Gordon McLauchlan: Symptoms of a social malaise...

For this last column I'll look at small issues, as I often have in the past, issues below the horizon of most commentators but which I think are symptoms of an underlying malaise.

I read last weekend a report on the testimony before the Supreme Court of the Solicitor-General, Terence Arnold, QC, and noted he said that Ahmed Zaoui's presence here could attract others of security concern either directly to New Zealand or indirectly be encouraged to move to New Zealand as a safe haven.

Others have claimed that a "precedent" may be set if Zaoui is let off lightly. This is an abuse of justice.

Why should he be punished not just for what he's done but for what others may or may not do?

The same indignation should arise in the community when a judge proclaims a heavier than otherwise sentence on a convicted person to deter others. Again, why should an individual suffer for crimes others may or may not commit in future?

Legislators and judges should be stopped from punishing people for anything other than the crime for which they have been found guilty, and not for peripheral social reasons.

Another recent symptom of a malaise was television presenter Alison Mau's comment on her impending move from TVNZ to Prime.

She said she was excited to be reporting news as well as presenting, adding: "Current affairs reporting is something I have not done before for any length of time and the opportunity to expand my skills was one of the really exciting things about the offer."

The malaise is, of course, the deplorably low standard of television journalism. Can you imagine the editor of a major newspaper deciding to employ an advertising salesperson as a feature writer or editorial writer because he or she was physically attractive and had spent a day here or there writing articles?

And, by the way, the pay increase to Judy Bailey confirms that reality television is an oxymoron. And obviously, the two words cannot be held together in the mind of an executive at the same time.

I am intrigued by what I see as the gradual infantilising of so much of the media at a time when the age of the population is steadily growing. The best explanation I can come up with is this: It is difficult to get loud music turned down in a restaurant because staff generally control it and they are usually well below the median age of diners.

Mass media are almost all staffed by people well below the steadily growing median age of consumers, so they are writing and broadcasting not for you and me but for themselves and their contemporaries.

I can say for once that I admire the pragmatic but socially responsible policies of this Government, but one matter has stained its record and another threatens its future. The first is the incarceration of Ahmed Zaoui without charge, and without even the appearance of leadership concern that this should be allowed to happen in this country.

The second is the creeping arrogance of some ministers. For example, I have written twice to Trevor Mallard on matters concerning the Education Review Office. He replied to the first with irrelevant fourth-form humour. Later I asked him who monitored ERO's performance and would it be censured for the shoddy, unprofessional performance concerning Cambridge High School? No reply, and every indication that ERO will continue on its inept course.

In this valedictory for myself I thank all the people who have said they will miss my column. Thanks for the support. I'm sure I'll miss writing it occasionally, but not soon.

I want to thank those people who have written concise and reasoned letters to me over the 33 years in which I have been writing newspaper columns. And I don't mean only correspondents who have agreed with me. I include all those who have written vigorous, rational letters challenging or attacking my point of view.

I have never felt even faintly in control of the absolute truth, so coherent criticism has sometimes effected a change of attitude. But I am always saddened by those who write in the grip of anger so raw it borders on insanity. More of them exist than you might think.

The New Zealand tradition is one of courage from those who oppose traditional, majority opinion and tolerance from that majority. The true quality of a democracy can be gauged by how it treats its minorities.

I would like to make my personal award for the best sport among all those I've taken the mickey out of over the years - Clem Simich, who was my MP for many years when I lived in Orakei. I had almost nothing to do with him personally but I would occasionally write whimsical articles entirely at his expense about the invisible MP, about how I had joined Tamaki electorate parties searching through Dingle Dell, St Heliers, in the dead of night, thrashing the undergrowth to flush him out, guided by choppers with searchlights.

He was hardly the most charismatic personality in the House and he had this reputation of zero visibility in Wellington. Some of his Tamaki associates took me on, saying he was a good electorate member. I waved that aside and continued chipping away at Clem - until one day I received a genial note from him saying how amused he was by the whole business and to keep it up.

I stopped right then. Okay, if that was tactics, it worked. But then I got a Christmas card from him the other day, now that he knows I can't pick on him any more, saying: "The end of your writing for the Herald is a real loss. We will be the poorer for this. Thank you Gordon."

Now, there's a solid bloke you can trust.

And, finally, goodbye to the man from Waiheke who began writing to me 15 years ago and has continued, week in and week out. He emphasised that he didn't want me to reply, and I never have. But I've enjoyed his stream of scribbled comments and arguments.

* Gordon McLauchlan is an Auckland journalist and author.