works for the public broadcaster - that's the reason why it's different!!!
Imperator Fish @ImperatorFish
Why not get Maggie Barry to moderate the debate?
Actually what about Kim Dotcom and Colin Craig hosting the poltical debate. Sheesh that`ll be awesome. Both wont make it into parliament
Paging Lindsay Perigo. Lindsay Perigo, can you come to TVNZ reception please?
@Rachel_Smalley I know political debates r really boys stuff but #ifyouwereaboy u wld b host. #professional&smart #not1oftheboys #girlsvote2
> Rachel Smalley @Rachel_Smalley
@helenkellyCTU Ha! Thanks Helen :-)
The last NZ politician to try and dictate who the moderator is - Sir Robert Muldoon. 1984. There's a lesson there.
Why are there only two TVNZ debates this election? Isn't there three normally?
Idea; Paul Henry as moderator!! Thank me later.
I think Sue Bradford and Paul Henry should be joint moderators of any political debate.Y`know, for balance etc. and for a hell of a fun time
Hosking moderating the debate is like me being left in charge of this empty plate while wearing a jumper covered in biscuit crumbs.
CherylBernstein @CherylBernstein
'Hosking' and 'moderate': hitherto unlikely words to appear in a sentence.
The upcoming Leaders' Debate seems mired in controversy already; we wonder if it'll match this one from 30 years ago: http://nzos.me/12h1jO8
Hosking is far too biased to host a TVNZ leaders debate. Shane Taurima should do it instead.
Martyn Bradbury @CitizenBomber
Hosking is to the right of Caligula, allowing him to moderate the debate would be like appointing whaleoil to the BSA http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/07/24/dear-seven-sharp-after-learning-hosking-will-be-the-leaders-debate-moderator-no-i-will-not-give-you-the-pretence-of-balance-i-refuse-to-appear-on-your-show/#sthash.BiwW2KBE.dpuf …
Having @hoskingonzb moderate our political debate is a bit like having the U.S broker a Middle-East peace deal...
Breaking news: TVNZ announces Sky City as venue for first leaders debate.
Shayne Misselbrook @SMisselbrook
"We have bright prospects for the future, so long as you keep them in Government," - Hosking
We're focused on the big issues facing Kiwis: the PM's photo with the #AllBlacks & Mike Hosking moderating debates. #ForABetterNZ #NZPol
Martyn Bradbury @CitizenBomber
Difference between Hosking & Campbell moderating is TV3 are a private company who can do what they like - TVNZ is the public broadcaster
Brent Edwards @rnzgallerybrent
@DavidCunliffeMP would not respond though to suggestions Labour's complaint might rebound.
Brent Edwards @rnzgallerybrent
@DavidCunliffeMP says his staff raised concerns about Mike Hosking, not him. Relates to Hosking urging business audience to vote National.
TVNZ clearly has a pro-National bias, it's why we try and recruit so many of our candidates from it. #ForABetterNZ #Labour2014 #NZPol
Personally I think there should be policy debates where holders or wannbe holders of portfolios have to stand up and debate the issues.
@Dovil @_surelymermaid I understand Prime is planning a series of several debates with spokespeople from several parties debating issues.
"Like it or not perception is reality." - Mike Hosking. "I get accused of bias every day of my life." - also Mike Hosking.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Debate Impartiality Training Tutorial 2 Proving impossible to say "Labour policy" without involuntary eye roll. May need stents implanted.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
Debate Impartiality Training Tutorial 1 Must remember to say National, not "we", "us" or "most right minded people".
Don't worry, if @hoskingonzb has to withdraw from the debate TVNZ has a list of backups. https://www.national.org.nz/team/mps
Laura McQuillan @mcquillanatorz
Cunliffe says he doesn't have a personal opinion on Hosking hosting TVNZ's debate, and is leaving it to staff to look into.
Welcome to the leaders debate from Auckland's fabulous Sky City. I'm Mike Hosking and this election is a foregone conclusion.
If Hosking wants to introduces the PM at the debate the way he introduced him at the Lexus lunch in North Shore, who are we to object?
Laura McQuillan @mcquillanatorz
David Cunliffe promised to stick to the big issues from here on in. And that means Mike Hosking!
It's weird to compare Hosking with Campbell, yeah? One campaigns for SkyCity, the other campaigns for kids in poverty and earthquake victims
@dpfdpf Except Hosking is not like using John Campbell. It's more like using Bomber
> Philip Matthews @secondzeit
Has JC ever made an overt political endorsement like Hosking has? Personal leanings are one thing, party bias is another. @dpfdpf @danylmc
Danyl Mclauchlan @danylmc
An actual worm #BetterDebateModerators
Surely any broadcaster who has expressed a candidate or party bias in public, as Hosking has, should not be hosting a debate.
Not only Cunliffe ducking debates. key won't debate on "Prime Time with Sean Plunket" (which starts on August 8)
Why don't we dispense with the charade (and the lightweights) and have Kim Hill and Mary Wilson grill DC and Key instead...
Labour claims Hosking's biased... Also claim vast majority of eligible New Zealand voters biased.
The best debate last election was the Christchurch Press debate. I'm not even sure that had a moderator.
@danylmc It had two moderators: Andrew Holden and Tracy Watkins. They moderate best who moderate least.
Controversial: Hosking moderating the debate. If Labour are going to win, it's going to be despite massive adversity, so why dodge it?
Laura McQuillan @mcquillanatorz
David Cunliffe promised to stick to the big issues from here on in. And that means Mike Hosking!
@danylmc A leaders' debate co-moderated by Bomber and Cam Slater would be essential viewing. @dpfdpf
If Labour doesn't want Hosking to moderate the leaders debate maybe TVNZ can borrow Paul Henry from TV3 instead.
I think Mike Hosking moderating the TVNZ debate will be fine. If he gets excited and tries to mount the PM Key's DPS guys will intercede.
Hosking: I'm hosting today's debate because I'm a winner. And what do winner's do? They back John Key. 1 horse race. The National Monologues
Scrap the debates and have the Party leaders questioned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Wil Anderson. No pressure.
Should note in passing that I think 'election political debates' are pretty damn stupid anyway. The High Masses for the Cult of the Savvy.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
My moderation of the leaders' debate will be entirely even-handed - right hand stroking John Key and left hand slapping David Cunliffe.
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
It's not accurate that I'm biased against Labour. I'm also biased against the Greens and NZ First.
As everyone knows, Mike Hosking and John Key bonded over shared anguish of having people routinely adding "s" to the end of their surnames.
Breaking: Cunliffe furious that John Key taking part in leader
Breaking: Cunliffe furious that John Key taking part in leader debates. Claims he is too biased.. Claims he is too biased.
Beyond Hosking's bias, key issue here is increasingly obsolete refusal to include Greens in major party debates http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10303335/Labour-claims-Hoskings-biased …
Mike Hosking is hosting the first leaders debate? Outrageous. Should be Shane Taurima.
That TVNZ debate moderator shortlist 1. Mike Hosking 2. Claudette Hauiti 3. Redbaiter 4. Whaleoil 5. Sally Ridge 6. Siri
Would pay $$$ to watch leaders' debate moderated by Jeremy Wells pretending to be Mike Hosking. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10303335/Labour-claims-Hoskings-biased …
I have no objection if it's Jeremy Wells being Mike.
