13 February 2001 Media Statement

Ron Mark Should Apologise

New Zealand First's Police spokesperson, Ron Mark, should apologise to current Fire Service Acting Chief Executive Alison Timms for suggesting that she will be the next deputy commissioner of police.

"Ron Mark has again displayed how out of touch he is. Mrs Timms has not even applied for the job," George Hawkins said.

"Ron Mark's speculation on who will be the next deputy commissioner is unfounded, ill-advised, and by the nature of his incorrect assumption, an insult to Mrs Timms. He should apologise immediately.

"A decision on the appointment of the next deputy commissioner of Police will be made in due course," George Hawkins said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>