Media Statement By:
Tony Ryall
Minister of Justice

13 September 1999

Please Helen, Give It A Rest

Justice Minister, Tony Ryall, said today that if Helen Clark thinks the Presidents of China and the United States are in New Zealand to provide a “photo op” for Jenny Shipley, then she has let bitterness get the better of her.

Mr Ryall was referring to comments made by Ms Clark on radio today in which she attempted to belittle the APEC summit and New Zealand’s role in it.

“I’m asking her to give it a rest for just three or four days so New Zealanders can enjoy having these very important people in our country,” said Mr Ryall.

“New Zealanders can be immensely proud of how their Prime Minister and Foreign Ministers have represented our country over this testing time.

“With three State visits about to begin, we have an amazing opportunity to show off our country to the world. New Zealanders should be feeling very proud,” concluded Mr Ryall.

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>>