Labour cultural affairs spokesperson Judith Tizard said that once again, Cultural and Heritage Minister Marie Hasler has abused the political process by making key board appointments within three months of an election without consultation with other parties.

Her comments follow new appointments to the board of the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa.

"The Cabinet Office Manual notes that the practice has been for restraint to be applied in relation to significant appointments from approximately three months before a general election. Labour expect the National Government to follow that practice," Judith Tizard said.

"Yet once again there was absolutely no consultation on these appointments with the Opposition. This comes hard on the heels of the appointment to the Chair of Creative New Zealand.

"I have no concern with the quality and experience of the new board members but I am furious that the Government is showing such disregard for proper processes in key appointments.

"It appears to be a deliberate attempt to prevent the incoming Labour Government from appointing people who share our vision for the future of important cultural institutions like Creative New Zealand and Te Papa," Judith Tizard said.

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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>>