Say it - needs to be said. It might also encourage them to reply to the query. And if it's not institutional racism, then i look forward to an equally proportional approach taken to all other festivals this summer. Their response is pretty terrible IMHO. I do govt comms and this is the first time I've seen this approach applied. I get the volumes of queries might be high, but it doesn't mean 'niche media' should get ignored. It's a pretty slippery slope when a govt department starts to define what is and what isn't 'proper' media worthy of a response - id' be super surprised if the police minister or the public service commission endorsed this approach - it's worth asking. I'd also note - that your query, and all media queries, ARE oias - they don't need to go to the oia address or state it's an oia - a question to a govt department in any form is an oia. So, their response should have been - thanks for the email, we don't have any specific comment right now but we've passed this on to the oia team.
Ha, thanks, and yes, I agree that stance is stupid, which I pointed out in my reply.
Here's what I wrote to them:
"Kia ora, I've submitted a request under the OIA in a separate email.
I just wanted to register my disappointment here. You've referenced the "changing media landscape" in your reply, and I agree - the industry is changing incredibly fast. There are far fewer journalists working for mainstream media organisations than even a year ago. As news companies continue to disestablish staff, surely expanding your boundaries a little to engage with those still working as journalists is on the cards? Substack is hardly a "niche publication" anymore, and the incredibly fast growth of those who've turned to it when advertising-supported models are dying proves this.
My newsletter might be small but my stories are regularly picked up by major media outlets, including RNZ, Stuff and NZ Herald, and I'm a regular contributor to RNZ and Newstalk ZB on-air.
Your lack of comment on this issue has left me no option but to write a purely speculative piece over the absolutely ridiculous police presence (18 officers at my count, more than I've seen at any music event, ever) at a music festival with just a few thousand in attendance.
Chris."
They told me this has been passed on to a supervisor.
Yeah would be keen to find out. In my memory though there was always a decent police presence at BDO, although they didn’t all stand around in a big group the whole time.
I’ve worked at many events and festivals in both NZ and Australia and this does seem a bit odd. Keen to see if it’s related to the refusal of licences for Juicy Fest, or a wider change in approach to public events.
The only time I've seen a similar sized police presence at a festival was at Womad in 2019, which began the same day as the mosque shooting in Christchurch. But I don't remember counting 18 of them - more just groups of 2-4 of them.
It definitely seemed too many for such a chill show that already had a security team in place.
I once emailed the police media liaison to try and open discussions about what help I could get from the police with regard to producing a podcast about an old murder case in Paeroa that I was trying to pitch. They rather rudely dismissed my email, saying they were too busy to help, and had better things to do with their time.
In the first email advising the NZ tour was cancelled they said they would "have all information regarding the refund process to you all in February". People were not happy so they sent another email a week later (26 Dec) saying the refund process had started and "We will continue working through this process in coming weeks to ensure your refund is processed as soon as possible". Then mentioned holidays slowing down the process. I contacted them on Saturday and they just sent the same vague information "the process has started". When I pushed for more info they just said "We will be working through this in the coming weeks".
I bought two VIP tickets for a total of $744. Would really like that money back!
I'm worried that they're stalling because they need the income from the Australian shows to pay everyone back. And if they don't make enough, will they just go into liquidation? Its a real shame. I went to the Tauranga show last year and it was awesome.
Happy to send you the emails and screen shot of my messages if you're interested.
Why were there so many police there? Institutional racism.
I didn't want to explicitly say that but I'm glad it felt implied...
Say it - needs to be said. It might also encourage them to reply to the query. And if it's not institutional racism, then i look forward to an equally proportional approach taken to all other festivals this summer. Their response is pretty terrible IMHO. I do govt comms and this is the first time I've seen this approach applied. I get the volumes of queries might be high, but it doesn't mean 'niche media' should get ignored. It's a pretty slippery slope when a govt department starts to define what is and what isn't 'proper' media worthy of a response - id' be super surprised if the police minister or the public service commission endorsed this approach - it's worth asking. I'd also note - that your query, and all media queries, ARE oias - they don't need to go to the oia address or state it's an oia - a question to a govt department in any form is an oia. So, their response should have been - thanks for the email, we don't have any specific comment right now but we've passed this on to the oia team.
Ha, thanks, and yes, I agree that stance is stupid, which I pointed out in my reply.
Here's what I wrote to them:
"Kia ora, I've submitted a request under the OIA in a separate email.
I just wanted to register my disappointment here. You've referenced the "changing media landscape" in your reply, and I agree - the industry is changing incredibly fast. There are far fewer journalists working for mainstream media organisations than even a year ago. As news companies continue to disestablish staff, surely expanding your boundaries a little to engage with those still working as journalists is on the cards? Substack is hardly a "niche publication" anymore, and the incredibly fast growth of those who've turned to it when advertising-supported models are dying proves this.
My newsletter might be small but my stories are regularly picked up by major media outlets, including RNZ, Stuff and NZ Herald, and I'm a regular contributor to RNZ and Newstalk ZB on-air.
Your lack of comment on this issue has left me no option but to write a purely speculative piece over the absolutely ridiculous police presence (18 officers at my count, more than I've seen at any music event, ever) at a music festival with just a few thousand in attendance.
Chris."
They told me this has been passed on to a supervisor.
Yeah would be keen to find out. In my memory though there was always a decent police presence at BDO, although they didn’t all stand around in a big group the whole time.
I’ve worked at many events and festivals in both NZ and Australia and this does seem a bit odd. Keen to see if it’s related to the refusal of licences for Juicy Fest, or a wider change in approach to public events.
The only time I've seen a similar sized police presence at a festival was at Womad in 2019, which began the same day as the mosque shooting in Christchurch. But I don't remember counting 18 of them - more just groups of 2-4 of them.
It definitely seemed too many for such a chill show that already had a security team in place.
Yeah the big group thing is the strangest part of it. Maybe they just like The Roots haha.
Who wouldn't?!?
I once emailed the police media liaison to try and open discussions about what help I could get from the police with regard to producing a podcast about an old murder case in Paeroa that I was trying to pitch. They rather rudely dismissed my email, saying they were too busy to help, and had better things to do with their time.
Podcasting eh? Another “niche” platform.
This is hilarious. I guess they assumed you wouldn't be bothered to put the request through.
Have you heard about the refund issues with Juicy Fest? They seem to be stalling and I am not confident we are going to get our money back.
Thanks Hope :)
I've heard that the refunds have been delayed until after the festival has run?
Is that the case?
That seems completely unacceptable - how much are you owed?
In the first email advising the NZ tour was cancelled they said they would "have all information regarding the refund process to you all in February". People were not happy so they sent another email a week later (26 Dec) saying the refund process had started and "We will continue working through this process in coming weeks to ensure your refund is processed as soon as possible". Then mentioned holidays slowing down the process. I contacted them on Saturday and they just sent the same vague information "the process has started". When I pushed for more info they just said "We will be working through this in the coming weeks".
I bought two VIP tickets for a total of $744. Would really like that money back!
I'm worried that they're stalling because they need the income from the Australian shows to pay everyone back. And if they don't make enough, will they just go into liquidation? Its a real shame. I went to the Tauranga show last year and it was awesome.
Happy to send you the emails and screen shot of my messages if you're interested.
That's a genuine concern: look what happened to Eden Fest.
Yes, please send them through: iamchrisschulz@gmail.com
There might be other avenues to explore, including a chargeback on your credit card, if you used one to pay for them.
Why aren't you naming him? In that context there's no name suppression, is there?
Well, she isn't, and neither's Rolling Stone. It is easily Googleable for anyone who wants to find out...
Not Amelia's ex, I mean the Rotorua entertainer.
Oh! Apologies. The NZ Herald story says the Juicy Fest founder is Glenn Meikle and those quotes are from him.
But yes I know what you mean.